Safety Stop Depth

[gNats]

Hi everyone,

In reading other posts regarding safety stops, I have a question that wasn't really answered specifically.

When doing a 3 min safety stop, is there a min/max depth you should be at?

At what depth does the 3 min stop not count (because you are still too deep) and what is the minimum depth (from surface) that you should not ascend over?

On a recent dive, I did a 3 minute safety stop at a table that was in 18ft of water, just below the stairs to exit the quarry. I sat my bum on the table and drew in the algae on the table to pass the time.

[No Misses]

The recommendation is 10-20'.

[fisheater]

Sitting at a table at 18' sounds like a perfect safety stop to me.

[texdiveguy]

For a recreational NDL dive safety stop anywhere between 10-20ft. is fine with 15ft. being a nice target. 3-5minutes is great......also remember that this 'time' can be spent slowly diving in this suggested depth range and not just sitting in one spot (assuming the setting your diving allows for this//lake,quarry etc.). These stops are optional in NDL diving BUT very much recommended! Have fun and dive safely.

[SynCitizen]

Here is some trivia that is not trivial....

Originally Posted by jbanks27

For those of you who don't know the reason for 3 minutes, it is because that is the average amount of time it takes for your blood to completly circulate through your body 1 time. It is a matter of safety for off gassing and getting rid of the nitrogen accumulation that occurs during breathing compressed gasses.

Safety stops are allways a recommended practice and should simply be a part of your dive planning routine.

Original thread.

[ReefHound]

10-20 foot as stated. My Suunto starts counting at 19 foot and my Nitek Duo starts at 20 foot. If you drop below the count is suspended and resumes once you get back within the range. In the ocean I tend to stop at the deeper end of the range to minimize buoyancy changes and effects dues to waves and surge. As tex said, make the stop enjoyable. Then you won't feel compelled to get out of there as soon as the computer clears. Something newer divers often overlook is that last 10 or 15 foot ascent. It should be done very very slowly. Too often I see divers make a nice slow ascent to the stop, wait out the stop, then quickly pop to the surface.

[ppo2_diver]

I've been doing something different for the past couple years. I've been doing 1 minute at 30 feet, 1 minute at 20 feet, and 1 minute at 10 feet. It reduces the chance of bubble growth, as bubbles form more easier from 15 feet to the surface than at 30 feet. Plus, it forces you to control your ascent and focus on slowing down. Which is always a good thing on ascents.

[gNats]

Originally Posted by texdiveguy

For a recreational NDL dive safety stop anywhere between 10-20ft. is fine with 15ft. being a nice target. 3-5minutes is great......also remember that this 'time' can be spent slowly diving in this suggested depth range and not just sitting in one spot (assuming the setting your diving allows for this//lake,quarry etc.). These stops are optional in NDL diving BUT very much recommended! Have fun and dive safely.

I don't know why, but I had this idea in my noggin' that I needed to "be still" during the 3 minute safety stop.

I believe my Suunto Cobra begins the countdown at 20'. I know it shows a ceiling of 10'. I'll have to remember to keep flippering around between that range and enjoy myself.

[gNats]

Originally Posted by ReefHound

10-20 foot as stated. My Suunto starts counting at 19 foot and my Nitek Duo starts at 20 foot. If you drop below the count is suspended and resumes once you get back within the range. In the ocean I tend to stop at the deeper end of the range to minimize buoyancy changes and effects dues to waves and surge. As tex said, make the stop enjoyable. Then you won't feel compelled to get out of there as soon as the computer clears. Something newer divers often overlook is that last 10 or 15 foot ascent. It should be done very very slowly. Too often I see divers make a nice slow ascent to the stop, wait out the stop, then quickly pop to the surface.

2nd Question:

I have this cork thing going between 6 ft and the surface. As I ascend I keep an eye on my computer for ascent rate warnings. As soon as I pass 10', I go to the 2nd bar and 6', I am getting the SLOW warning.

When I reach the surface I've dumped all of the air out of my drysuit and BCD is empty.

Is this an indication that I am underweighted at the end of my dive or experience?

[MSilvia]

Originally Posted by gNats

I have this cork thing going between 6 ft and the surface. As I ascend I keep an eye on my computer for ascent rate warnings. As soon as I pass 10', I go to the 2nd bar and 6', I am getting the SLOW warning.

When I reach the surface I've dumped all of the air out of my drysuit and BCD is empty.

Is this an indication that I am underweighted at the end of my dive or experience?

It's an indication you're underweighted. You should be able to arrest your ascent at any point in the dive. That said, with experience you might be able to do that with less weight.