Safety Stops To Do Or Not To Do That Is The Question

Safety Stops To Do Or Not To Do That Is The Question
Here is a great discussion about Safety Stops. Are they required or not. We will look at several different sources including Wikipedia, a Scuba Training Agency, and a Dive Computer manufacture and see what they say about Safety Stops. Let us know down below your thoughts.
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[@lkndiver8186]

I Always do a safety stop.... good time to practice a static hover and check trim at the end of the dive...always good to practice buoyancy skills ...

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Very True. We use them a lot, especially if we are filming our dive, as a way to film and critique each other on our buoyancy and trim.

[@dharmapunk5]

Most of my dives are in the 25 to 40 ft range as I'm still pretty new. Very rarely do I skip a safety stop I'm trying to develop and maintain good habits.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Developing good habits is a good thing. Keep up the safe diving.

[@JC-ux6fx]

You seem like an awesome instructor, keep up the good work!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thank You J C for the kind words.

[@staceywilkinson8603]

Great video. Easy to understand. I always make a safety stop. Better safe than sorry.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello @staceywilkinson8603, I agree, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

[@jackjackattack9137]

Merry Christmas to all, been watching alot. Planning my training this spring with my two sons which they are 15 and 14 and as a father I will always and always make them a do a safety stop every dive. Ive always wanted to dive and they are very very interested. Plus, I feel its a great life skill for them. Thank you for sharing it really helps alot !

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Merry Christmas to you as well jackjackattack. I think it is awesome you you will be sharing your scuba diving journey with your sons. That is something my father did with me, and I'm currently doing with my children as well.

[@orlandoochoamendez6508]

Another great video! I always perform a safety stop, I was trained to do so and it's actually really fun.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

It's a great way to relax, at the end of a very relaxing dive.

[@shivsreekumar3315]

Beautiful video! I had a great instructor in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania called Mr Joseph. He always had us do safety stops but also always planned our dives so they would be no-stops. I suppose it is just an added precaution that is always good to have. Thanks again for the help!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Shiv Sreekumar, your Instructor has a great point of view in the subject. Always do one, but always plan to where they are never needed. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@SummersideDiver]

Yes to safety stop. It may not be required on all dives, but it’s definitely a great habit to keep. Moving safety stops are the best, but they’re not always possible.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You are correct @SummersideDiver, its always a good habit to keep.

[@DD-xp4ui]

brotha you are a very good educator. I hope you are making a lot of money in your career. You deserve more than most to be highly successful in your field. keep up the videos and stay safe

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thank You for the kind words, that means a lot.

[@boblindner5808]

I should come to (or more accurately back to) North Carolina and visit your shop and dive with you guys. Best channel on scuba on KZbin.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks Bob Lindner. You are more than welcome to come dive with us anytime.

[@bubbagump726]

We do for anything under 30ft as much practice for deeper dives and habit. Great video keep it up!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks Mike, will do. Hope all is well, haven't seen you in a while.

[@gfab1025]

I'm a new Scuba diver. Certified in Open Water, advanced open water with Nitrox. Up until this point, my instructors taught me to always do a 3 minute safety stop at 15 feet. So... now..... That's what I do.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Anti ScumBag, that is a great philosophy to have. Its always better to be safe than sorry.

[@RuntimePictures]

When I am recreational diving I always do a safety stop especially if I'm doing multi day repetitive dives. Its also a great way to practice SMB deployment. Other divers see me deploy and hover effortlessly at 15 feet and it motivates them to get into the practice of deploying one

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Definitely a great time to practice deployment of an SMB.

[@ThisEpicLife]

Yes, I always do... simply because it's very good practice, and every organized dive I've ever been on did one. I almost always dive solo, but it's still a good habit that was taught to me on any chartered dive or training dive I've ever done.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us This Epic Life.

[@DavidPattersonS]

Great video thanks!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You’re welcome

[@cosmicsurfer736]

Great info..thanks man

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You're welcome Cosmic Surfer, glad you liked the video.

[@johnmichaelsaraceno2851]

Great disscusion...Better to do, than wish you had.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Always better to be safe than sorry.

[@gee4526]

I personally do a safety stop on every dive, even if I go no deeper than 30ft. not because I have to, but I like me and the more I can do to be safe the better I feel and as you said it shortens my surface interval if I plan on doing additional dives.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. In certain situations they may not be need, but they it never hurts to do one. And at the least, it gives you an extra 3 minutes underwater.

[@HokuSeaglassHawaii]

Why put myself at risk? Yes I always do a 3 minute safety stop.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Always better to be on the safe side.

[@deerlakediver5554]

We always stop. Good practice at buoyancy control. You can never be too good at it. Good time to chill out after the dive, and in heavily populated areas it gives good opportunity to listen close for boat traffic.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

All great points, thanks Mark.

[@TheMuhaAdventures]

When I dive in the ocean I always perform a safety stop . However when I dive in Lake Michigan or several of the lakes around our home we plan our dive as shore dives and plan our ascent back to the shore to follow the gradual shallowing back to the shoreline

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks for the information Jeff muha. Most of our lake and quarry dives are planned the same way.

[@inbetwheens]

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MOST CONSERVATIVE BEST PRACTICE ---- it's YOUR life !!!! do a safety stop when reaching minimum req. depth

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

That is definitely the safest thing to do.

[@gee4526]

Hey Bryan, my take on safety stops is this... Always Do A Safety stop.. like any habit, if you do short or shallow dives most of the time and neglect the safety stops. Because you dont really need it. Then when you do that deep or long dive, you may forget about the need for the stop simply because your not used to doing them, so always do a stop so it becomes a normal actuvity.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

That is what we always recommend. Having a good set of habits to start with will always make us safer while under water.

[@yakinupfish632]

Safety Stop 100% of the time. Even on my 35-40ft shore dives I do all the time at Radio Island. It's just safer and Safety is never stupid. I choose to do a safety stop on every dive, even the shallow ones to build the "muscle memory" and ensure they are always done on my deeper dives as well.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

We agree, Safety is always Better.

[@benevolenthighwayman882]

When I do a shore dive, I like to ascend to 18 feet, shoot a toward shore and start swimming. After 3 minutes, I level off at 15 feet and continue swimming in toward shore at 15 feet until I either get low on air or reach the surf zone. Sometimes, I swim all the way into the beach at 5'.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

This is the exact same way we do most of our Checkout dives in the lake and in our local quarry. Hanging out in one spot for 3 minutes can get pretty boring at times.

[@davidhubble5283]

Doing a safety stop fo sho - thanks for the insight.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video @davidhubble5283.

[@johnmilsom2179]

Smart is smart👍

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

This is very true John Milsom.

[@wib1400]

Thank you for choosing to translate into Arabic, I have benefited a lot from you

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You are very welcome. Glad our videos are helpful.

[@brianmccallister2981]

In the 35 years of diving I have always done a 15ft safety stop. If nothing else it let's you see if there is any local boat traffic. At the stop is when I deploy the dumb so my pickup boat has a heads up to where I am at....

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Brian Mccallister, you make a great point, deploying a DSMB is a great thing to do during the safety stop.

[@jhkleinberg2]

It depends for me. If I'm 60 feet or more yes. Anything under 60 feet depends if I'm doing a second dive or not and what % of nitrox I'm running if any.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Nitrox definitely makes a difference with on gassing of nitrogen.

[@yjawhar]

Love your channel, man! If you haven't already, can you make a video about deep stops?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thank You, and yes we will be happy to make a video on deep stops.

[@yjawhar]

LakeHickoryScuba i finally got my SSI OW & AA license thanks to your videos and advice! You're the best!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Congratulations. Great Job, and we are happy that our videos helped you.

[@johnboylong40]

My wife and I do some kind of training every dive. Mask removal etc. a safety stop is always a must for us and that came in handy when diving in Hawaii. Had we skipped safety stops it would have been a foreign exercise at that point. If your always thinking safety and practicing something regularly odds are you’ll live to dive another day. Oh and in the words of Jester in Top Gun... you never, never leave your wingman. Stick with your dive buddy. They can save your life and vice versa. Safe diving everyone! 👌

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You make a great point johnboylong40, Safety Stops gives the diver a great opportunity to work on skills.

[@patggreen77]

hi thanks for the video. My experience is to always do a safety stop except: Boat Captain aborts dive (say due to bad weather and signals immediate return), lost buddy or divemaster signals abort dive (whatever reason) and no safety stop. In 700 dives this hasn't happened to me more than twice. Sometimes this is covered in the dive briefing.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

We encourage all to do one, unless an emergency or situation (as you stated) prevents it. Thanks for commenting.

[@patggreen77]

Pretty impressive! Never seen such a quick response before! I guess you're reading emails with your breakfast or something, it's 16.35 here in the UK

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Something like that. I'm on a lunch break from teaching a class. It's currently 11:37am Eastern Standard Time, here in North Carolina, in the US.

[@retireeslife4013]

Always

[@DominickFighera]

As for me I would make a safety stop anytime I went below 10 m to place myself as a conservative diver, "note" I haven't received my Open water certification, yet my instructor and the instructions provided to me it was suggested that I practice making a safety stop at 5 m for 3 minutes after each dive, air cylinder permitting.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello dominick fighera, its always good to be conservative while diving. I encourage Safety Stops on all dives as well. This of course being if the entire dive in itself isn't just one big safety stop. Most training dives with new students are 20 feet and less, thus, the entire dive is considered a Safety Stop.

[@benosborne6062]

Good analysis. What would you recommend when it comes to the maximum amount of gas to draw out of your tank safely. I have heard of people worried when they ended a dive at 1000 psi, some at 800, and others that say planning to 500-600 is ok. Could you give your professional opinion? I personally think that only using 2/3 of a 3000psi tank seems like a waste. Taking unnecessary risks under water is unacceptable but would it be unreasonable to go down to 300-500 if you are swimming just below your boat while exploring at a shallow depth?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Ally Amber, I will try to keep this as brief as possible. I personally believe in the rule of thirds. I feel that its always best to end the dive with at least one third of your over all gas supply for emergencies. With this being said though, each dive is different. I have made thousands of dives on shallow reefs, and ended my dive with 500psi, 400psi, 300psi, etc. etc. It will always be up to the individual diver and what they feel is the best for them. My suggestion to you is this, pick a number that you feel comfortable with, and end the dive with that amount. If you say 500 psi is safe for you, then end your dive at 500 psi. By ending the dive, this of course means being out of the water. So if 500 psi is your bottom, then don't wait until you have 500 psi left then surface, but surface and be out of the water with 500 psi. Hope this helps, and answers your question.

[@tonyhouk9047]

Did a stop at 3 feet today after my deep dive to 12 feet. Blew all my nitrogen out. Just checking new gear and getting some bottom time. Tony

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Tony Houk, any day diving is a good day. I enjoy testing new gear out as well.

[@tonyhouk9047]

@@LakeHickoryScuba went to the dive shop to get my weight down for the gear I was using. In a 3mil shorty, Lycra onesie, and the rest of my dive gear I was wearing 22 pounds on my dive trip. Found out the other day I only needed ten pounds. I bought a new bcd that I couldn’t figure out how to easily dump the air so I used a lot of air when we were under to compensate. Felt stupid that I didn’t do a weight check while we were on the boat. Live and learn. Have a great dive. Tony

[@Lionheart2323]

We always do one

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Its definitely the safest bet.

[@kathyweigelhi-lophotovideo2984]

Always, always...for the 3-4 mins sacrificed is well worth the potential gain.

[@clarkeysam]

The only times I would avoid a safety stop would be in an emergency (lost buddy, etc) or when the depth of the dive has been insufficient (if I've been diving to 6m I wouldn't differentiate the dive and safety stop part of the dive).

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You make a great point clarkeysam. Dives say 20ft and less, would be a safety stop in its self.

[@norbertosalazarzagaglia6216]

As I have unfortunately had a bent due to an infiltration after an operation, The hiperbaric doctor told me not to skip it and even make it longer if enough air left

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello NORBERTO SALAZAR ZAGAGLIA, sorry to here you got bent, and I would always encourage you to follow the recommendations of your Health Care Provider.

[@norbertosalazarzagaglia6216]

@@LakeHickoryScuba Thanks Bryan for your answer and advice, that happened 10 years ago, And no permanent injury, just nitrogen overdose...still diving

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

That's good to know. Stay safe.

[@norbertosalazarzagaglia6216]

@@LakeHickoryScuba Thanks a lot Bryan! and thanks to your advices I definitely will be

[@DaveMovold]

Dive computers these days, sure do make it easy for you, your NDL etc. I always plan a 3 minute safety stop, but depending on the dive conditions my computer lets me know.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

This is so true. Computers make diving so much simpler compared to back in the day.

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Safety stops are a good habit to develop

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Totally agree.

[@dankitchel987]

I dive an aqualung i300c. It sometimes want me to do a 40ft stop on deep dives. When i break the 100ft mark. Can you explain this please? decompression model

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

In short, it is referring to a deep stop. There is a lot of debate on whether or not deep stops are beneficial. We did a video talking about deep stops that you may find interesting. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6C4dqyqmJxleLs

[@rob_9876]

If you needed to surface to look for an anchored boat or other navigation reasons, would you do a safety stop before taking a peek on the surface, or would you do it afterward - at the end of the dive?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

rob9876 It would be dependent on how deep I had been and for how long. In general, I teach new divers to simply follow their computer in regards to Safety Stops. Since computers are the most conservative way to dive, compared to tables, it never hurts to follow their directions during a dive.

[@rob_9876]

@@LakeHickoryScuba Thanks for the quick reply!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You’re welcome

[@ptjones57]

I follow whatever my computer tells me to do, which is below 33ft it tells me to do a safety stop. Computers are fantastic. I am 62 years old, still diving incident free. I plan to dive into my 70s. I am a recreational diver and enjoy the sea. I will cut a great dive short if my computer tells me to so I can do more great dives later. One bad dive can make all of that super wonderful equipment you bought worthless. Dive safe and you can outlast your equipment (but that is ok, you can buy more).

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

That is a great philosophy you got there. Always better to be safe than sorry.

[@pirateturns360]

I have my nitrox and 80cf tanks. Unless I break that 100ft depth I skip it unless my dive buddy is on air and needs to do one. Shore dives on the west coast of Florida you will rarely find more than 30ft however I do know a spot about 500yrds out that reaches 64ft.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello pirateturns360, this is something that I feel like a lot of divers tend to overlook. Dives that are 20 feet and less is technically a safety stop in itself. I have seen divers overthink safety stops to the point they will make very shallow dives only to come up 5 feet for 3 extra minutes then end the dive. At the end of the day, its important to remember planned dives using either a dive computer or dive tables are already conservative by nature, as the algorithms are conservative. Thus, Safety Stops are never required. They are a good thing to practice though and still recommended by most of the training agencies.

[@pirateturns360]

@@LakeHickoryScuba I get that. My point is that I took the nitrox class and pay an extra $5 for nitrox fills. I'm going to take advantage of that. Like I said I have 80s and unless I dive below 100ft I don't do a safety stop. Unless I'm with a dive buddy who's on air. I know the books and teaching is beyond conservative, but I come from the old school. Been diving since the 80s and even on air never made safety stops. But then again rarely broke 30ft. It does get frustrating when I'm paired up on a boat with the guy whose computer tells him what to do and I surface with 1500psi and our dive ended after 35 minutes. Then hovering 10ft off the bottom. I'm thinking I paid good money for this. And let's not forget this past year and a half. We're definitely moving the safety goal posts. And most divers think this is the law like they will get sited for violation.

[@charlescox8497]

Always do safety stops unless there is some exceptional reason not to. Research shows that bubble count actually INCREASES after a diver surfaces for bout 20 minutes or so, but this increase is much less if the diver has done a safety stop. So, especially if you’re doing multiple dives, do your safety stops!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Agreed.

[@OrenNoah]

Always. And I'm rather fanatic about coming up S-L-O-W-L-Y from that stop. Too many divers pop right up afterwards. Those last 15 feet or so are the most important to get right.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

I agree, slow ascents are always the best.

[@rivelinophillip3074]

Hey thanks for the extra knowledge. Newbie here does it also mean that every accent should be practiced as a cesa?

[@erictaylor3943]

Highlight the E in cesa

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

That is a great question. So personally, I believe the CESA should be practiced regularly. However, this does not mean that it should be over focused, as gas management is more important, which should be practiced on every single dive.

[@shawnskiver1341]

Boat dives always do a safety stop. As for shore dives I always go to the deepest depth of the dive and slowly work my way back to shallow water so I don't always consider it a safety stop.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Shawn Skiver, we do the same on most of our lake and quarry dives.

[@Techdivr_]

hey Bryan could you do a video on dive lights

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

I sure can. I will try to get it out by the end of next week.

[@Techdivr_]

LakeHickoryScuba thanks

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You are welcome

[@mondodennett6877]

always set my computer's safety stop option and end the dive after computer says i've satisfied the requirement.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

This is a great and safe idea mondo dennett. Thanks for sharing.

[@kenmh7357]

Safety stops are key for three reasons: 1) Conservative, 2)Second dive is more enjoyable, but most importantly 3) developes good habits because a lot of other stuff can go wrong.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

All very true Ken MH

[@ShihabdeentheCyclist]

Hi why is automatic watch used instead of digital watch in scuba diving

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Hussain Shihabdeen, all different types of watches and dive computers are used now days.

[@Jonhenrysneip]

I always take a safetystop, No matter the depth i been on. This is not om decodives. My Scubapro luna always give mee 3 min on 5 meters. But i do not know if the computer give mee 3 min on 5 meters if my dive was not over 10 meters. Never had a dive just down too 10 meters ore less. My computer also give mee a warning if i exseed 10 meters accending speed pr minute. When i tok the cmas* inn 1987 we never heard about safetystop on thath course. This is something i learned later from other divers. I just have taken cmas ** course, and the learning there was like night and day compered too the course inn 1987. But if you should miss a safetystop inn dives whith no decodives, i do not think its going too cause a problem anyway.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Your last statement tends to be what the majority of training agencies believe as well. As long as you are with in recreational limits, then an accidental omitted Safety Stop is fine. Just to be on the safe side, they still highly recommend doing one, just to be safe. I would say this same philosophy applies to gear manufactures and why they program it into their algorithms. Most computers will alert you to do a safety stop but will not violate you for omitting one.

[@schmedlywhiplash6267]

For new divers that all this info may be confuseing! 30 ft to surface do a stop! It's just that easy!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

That is where proper training in the classroom comes in. To eliminate any and all confusion.

[@jackjackattack9137]

Bryan, You may know that my sons and I will begin our scuba journey. And I told them we wii always make a safety stop requardless. I plan to always dive in thirds due to the fact I would like to dive the next day. Question I have for you, have you ever taken a hit ? I seen James with divers ready which he followed the known rules and had another diver review his computer and it was unexplainable to both. Whats your thoughts ?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello jackjackattack, let me be the first to say beginning your scuba diving journey with your sons is something all of you will enjoy doing to together. In the 34 years that I have been diving, with just under 8000 dives under my belt, I have been fortunate enough to never taking a hit of decompression sickness. I have suffered from multiple cases of vertigo at depth, and some of those cases were severe enough that I lost my vision for a short period. The biggest thing you need to understand about decompression theory is, its just that, theoretical. There are no two humans that are truly identical, thus, we should always dive conservatively. We did a video in the past about the different algorithms, and tables that divers use, and we discussed the gaps in decompression theory. Decompression limits and the variants used by the different training agencies are conservative by nature, and are nothing more than a baseline of what we should follow. I encourage all divers to not push the limits, and to keep a clean bill of health as well. This will help reduce the risk of decompression sickness while diving.

[@jackjackattack9137]

@@LakeHickoryScuba i watched your video again about 20 foot depth with 20 minute bottom time which there isnt a published surface interval. Interesting and informative, thanks !!!

[@jackjackattack9137]

@@LakeHickoryScuba but what i took from that was.... and correct me if iam wrong plz, at 20 depth your actually pretty close to safety stop depth so absorption of nitrogen is simply minimal.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello jackjackattack, the absorption rate of nitrogen is almost doubled at 20 feet, but still minimal in regards to oversaturation, which is the first step in developing decompression sickness. This does not mean that a diver is not susceptible to decompression sickness at 20 feet, as a rapid ascent rate could still cause what minimal nitrogen absorb to rapidly expand, and thus, cause decompression sickness. The 20 feet of depth holds more significance to the fact that most dive computers start a count down for a safety stop at a depth of 20 feet, 20 feet to 10 feet to be exact (as the average depth for a safety stop is recommend at 15 feet). This just means that the entire dive at 20 feet is a safety stop in itself, and performing a safety stop after a dive to 20 feet for 20 minutes is not needed. We would still encourage divers to make the decision for themselves on whether they feel the need to perform a safety stop. Its always better to be safe than sorry.

[@jackjackattack9137]

@@LakeHickoryScuba Yes sir ! Agreed !!!

[@schmedlywhiplash6267]

People just take a couple minutes and take in the sights at a safety stop if you exceed 30foot depth! Time is then on your side!😀😋

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Schmedly Whiplash Safety Stops for me are usually the most relaxing part of a dive, unless of course I am in a Drysuit and really have to go to the bathroom, then a Safety Stop is pure torture.

[@TheBejatovic1]

Get a pee valve :D

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Those definitely helps, then again eating Mexican food the night before puts a slight kink in things. LOL

[@TheBejatovic1]

Oh man that changes things quite a bit :D

[@Thesandchief]

do y'all prefer a 5 minute or 3 minute stop?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

3 minutes is sufficient enough time for our comfort level, but 5 minutes never hurt.

[@pirateturns360]

@@LakeHickoryScuba So not always the most conservative? It's your life right? 🤔

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Dive theory is conservative by nature. Whether we plan with a computer or dive tables. Safety stops are only recommended never required. A lot of times divers get safety stops and decompression stops mixed.

[@MegaSlayerr]

Alternative video title "To reduce the risk of bends or not"

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

We have found that the best way to prevent the bends is to simply not go diving. But no one really wants to do that. Thanks for the title suggestion Anyname willdo.

[@MegaSlayerr]

@@LakeHickoryScuba or you could just do a 3-5 min stop at the end of every dive and use ur own initiative/brain rather than following what he or she said to do. The only thing we know is the safety stop reduces the risk regardless of whether it's necessary or not.. best to tread on the side of caution ;)

[@AmericanDiggerInEurope]

I always perform a safety stop. It's good karma.....

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

I've always said, Safety Stops may not be needed, but they never hurt to do. Plus at the least, they give me an extra 3 minutes underwater. Who wouldn't want to spend more time underwater.

[@JoeKyser]

o

[@buslu]

This is an icky subject. If I am doing a decompression dive with a technical diving computer that has a very conservative gradient factor. I am making sure I am coming up to the surface very slowly and doing my mandatory decompression stop. Someone who is diving with me as a recreational computer and a recreational diver, assumes that he/she is safe within his computer, but a recreational dive computer is designed to keep you diving as long as possible, but are they? I have been to dives where my computer advised me to do a 14 minutes decompression on air, while their other diver thought it was a no mandatory decompression dive. The difference is the information you have. So if you're doing a recreational dive and you are still not in a decompression, know that decompression is relative and it is a spectrum. It is not a switch and you have nothing to lose from doing a slow ascend with a safety stop.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

This is why we mention in our videos that Decompression Theory is Theoretical at best.

[@paulgee8253]

There were no safety stops for decades. They are a good idea BUT if you’re about to run out of air head to surface. (I do them btw). Newer divers think they’re gonna die if they don’t do a safety stop. We are at point where, in some circumstances, they become a DANGEROUS if followed blindly. Drowning is fatal but skipping a safety stop is almost never harmful. Kind of like maybe you take your car’s safety belt off if it’s on fire or sinking in a river. A failure in training programs because new divers aren’t solid on underlying principles.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You make solid points Paul. Safety Stops are added conservatism at the end of the dive, but are not crucial to every single dive. When we do dives locally with new students we plan a safety stop at the end of every dive. This however does not mean we stop in one spot for three minutes. We simply plan the dive to where the last three minutes of the dive is between 10-20 feet of water. Makes it easy to do here in our lake or even our local quarry.

[@wallybrown9509]

If I go deeper then 30 then yes

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Based off most decompression models, 30 feet is a great depth to set, to justify needing to do a Safety Stop.

[@peterjulianphotos4659]

Plan your dive & dive your plan. Blue water = safety stop on a shot line. Shore dive = 2 exit points with gradual resurfacing. Reef dive = find a playground at 5m - stay as long as your air allows. Dive tables have become increasingly conservative with each revision. All Dive Computer manufacturers do not wish to be sued by divers for getting bent therefore their algorhythms are even more conservative. Add in the fact that most dive charters / organisations mandate a dive computer = NO ONE should ever get decompression sickness IF they plan their dive and dive their plan.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello PeterJulianPhotos, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.

[@droneguynh6371]

If I'm down 30 feet for more than 20 minutes I do a safety stop. Better safe than sorry.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

I agree. Always better to be safe than sorry.