If you do scuba diving regularly, you sure ask yourself “How far can I dive?” Unfortunately, there is no specific depth to be the answer for this question, as the maximum depth you can reach while scuba diving will depend on several factors. The important ones are the certification level you have and your diving type.

How Far Can I Dive?

As we mentioned before, the maximum depth you can reach depends on your certification level in addition to the type of scuba diving you are doing. 

For instance, the maximum depth you can reach in recreational diving is 130 feet (40 meters). In other types such as technical diving, the maximum depth will depend on the dive planning guidelines and the limits of your certification level.

The depth limits for every scuba diving certification are:

• Open Water Diver Certification: 60 feet (18 meters).
• Advanced Open Water Diver Certification: 100 feet (30 meters).
• Deep Diver Certification: 130 feet (30 meters).
• Technical Diver Certification: 147-180 feet (45-55 meters).
• Normicic Trimix Diver Certification: 213 feet (65 meters).
• Full Trimix Diver Certification: 395-330 feet (90-100 meters).

Why is 40 meters the maximum depth you can reach for recreational divers?

The different diving organizations have put the 40 meters (140 feet) to be the maximum depth you can reach in case of recreational diving to protect scuba divers from the dangers in deeper depths. There are many factors that contribute to the risks associated with diving in deeper depths, including:

• Decreased Bottom Times

The amount of time you are able to spend underwater decreases while you are diving in deeper depths. This is because the increased pressure and as a result, you will need longer decompression stops. So, you will have little time to explore the world beneath the waves and end your dive quickly before your air tank runs out.

• The risk of Decompression Sickness

It is considered a life-threatening condition that can occur when a diver exceeds his no-decompression limits or doesn’t follow the procedures of proper decompression. Diving in deeper depths increases the risk of decompression sickness because it requires longer decompression stops.

• The Risk of Nitrogen Narcosis

nitrogen gas is one of the gasses of the air that we breathe and dissolves in high quantity in our bloodstream in case of high pressure causing several sedative symptoms of the Nitrogen Narcosis:

• Reduced cognitive abilities.
• Poor judgement.
• Unconsciousness.

In deeper depths, more nitrogen dissolves into your bloodstream and the symptoms can become more severe.

• The Risk of Hypercapnia

In deeper depths, the density of the breathing gas increases. According to many scientific studies, there is a specific gas density, higher if this causes increasing in carbon dioxide levels in the body. This can cause both Hypercapnia and CO2 Narcosis. There are limits on gas density recommended by Diver’s Alert Network (DAN).