Where, how deep,
with what gear
Where, how deep, with what gear.
What kind of diving it is depends on ‘where, how deep, and with what gear.’ The easiest way to see it is as a spectrum: breath-hold (free/skin) → recreational scuba → technical. The key boundary is one line — if you can ascend straight to the surface when a problem arises, it’s recreational; cross that line and it’s technical.
A three-way spectrum
Diving comes in three branches — free/skin (one breath-hold) → recreational scuba (continuous breathing on compressed air, ~40m, no-deco and direct ascent possible) → technical (mixed gas, beyond 40m, mandatory decompression and overhead). Recreational is the ‘direct-ascent range’; cross that boundary and it’s technical.
- Free/skin — one breath-hold, no compressed air
- Recreational scuba — ~40m, no-deco and direct ascent
- Technical — beyond 40m, mandatory deco, overhead
The range where you can always ascend directly
Scuba for leisure, with risk managed through standardized training and procedures. Stay within the no-decompression limit (NDL) and you can surface directly without a mandatory decompression stop.
- Subtypes: fun · night · deep · drift · boat/shore · altitude (above 300m elevation)
- Drift sites in Korea — Ulleung/Dokdo, Wangdolcho / Shore — Ayajin
Blocked overhead means separate training
Overhead environments where direct ascent is impossible require separate training. Within the recreational scope these are usually three: wreck, cavern, and ice.
Exterior viewing is recreational; interior penetration is overhead — Wreck specialty + line/reel. Stella wreck, Gangneung.
Cavern stays within the light zone (recreational specialty); cave is full overhead (technical).
Ice forms the ceiling — Ice specialty. Watch for silt-out in muddy/murky conditions.
Cross this line and it’s technical
Diving that pushes past recreational limits with deeper training and skills. The boundary is exceeding the NDL (mandatory deco), going beyond 40m, or penetrating overhead. Types include decompression diving, sidemount, CCR, and trimix (down to about 90m).
- Depth limits and certification-level figures vary by training agency.
- Technical diving requires dedicated training and gear — this guide is an overview.
Know your limits,
dive within them
Know your limits, dive within them.