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Deep Diving: A Complete Guide for the Advanced Open Water Course

The Deep Dive: Unlocking a New World Beneath the Waves

 

Welcome to the first detailed article in Amadive’s Advanced Open Water Dive Theory series. One of the most exciting reasons to upgrade your certification is the ability to explore what lies beyond the 18-meter (60-foot) limit of the Open Water course. The Deep Adventure Dive is your door to that world.

This article will explain everything you need to know about this mandatory Adventure Dive, from its appeal and the challenges to be aware of, to the skills you will practice.

Deep Dive

1. Why Dive Deep? The Allure of the Abyss

  • New Discoveries: Many famous shipwrecks, impressive coral walls, and underwater caverns are located at depths greater than 18 meters.
  • Diverse Marine Life: Certain marine species, like larger sharks and rays, often prefer to live or travel in deeper, cooler waters.
  • The Sense of Adventure: There’s an undeniable thrill to hovering in the deep blue, looking up and seeing the surface far away.

 

2. Challenges and Key Knowledge

Diving deeper means you need more knowledge and more careful planning.

  • Shorter No-Decompression Limits (NDLs): The deeper you go, the faster your body absorbs nitrogen. This means the time you can safely stay at depth (your NDL) becomes significantly shorter. Closely monitoring your dive computer is paramount.
  • Nitrogen Narcosis: This is a neurological phenomenon caused by breathing compressed air at high pressure. It can cause symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication: impaired judgment, slow reaction times, and feelings of euphoria or anxiety. The most important skill you learn is to recognize these symptoms and the simple solution: ascend to a shallower depth.
  • Faster Air Consumption: The air you breathe at 30 meters (4 ATA) is four times denser than at the surface. This means you will consume the air in your tank much more quickly. Careful gas planning and management are mandatory.
  • Color Loss: Water absorbs light, starting with long-wavelength colors like red and orange. At depth, everything will appear blue or gray. You’ll learn the importance of carrying a dive torch to see the true colors of corals and marine life.

 

3. Skills You Will Practice

 

During your Deep Adventure Dive with an Amadive instructor, you will:

  • Plan a deep dive in detail, including gas management and contingency planning.
  • Observe color changes at depth by using a color slate.
  • Perform a simple mental task on the bottom to experience the mild effects of narcosis in a controlled environment.
  • Practice a slow, controlled ascent and a perfect safety stop.

 

Conclusion

 

Deep diving opens up a fascinating part of the underwater world, but it demands respect and knowledge. The Deep Adventure Dive in the AOW course equips you with the skills and confidence to do it safely.

➡️ Next, let’s explore the second mandatory skill that will make you more confident than ever: Mastering Underwater Navigation