10 Things You Didn’t Know About Deep Water Diving

By Scuba Diver Life

We know less about our deepest waters than we know about the surface of Mars. Here’s what we do know about deep water diving.

• What Qualifies as Deep Water Diving?

  By Scuba Diver Life

  Recreational diving, according to PADI, is diving from anywhere of 18-40 meters (60-130 feet). Professional diving defines it as requiring special equipment, procedures or training.

• The Current Record

  By Scuba Diver Life

  Egyptian scuba diver Ahmed Gabr descended to 332.35 meters (1066 feet) on September 18, 2014. It took him 14 hours to decompress.

• The ‘Holy Grail’ of Diving

  By Scuba Diver Life

  The holy grail of diving is the 300m (980ft) mark, achieved by diver John Bennet in 2001. Only 12 people have ever dived below 240m (790 ft) on self-contained breathing apparatus recreationally.

• The Speed of Sound

  By Scuba Diver Life

  Sound travels five times faster in the water than it does in air, making it hard to determine its direction underwater. Sound also travels faster in warm water than in cold water.

• Light’s Limit

  By Scuba Diver Life

  At 200 meters, the surface light that allows for planet growth dissipates in crystal clear water.

• Decompression Sickness

  By Scuba Diver Life

  “The bends” is a risk when a diver ascends as bubbles of nitrogen get caught in the joints on an ascent. The effects are delayed until a diver reaches the surface, but are incredibly harmful.

• All Deep Divers Will Experience Narcosis

  By Scuba Diver Life

  Breathing nitrogen at high partial pressure will alter a diver’s state of mind, similar to the effects of alcohol. Narcosis can mess with a diver’s emotions, mind and body until the diver ascends.

• Oxygen Toxicitiy

  By Scuba Diver Life

  Too much oxygen can become toxic, leading to convulsions, unconsicousness and even death. This occurs at approximately 67 meters (218 feet) so it’s something to be aware of.

• Ultimate Diving

  By Scuba Diver Life

  Elite divers are highly trained, experienced and fit, diving below 660 feet/200 meters. Less than 10 divers are known to have dived below a depth of 800 feet on self contained breathing apparatus.

• Ultra Deep Air

  By Scuba Diver Life

  Before the popularity of Trimix (a breathing gas containing, oxygen, helium and nitrogen), many divers tried to break records with conventional air, but died in the process.