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There are good alternatives for "Deep Air Diving". If you dive with an attitude of "Safety First" instead of "Money First" you never dive below 30 msw/100 fsw on air. If you want to dive deeper you use helium-enriched mixtures. If you do not want to invest the time and money necessary to be able to dive with helium-enriched mixtures, you have to restrict yourself to this depth limit. It is a myth that you have to dive deep to see interesting things. You can spend a lifetime diving shallow and still only see part of the beautiful things the underwater world has to offer. If you want to dive deeper then 30 msw/100 fsw, you invest in a good mixed-gas diving course. By adding helium to the breathing mix, you lower the narcotic effects, and the breathing resistance. By adjusting the amount of oxygen, when diving deeper, you avoid oxygen toxicity. This means that all three big risks of deep air diving: nitrogen narcosis, hypercapnia and CNS toxicity, can be avoided by using trimix instead of air when diving deeper then 30 msw/100 fsw. Currently I only know one organization, Global Underwater Explorers (www.gue.com), who offer standard trimix courses for people who want to dive below 30 msw/100 fsw. But I know that most trimix instructors will be happy to teach you everything you need to know when you tell them that you do not want to dive deeper then 30 msw/100 fsw on air. The purpose of diving is: to explore the underwater world in a safe and enjoyable way, with respect for the environment. Deep air diving conflicts with this purpose. When you dive according to this recommendation, you will be more conservative then the mainstream diving community. And you will be a far safer diver. If the whole diving industry would follow this recommendation starting today, diving "accidents" would drop overnight with at least 50%.
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