What is the recommended maximum depth for using 100 percent oxygen?

The recommended maximum depth for using 100 percent oxygen is 6 meters, or 20 feet. This recommendation is based on the increased risk of oxygen toxicity that arises when breathing oxygen at increased partial pressures, a concern that intensifies as you go deeper underwater.

At depths greater than 6 meters, the partial pressure of oxygen exceeds safe limits for recreational divers. Breathing pure oxygen can result in central nervous system toxicity, which can lead to symptoms like visual disturbances, muscle twitching, and even convulsions. The risk becomes significantly greater as divers descend beyond this depth, making 6 meters the established safety limit for the use of 100 percent oxygen.

In a diving context, keeping oxygen exposure within safe limits is crucial for avoiding these dangers, and the 6-meter depth guideline is an essential part of dive planning when considering the use of pure oxygen.