Safety Stop Depth

[methos]

When I go with my friends we usually do the safety stop at around 15' or so

[snagel]

Here is another option that my dive buddies and I do.

Any dive over 60' we do multiple stops. For example, if we go to 80 feet we will split the depth and do a 2 minute safety stop at 40 feet. Then the traditional 3 minute between 20' and 15'.

Typically, we don't just stop at the 40' stop, just level out before acending further.

S. Nagel

[COScubaBob]

You should do a Google search on RGBM

Several of the Dive computers like Suunto and Mares are using this algorithm to calculate the stops, etc. on dives.

There are a lot of links when you do the search and most have some good info on the pros and cons of the methods being taught. This link below had a pretty good overview, and Suunto actually publishes a small booklet that the LDS should have to give you for free (if they're a Suunto dealer).


RGBM

Since I'm a Chemist and a Physicist, the Physiology science of this is all very interesting!

[tnrescuediver]

10 - 12 ft

[comet24]

A safety stop is just that a stop to be safe. I say stay between 10' and 20' and your good.

[Smashee]

4-7m for us metric bods. 3 at 5 or 5 at 5 is the usual.

[cummings66]

I vary depending on the dive, but 3 at 15 works as does 1 at 20 and 2 at 10 and then slow to the surface. I usually will do deeper stops starting at 40 to 50 feet depending on max depth, stop 1 minute each 10 feet up until 10 feet where you do 2 minutes. Old thread here though.

[navyhmc]

Like Snagel, if I do a deep dive, I find the deep stops are a good thing. 100' = 60' and 40' deep stops as well as a 15'-20' safety stop.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by cummings66

I vary depending on the dive, but 3 at 15 works as does 1 at 20 and 2 at 10 and then slow to the surface. I usually will do deeper stops starting at 40 to 50 feet depending on max depth, stop 1 minute each 10 feet up until 10 feet where you do 2 minutes. Old thread here though.

I generally try to do 2min at 20' (or just under) and 1min at 10' (or just over). Oceans move around a lot, and holding a 10' stop for 2 minutes is often tricky... it's safer to do the two minutes at the deeper depth.

The computers are happy as long as you do 15' +/- 5'... so anywhere between 20-10' works.

Plus deep stops, of course, for deeper dives.

[DivingCRNA]

I gotta say, gNats is so happy that this thread is still in circulation 9 months after she started it very early in her dive career!

In her defense-she has about 70 dives under her belt in that time, 2 Lake Huron wreck trips, several days at Oronogo, several days at Gilboa, nitrox, AOW, deep and drysuit certs and is now in a BP/W and has really good buoyancy control.

So, for all those afraid of asking questionable question-they will live on forever, but your diving and knowledge will improve!!!