Why do people like to go deep?

Lots of divers look for strong underwater sensations. They specialize in cave diving, they penetrate wrecks, they dive under the ice, they drive underwater scooters, they drift along wonderful walls etc. There are many opportunities to get the excitement of going to the limits. One of them is deep diving. But deep diving is not only about challenge and excitement; it is also an opportunity to visit specific dive sites that are located deeper.

What is considered as a deep dive?

In recreational diving a deep dive ranges from 18 to 40 meters. Beyond that it is considered as technical diving and should be performed with specific equipment.

Divers can go to various depths according to their certification level: in the PADI system Open Water divers can dive maximum to 18 meters while Advanced Open Water divers are allowed to reach 30 meters. For those who want to go down to 40 meters, it is compulsory to have a deep certification that proves they have the adequate training.

What changes when we descend deep?

Divers learn during the courses that at greater depths the diving conditions differ. The higher pressure at 40 meters has several implications: we use the air faster than at shallower depth, the nitrogen is absorbed quicker and in greater quantity by our body so the no stop limit is shorter, we need to add more air in our BCD to be neutrally buoyant etc. Also the colors are less bright and our brain works a bit slower. Another issue in deep diving is the possibility to experience nitrogen narcosis. This phenomenon might bring a sense of euphoria to divers when they reach 30 meters. It is not dangerous itself but the divers can get into hazardous situations because the inhibition of their brain can lead to wrong reactions to the problems.

All listed above shows that we need to plan deep dives carefully as we can face more hazards in greater depths. This is why getting a proper training is essential. PADI offers a Deep diver specialty course in which you learn specific techniques like preparation of the equipment, planning of the dives, procedures to deal with potential dangers related to deep diving and many more. This course is very interesting as it combines theory with practice: the student does four dives during which the instructor shows the effect of depth by some exercises in which they experience the change in pressure, colours, speed of thinking,..

Now you know what the next step is if you want to explore deeper dive sites. Take a course that will allow you to reach deeper parts of the ocean: the Advanced Open Water lets you go to 30 meters and the Deep diver specialty will open the doors to the deepest water reachable by recreational divers: 40 meters! More information about the course: http://divingatlantis-tenerife.com/en/services/diving-courses/

Read also:

The Way To Become A Divemaster

Where To Dive Deep In Tenerife