Which factors should be considered when determining personal deep-diving depth limits?

When determining personal deep-diving depth limits, the effect of previous dives on an individual's no-stop limit is crucial. This factor is tied to the concept of residual nitrogen in the body from previous dives, which can affect how much time a diver can safely spend at a given depth without requiring mandatory decompression stops on their ascent.

Understanding the cumulative effects of multiple dives is essential for ensuring diver safety. If a diver does not account for prior dives, they risk exceeding their no-stop limits, which could lead to increased risk of decompression sickness—often referred to as "the bends." Thus, recognizing how previous dives impact current dive plans is fundamental to making informed decisions about depth limits and overall dive safety.

While environmental conditions, a buddy's personal limits, and distance from emergency care are also important factors in dive planning, they address different aspects of diving safety and management. Environmental conditions affect the dive conditions, the buddy's limits influence operational safety and support, and distance from emergency care impacts response in emergencies. However, these do not directly relate to the physiological limits imposed by the effects of previous dives on one's body.