How to Perform a Proper Safety Stop

The safety stop might be the most widely taught—and most misunderstood—part of recreational diving. You hear it in every dive briefing: “Stop at 15 feet for 3 minutes.” But no one tells you how to actually stay at 15 feet. Or what to do if the water’s surging. Or how to keep yourself from drifting all over the place.

A good safety stop isn’t just about ticking a box—it’s about control, awareness, and team cohesion. It’s a checkpoint for your physiology and your dive discipline. This guide breaks down how to perform a safety stop correctly and consistently, even in tough conditions.

What Is a Safety Stop—and Why It Matters

A safety stop is a voluntary pause at 15–20 feet for 3 minutes near the end of a no-decompression dive. It helps off-gas nitrogen more efficiently and gives your body time to catch up before surfacing.

While not mandatory like a deco stop, it’s widely recommended—and in some dive plans, it’s critical. Think of it as a margin of safety, especially after deep dives, long bottom times, or when you’re feeling off.

Where Safety Stops Go Wrong

• Floating up to 10 feet or sinking to 20 feet without realizing it
• Fidgeting, sculling, or spinning in place
• Losing sight of your buddy
• Forgetting to watch your timer
• Rushing to the surface because you “can’t hold still”

These aren’t just annoying—they add stress, waste gas, and can negate the stop’s benefits.

Hovering Is the Foundation

If you haven’t already read our guide on How to Hover Perfectly, start there. Being able to hold depth without movement is the single most important skill for a clean safety stop.

Your BCD should be dialed in before the stop, not adjusted during it. If you're fiddling with inflator buttons at 15 feet, you're behind the curve.

Step-by-Step: How to Do a Midwater Safety Stop

1. Start your ascent early and slow
   Begin ascending around 30 feet. Keep your ascent rate at 10 ft/min or slower. Use your lungs and fins—not your BCD—to make micro-adjustments.
2. Level off at 15 feet (or 20 if you prefer)
   Watch your depth gauge, not just your computer beep. Use your breath to fine-tune your position.
3. Check your trim and buoyancy
   Are you horizontal? Still? Breathing calmly? Make small corrections and stop all motion.
4. Start a 3-minute timer
   Use your dive computer or wrist timer. Don’t guess. Stay engaged, not just drifting until it beeps.
5. Stay aware of your surroundings
   Are you moving sideways in a current? Can you see your buddy? Are you directly under the boat?
6. Finish the stop with intention
   At the 3-minute mark, do a slow, steady ascent to the surface. No popping up the last 5 feet.

Optional: Use a Visual Reference

• Use the anchor/down line: Grab lightly or hover beside it
• Use a reef, wall, or platform: If allowed and safe
• Use an SMB as a reference: Especially useful in blue water or boat diving

When You Should Extend Your Safety Stop

• You approached your no-decompression limit
• You ascended faster than planned
• You feel winded, cold, stressed, or had minor gear issues
• You’re diving in a remote location or preparing for multiple dives

Buddy Safety Stops

• Stay side by side, not vertically stacked
• Maintain eye contact at least once every 20–30 seconds
• Use hand signals to confirm time and readiness to ascend
• If either diver begins to drift, signal and stabilize together
• Coordinate your final ascent—don’t surface independently

Horizontal or Vertical: Does It Matter?

• Better trim = better control
• More stable in surge or current
• Keeps team members on the same visual plane
• Consistent with how you dive

What to Do If You Can’t Hold the Stop

If you’re floating up:

• Stop finning immediately
• Exhale slowly and fully to lose a small amount of buoyancy
• Tuck slightly head-down to interrupt upward motion

If you’re sinking:

• Inhale deeply and hold for 2–3 seconds
• Kick gently to re-level
• Reevaluate if you’re overweighted

If you’re spinning or drifting:

• Stay still—fighting it usually makes it worse
• Try orienting to a visual reference (even a buddy helps)
• Practice on future dives with calm conditions and no task loading

Is Three Minutes a Magic Number?

Not really—but it’s a solid starting point.

The 3-minute safety stop at 15–20 feet comes from a blend of decompression science and agency guidelines. While it's not a required decompression obligation, this shallow stop helps reduce nitrogen load and gives your body time to off-gas the slowest tissues.