Most recreational divers rarely go beyond 130 feet, but commercial divers can use wetsuits to dive to depths of up to 2000 feet. Some recreational divers have even gone as deep as 1000 feet and survived the experience. Deep diving is defined as a dive that exceeds 60 feet (18.28 meters). This means that most people can safely dive to a maximum of 60 feet.
For free diving, the limit is usually 20 feet (6.09 meters). Experienced divers can explore underwater reefs at depths of up to 40 feet (12.19 meters). To dive at such great depths, you'll need a special mix of gases in the air supply to prevent the narcotic effect of compressed nitrogen from taking hold. With the right dive equipment, including a dry wetsuit, dive tank, gloves, etc., divers can reach depths of around 1000 feet or more.
The average depth for technical divers is 130 to 330 feet, depending on the dive site and other conditions that may affect the dive. For very deep dives, you need a special gas mixture to help you breathe comfortably and combat the effects of nitrogen narcosis when you dive. With more training, you can obtain the advanced open water diving certification that will allow you to dive to a depth of 30 meters (about 100 feet). For diving above 100 feet, the specialized deep diving course is highly recommended to learn how deep diving affects the body and how to properly prepare for an ascent from depth.
Diving institutions such as PADI offer certifications for diving in caves, exploring shipwrecks, etc., to enrich your diving experience. If you want to dive a little deeper, the advanced open water certification will teach you more about diving above 60 feet. The world record for the deepest dive was set by an Egyptian, Ahmed Gabr, who completed his dive of more than 1,000 feet in the Red Sea and is considered to be the deepest dive in history. Technical diving includes numerous tanks, including those found on the diver and those found on the ascent line. According to the PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors), the estimated deepest depth that recreational divers can reach is about 130 feet, but their time to explore is very limited due to water pressure and compressed air becoming a threat to their health.
Recreational dive tables were developed to help divers understand how long they can stay at certain depths and how deep they can go. With practice, you can dive safely to explore greater depths without any diving equipment. The heliox mix can be used for dives of up to 300 meters (984 feet), but if you want to go deeper, you'll have to replace the helium in the tank with hydrogen as helium will begin to have a narcotic effect. William Trubridge, a 30-year-old New Zealander, is the first man to dive 121 meters (396 feet) without assistance. Diving at extreme depths requires specialized training and equipment. It's important for divers to understand their limits and be aware of their surroundings when exploring underwater environments.
With proper preparation and safety protocols in place, it's possible for humans to safely explore depths of up to 1000 feet or more.
