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Deep diving...

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What is the deepest you ever dived?
12 years ago, June 13th 2011 No: 1 Msg: #138266  
What is the deepest you ever dived? I had 39.8m almost 40m in Bali looking for a Mola mola. - In the end we find it!!! I heard some people going down to 50-60m. How did you feel when you reached your deepest level? I'm just curious... Reply to this

12 years ago, June 13th 2011 No: 2 Msg: #138271  
B Posts: 897
Probably 42m in PNG - I lost my dive computer descending in a massive current so we tried to get below the current and I really cant say it was a wow my deepest dive moment because it was basically a bounce down to 42m before finding a coral bombie to work our way up and shelter from the current. I didnt realise how deep we were until everyones computers were compared after the dive. I really have no huge desire to be the deepest diver in the group because im all about looking at things and ive noticed it gets kinda dark and harder to see the deeper you go :-)


Was your Bali dive at Tambulam? Reply to this

12 years ago, June 13th 2011 No: 3 Msg: #138277  
Hi Cindy,
Did you find your dive computer after? I guess it was not an enjoyable dive loosing it and having big current. Myself I hate currents but time to time can be fun.
We were diving next to Nusa Penida Island not far from Bali. To see the Mola Mola is between July and October. For that was worth it but besides that it was too expensive for what it is...
For me the deep dive did not mean anything as I had a broken computer - one of Peters old one which likes to give up all the time - and I just find out about the deepness after we feel up our log book... Reply to this

12 years ago, June 14th 2011 No: 4 Msg: #138288  
B Posts: 897
Hey Maria - No, I never found the computer, it was a gift to the ocean gods :-) we were actually lucky to come up with between 4 of us just a lost computer, a lost mask, one lost fin and one lost pencil! Hanging on the deco line in a current that strong was actually quite good fun even if you did have to hang onto everything - all diving in PNG is enjoyable even the ones where little crocodiles swim past 😉

Penida is actually one of my favourite Indo dive spots - Manta Point at dawn is one of the best dives in Indonesia in my opinion. I regularly return there to dive as Lembongan is one of my favourite little spots to chill out on with good diving around. Crystal bay two years ago had a suprise for us...first of July and a Mola Mola came cruising past when we were not expecting nor looking for one. Indonesia is probably the cheapest diving spot for me based in Western Australia and I have friends who own scubali so always have a good time there.

If you ever get a chance to get back to Penida ask to do a drift dive at SD Point when the current is really pumping - its AWESOME! Reply to this

12 years ago, June 14th 2011 No: 5 Msg: #138292  
I'm only Open Water qualified, so in theory I can't go very deep... however, I've been to 29 mts when we were in Malaysia :o) Reply to this

12 years ago, June 14th 2011 No: 6 Msg: #138328  
B Posts: 897
Ohh forgot to mention the issue of insurance for things like lost dive computers - I check travel insurance to make sure they are covered but I have also heard of specialised sports equipment being given an added levie.

Mine was covered by travel insurance though I do know people who have lost them or have had them smashed and been able to claim through home and contents insurance.

29m is quite deep enough :-) the continental shelf there is only 30m!

I have been considering doing a specialist deep diver course with one of my colleagues who instructs navy clearance divers but weighing up cost, the thought of pulling on the death suit from hell, extra gases and tanks, COLD Water now winter has finally hit us with a vengeance and thought...maybe later. Im pretty sure theres not much to see at 55m thats different to 42m Reply to this

12 years ago, June 14th 2011 No: 7 Msg: #138333  
Dany and Dax,
I hope one day you'll be able to make your advance and go deeper. It's fun and you can see more creatures of the sea and ocean.
Cindy,
It's good to know that your computer was covered by travel insurance! Did you manage to buy a new one by the price of the cover? I wish to try out myself at deeper than 40m but the most important thing is what I can see under the water.
I do not have a dive computer at the moment - I do use the second dive computer of Peter which is not accurate all the time... I can't relay on that... Most of the time I do check Peters to feel myself safe...
Reply to this

12 years ago, June 15th 2011 No: 8 Msg: #138397  


Ok-- so this was a test for me as an American who thinks in feet instead of meters. I can remember very clearly being a child of ten years or so and being told that America would be switching to the metric system in a couple of years and to prepare.

The calculator I used said that 40meters is 131 feet. My deepest dive was 138 feet and I doubt I would go that deep again. I got narced out....and interesting experience that I don't care to experience again.
Yes, I know I do not need to go that deep for it to happen but I believe it was a contributing factor.

I find there is plenty to see a bit shallower.
I guess I'm not as daring as I used to be.


Reply to this

12 years ago, June 15th 2011 No: 9 Msg: #138415  
B Posts: 897
LOL ive narked out at 15m - probably something to do with indulging in local papuan booie and betel the night before! I actually rather enjoy the feeling of initial narking coming on but no, narking is never a good thing!

If your insurance is specified new for old coverage you shouldnt have any trouble - I didnt, they just asked me to send in two quotes for similar items and sent me a cheque which covered the cheaper one. I think you must check to see if your policy covers new for old as its called in Australia.

Ok, im going to admit something - I often dive without a computer. My dive log books are shocking. In places there are gaps of a couple of years between logged dives!. I am very much a guages girl - I LIKE my old fashioned guage console. It tells me how deep I am (need to know that) it tells me which direction I am going in (need to know that) and it tells me water temp and how much air I have left (need to know that too,really need to know that!)- I can work out surface intervals etc using the old tables method. I guess it comes from having a father who dived in the pioneering days of the sport before BCDs were invented.

I actually love non conventional diving - how does one measure depth and not lose canoe while diving out of a dugout canoe? Local method..pace out 32 m of rope, tie rope to leg, tie other end of rope to canoe! Perfect! No computer needed :-) Reply to this

12 years ago, June 15th 2011 No: 10 Msg: #138453  
Dave and Merry,
I have a funny story about the mater and feet. It was in the beginning of my dive life when we went to Hawaii - Kona where we had two dives.
I had no clue ( I mean I was still nervous about diving) that on the regulator is not in meters, it's in feet.
When I had to have my safety stop with Peter - we had an "argument" under the water when I wanted to go up more than 5m. After a few min he realized that I am confused about the feet and showed me his dive computer. And that was the time when I've got the clue that he is right about not letting me go more higher... That time it was scary but looking back - we have big lough about it all the time :D.
Cindy,
I am ok without a dive computer also, but when is comes to time and I don't know how long I've been under the water makes me frustrated. About deepness I do not bother as it's on the regulator. So time to time I do want to know the time and go closer to Peter to show me his dive computer. Besides that I do rely on my reg and trying to not go deeper than Peter. Than I am safe 😉
Reply to this

12 years ago, June 15th 2011 No: 11 Msg: #138458  
Maria- your story made me laugh.
That old feet/meter thing can be an issue.


When I learned to dive they didn't have computers yet. We do find that it gives us more bottom time. Plus it keeps track of the dive details should you want to log it in your book.
Reply to this

12 years ago, June 18th 2011 No: 12 Msg: #138642  
I have my deepest dive 125 feet.Can go further but my buddy say's no.It was great.I have friend's doing 160 feet without the Instructor's knowledge.But it's best around 80 feet.Bottom time 4o mins,I have a small chest.So far 180 dives,Last Dive was in Pulau Weh Banda Aceh.Favourite place so far Pulau Tenggol Malaysia.Visibilty great! From April to Sept.
Reply to this

12 years ago, July 28th 2011 No: 13 Msg: #141182  
My deepest was in Gilli T at a dive site called Deep Turbo - 45metres. Nothing to write home about though, all it does is diminishes your air supply quicker!
In response to: Msg #138642 Reply to this

12 years ago, July 28th 2011 No: 14 Msg: #141187  


The few times I have made deep dives (and that is not many) I have been disappointed with what is down there. I feel the same way you do in that it just diminishes your air supply quicker.

Reply to this

12 years ago, July 28th 2011 No: 15 Msg: #141200  
Always do the deepest dive first! To share with you !Runaway accent is always common among new divers !Always deflate your BCD completely when you are about to surface!It's dangerous especially in a busy area. Reply to this

12 years ago, October 23rd 2011 No: 16 Msg: #145689  
B Posts: 897
48.4m m now or 157ish feet i believe. Was a bounce dive doing some tech diving training through the week...

Nothing to see down there except the thought of what you cant see (read shark danger thread) cold and use up all your air.

If you are going to deep dive make sure you do a course with someone before just deciding to go down as far as you can to beat a friends record or something. Things can go wrong easily. Reply to this

12 years ago, October 23rd 2011 No: 17 Msg: #145695  

The few times I've done a deep dived I've always been disappointed at the lack of things to see....and I guess that is good since you get very little bottom time. Reply to this

12 years ago, November 1st 2011 No: 18 Msg: #146275  
B Posts: 5,200
A small note of caution - diving on air (as we recreational divers do) - is dangerous at extreme depth, hence the charts that the agencies produce and some of the depth limits.

Depths past 60m (200ft) can result in oxygen toxicity - to get a little more technical - the partial pressure of oxygen at that depth exceeds 1.4 bar based on 21%!o(MISSING)xygen + nitrogen mix (air), diving on nitrox with increased percentages of oxygen can result in oxygen toxicity shallower than that! Oxygen toxicity symptoms include spasms, vomiting and loss of control - not something you want underwater breathing through a hose...

If you tie that in with nitrogen narcosis - the fact that air runs out faster, the increased risk of the bends, or bolting to the surface - deep diving is something I'm only comfortable with when my buddies are experienced as well.

I'm happy to dive up to 40m - and have exceeded that on a few occasions by a little - 44m was the deepest on my old computer - I dropped down deeper to see a big shark on that occasion. Mostly - unless there is a wreck or randomly something big down there - the best diving is generally above 30m.

If the depths really do have a pull on you - time to start technical diving, mixing up gas blends and taking several tanks....

Interestingly - the free diving depth record is 273m! - wikipedia - that has a whole host of additional risks.

. Reply to this

12 years ago, November 2nd 2011 No: 19 Msg: #146375  
B Posts: 897
I cannot agree with you strongly enough Ali - I no longer am interested in pissing contests - I hear so many people talking about having dived at 50m at Koh Doc Mai (impossible anyway as they would need a big shovel after hitting the contental shelf at 30m) I just smile now and nod...there is no award for stupid diver of the month, or if there is, I dont want to be in the running for it.

There really are very few reasons to do deep diving as a sport diver unless its a particular wreck - eg - mini sub in Milne Bay in PNG - theres nothing much to see and your chances of encountering problems increase exponentially with every metre.

Diving to me is not a competitive sport, its something I do because I enjoy it. Yes I want to dive the worlds best dive spots and with travel diving there comes a whole new set of factors to take into account.

I admit staring into the abyss holds a particular fascination for me which is why I did a deep diving specialty course and will be doing a trimex course this weekend (given that we do not have beaches closed again due to the large number of great whites prowling around at the moment and three fatal attacks in a 6 week period there is reasonable cause for beaches being shut and divers being overly cautious).

On the subject of courses and safety - Id like to raise another issue so will start a new thread rather than muddy this one 😊 Reply to this

12 years ago, November 2nd 2011 No: 20 Msg: #146391  

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