Stop Right There: Why Safety Stops Matter
A quick refresher on one of the easiest safety habits a recreational diver can build.
You know that calm little pause near the end of a dive?
If your answer was not a confident “Yes!”, you are in the right place for a quick refresher.
That short 3-minute pause, usually around 15 feet, is when you hover, watch your bubbles drift toward the surface, and remember just how lucky you are to be a diver.
That is your safety stop, and it matters.
A safety stop gives your body a little extra time before surfacing to release nitrogen absorbed during the dive. It also gives you a chance to prepare for your final ascent. Slow down, check your equipment and air, make sure your buddy is with you, look and listen for boat traffic, and confirm that you are calm, controlled, and ready to surface.
The safety stop at 15 feet begins where pressure changes happen quickly, so rushing the final stretch of a dive is never a good idea.
Skipping a safety stop because “it was just an easy dive” can turn into a bad habit. So, while some dive situations may not require surfacing with one, a safety stop is one of the easiest safety habits a diver can build.