What skill level is necessary when increasing the distance from the surface during an emergency?

The necessary skill level for increasing the distance from the surface during an emergency is highly skilled and self-reliant divers. When faced with emergencies that require deeper diving or extended bottom time, divers must possess advanced skills and knowledge to manage not only their buoyancy and air supply but also their physical and psychological state under pressure.

Highly skilled divers are trained to handle potential hazards, respond to unexpected situations, and make critical decisions quickly. This level of training includes experience with complex dive planning, understanding of dive physics, and mastery of various decompression techniques. Relying on self-sufficiency is crucial in emergencies where assistance may not be immediately available.

In this context, relying solely on basic diving skills or intermediate skills may not prepare divers for the challenges they face in emergency situations at greater depths, where the risk of complications such as nitrogen narcosis or oxygen toxicity increases significantly. Furthermore, familiarity with emergency procedures is important, but being highly skilled and self-reliant encompasses a deeper understanding and execution of those procedures effectively under pressure.