Which of the following are considered exceptional exposure dives?

• A. Any air dive deeper than 190 fsw.
• B. Any in-water decompression dive with a total decompression time on air or air/oxygen greater than 90 minutes.
• C. Any SurDO2 dive with a chamber oxygen time greater than 120 minutes (4 oxygen periods).
• D. All of the above.

Answer: (D)

Exceptional exposure dives are dives that push beyond normal recreational limits and require extra planning, monitoring, and procedures because the risks rise significantly. A dive on air deeper than 190 fsw places you in a depth range where nitrogen narcosis becomes a major factor and standard bottom times and decompression schedules don’t apply, so it’s treated as an exceptional exposure. A dive with in-water decompression totaling more than 90 minutes also goes well past typical recreational decompression practices; it means extended decompression obligations in the water, with greater risk and need for careful management. A SurDO2 dive with chamber oxygen time exceeding 120 minutes indicates substantial oxygen exposure in a surface decompression scenario, bringing oxygen toxicity risk and requiring strict monitoring and protocol.

Since each scenario represents a level of risk and complexity that goes beyond standard training, all of these are considered exceptional exposure dives.