From: Karl_Schutz@rand.ORG (Karl Schutz)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Information about advanced deep diving course wanted
Date: 3 Sep 92 00:10:39 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: The RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California

In article <BtytAH.GuD@apollo.hp.com>, daigle@APOLLO.HP.COM (Joe Daigle) writes:> 
> 
>   I have talked with many instructors about taking the deep
> diver specialty, and most have said that what they do is take me down to depth (<130 feet,
> which is fine by me).   I hate to say it, but big deal.  Unless the instructor is willing to
> go down with me on all my dives I ever do, so what?  Now, I understand that it is
> very helpful to have someone there to "catch me if I fall down", this does not necessarily
> mean that I am now able to intelligently dive deep.
> 

I hope the instructors you talked to are planning to do more than escort you to
depth.  Before going deep the first time, divers need to be told about narcosis,
wet suit compression and related buoyancy adjustments via the BC, etc.  The
course is designed to prepare a diver to go deep (< 130 ft.) without having to
learn from the college of hard knocks.  A class seems to be a safer way to go
than learning from experience only.  However, if an individual already knows all
about deep diving, then maybe a class would do no good.  But, then again, who
really knows it all? 


> What I want to know is why PADI does not teach you what to do if you blow your NDL.  What
> would be wrong with them teaching some light decompression diving?  If I stay down too long
> (OK, I know, never let that happen), then I am SOL when it comes to knowing what the hell 
> to do now.  Saying that I shouldn't have blown my NDL is simply not acceptable at that point.> 

Are we talking planned decompression diving or are we talking about what to do if
one accidently exceeds the NDL.  A fine line ... a damn fine line.  In both cases
the diver must remain at a fixed depth(s) for a fixed amount some time to off-gas
If it's planned, then I can't comment ... I'm a PADI divemaster and we don't do 
that :-) .  You need to seek a training organization which condones such diving.

If one accidently exceeds an NDL, well then, do you still have your PADI
Recreational Dive Planner (RDP)?  If so, flip it over to the side with Table 3 on 
it.  Below the table, on the left, there's some printed text.  After the 
statement about not using it to plan decompression dives, you'll see a paragraph 
headed _Emergency Decompression_.  Read it.  It says, "If a no-decompression limit 
is exceeded by no more than 5 mins, an 8-min decompression stop at 15 ft is
mandatory.  Upon surfacing, the diver must remain out of the water for at least 6
hrs prior to making another dive.  If a no-decompression limit is exceeded by
more than 5 mins, a 15 ft decompression stop of no less than 15 mins is urged
(air supply permitting).  Upon surfacing, the diver must remain out of the water
for at least 24 hrs prior to making another dive."  I'll add to this by saying
watch for signs and symptoms of DCS while remaining out of the water.  If they
present themselves, seek medical attention ASAP.  See, PADI hasn't left you SOL. 


-- 
Karl F. Schutz
PADI DM-50321
Newsgroups: rec.scuba