Deep stop (mid-depth pause)

A deep stop is a short pause held at a specific depth during your ascent. Divers use this technique because it aims to slow the release of nitrogen from tissues.

Most divers perform these stops between 10 m and 20 m while ascending from deeper dives. I saw many instructors in Koh Tao using the Pyle method during training sessions in 2022. You might find yourself pausing for 30 to 60 seconds at each interval.

Don’t stay too long. Staying at depth for several minutes increases your nitrogen load while you wait for your safety stop. I once watched a student hold a deep stop for 3 minutes because he forgot his computer settings. This mistake actually makes decompression sickness more likely during the final ascent. Always check your dive computer settings before you enter the water.