Deep Diver (42 M)

One of the most unique sensations in diving is the feeling of deep diving. The diver turns their head upwards and watches the daylight recede, sees the tens of meters of water above them, and feels the immense space in which they hover. Their weight increases, the air they breathe feels denser, and the immense power of the sea engulfs them.

Many dive destinations exist which are deeper than 30 meters. These sites are still within the range of recreational diving and are well-suited for experienced divers. Such divers, if they gain the necessary knowledge and experience for such dives, can expand the range and diversity of their diving exploits.

The planning and execution of deep dives requires an abundance of caution and thought, and requires addressing risks which are not typically associated with shallower dives. It is imperative that the diver that takes on deep dives will know and understand the risks and limitations, appraise them in the planning stage, and have the ability to change the dive plan on the fly in the face of unexpected situations.

Learning objectives

The aim of the Deep Diver class is to provide the diver with the knowledge and skills to safely perform dives deeper than 30msw, by gradually exposing the diver to increasing depths under the supervision of an experienced instructor.

This class is an added means to increasing the diver’s skills, knowledge, and the ability to deal with complex diving situations.

It is important to stress that this class is not meant to encourage divers to perform deeper dives as an extreme activity, but to expand their skills and enable them to deal better with complex developing and emergency situations.

Prerequisites

1. Must be certified as a Two Star diver or equivalent – Junior Two Star certification not applicable.
2. Must have a minimum of 40 logged dives.
3. Must be certified as a Rescue Diver or equivalent.

Class structure and topics:

The class runs for 3 days and includes one classroom session and three in-water modules (dives).

The classroom session includes the following topics:

• Risks stemming from performing deep dives.
• Planning deep dives.
• Dive profile planning.
• Diving with mixed gasses as a means of mitigating risk.

The in-water modules will include 3 dives:

The students will spend the majority of class duration underwater and gain incremental exposure to depths ranging from 33msw to 42msw.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that students complete their NITROX specialty before or during the Deep Diver class.