Scuba diving is an exhilarating activity that allows you to explore the depths of the ocean. With the basic open water certification, a diver can dive to a maximum depth of 18 meters (about 60 feet). However, with more training and specialized courses, you can reach depths of up to 1000 feet or more. Deep diving is any dive greater than 20 meters (60 feet).
In recreational diving, the maximum depth limit is 40 meters (130 feet). The industry standard depth limit for a recreational dive is 130 feet (40 meters). Anything that exceeds 60 feet will require advanced certification. The world's deepest open circuit dive is 332.35 m (1,090 ft).
Herbert Nitsch, the “deepest man on Earth”, holds the record for the deepest freediving at 831 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. The world's deepest dive in a shipwreck was recorded at 205 meters (676 feet) while diving in the Yolanda wreck in Egypt. Ahmed, an Egyptian, plunged into South Sinai with a team of 24 instructors, divers and medical and communication support.
You can also have the option of enrolling in a specialized course in deep diving where you will be trained to dive at a depth of up to 40 meters (140 feet). Diving institutions such as PADI offer certifications for diving in caves, exploring shipwrecks, etc., to enrich your diving experience. 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. All the complexities of deep-sea diving are compounded by the diver's need to carry (or supply) their own gas underwater.
As much as a human can dive at about 2000 feet (and that too with a special atmospheric suit), attempting a 12,000 foot dive is a mortal desire. Blue Hole (Dahab, Egypt, Red Sea): known as one of the most dangerous dive sites in the world due to the number of lives it has claimed. With the right dive equipment, including a dry wetsuit, dive tank, gloves, etc., divers can reach depths of around 1000 feet or more. Therefore, you can also consider enrolling in other specialized courses such as wreck diving, maximum performance buoyancy and enriched air diving. If you're looking to take your scuba diving experience to new depths and explore what lies beneath the surface of the ocean, then deep sea diving is for you. With proper training and certification from an accredited institution such as PADI, you can safely explore depths up to 1000 feet or more.
Whether it's exploring shipwrecks or caves or simply enjoying the beauty of marine life at greater depths, deep sea diving offers an unforgettable experience.
