I dive solo all the time. Do I prefer it? Well, yes and no. Yes because I can set my own pace while photographing, I don't have to worry about poor diving ruining my pics, I can usually find my way back to origin without any problems. No, because when you see something REALLY special, you have no one to share it with. It can get lonely.
I don't worry about trouble because I trust my diving skills and my equipment. And, if doo doo happens, I can't hurt anyone but myself.
I Dive Solo.... No Prob
But its only in the local lakes and quarries because I dont have a dive buddy around here. But the ocean is a different ballgame...no solo there..
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I don't worry about trouble because I trust my diving skills and my equipment. And, if doo doo happens, I can't hurt anyone but myself.
BM
Dive Into Life and Live for Diving!
www.scubarecoveryco.com
It has been my contention for a long time that everyone dives solo, whether they want to admit it or not. There are those who seek it on purpose for various reasons, but for many of us, if we are in the water with a buddy who does not have the skills to assist us in an emergency, than for all intents and purposes (or is that porpoises?), we are solo. For example: an instructor with new students, a DM with tourists who only dive once a year, separated from your buddy because of low viz, inattention, or because your buddy is a jerk and took off . . . lol. What about diving where the viz is 100' and you get 80' away from your buddy? Are they going to be able to help you out immediately in an emergency? If not than you are solo.
TDI does have a solo course (and they are still the only ones as far as I know), but what I would love to see is a course called "Underwater Self Sufficiency" or similar. Here are the skills to look after yourself underwater. Now if you get separated from your buddy inadvertantly, there is no need to panic. You have the skills and confidence to keep you as safe as can be expected until you find your buddy again. PLUS, I think it would make everyone a better buddy, because you are no longer a liability to the people you dive with, but a contributing member of the team.
Is diving solo dangerous? Of course! But so is diving in general. So is driving a car. We all have to decide what level of risk we are willing to accept and then try to prepare ourselves accordingly and conduct ourselves as safe as we can. If you don't want any risk, stay in bed! And hope a plane doesn't fall on you!
Interesting. I am and already was tempted to go about this love for the ocean by myself as I have no dedicated dive buddy. Wasn't going to allow myself to do it though. If I went to my local dive shop and they knew I was going to go alone, I doubt they would even fill a tank for me! But then again I don't know for sure, they might just say "right on!" - NOT. Booking a dive boat without a buddy and being paired with someone I don't know is sketchy too. I have seen many divers in the water within just a few dives to know that some are real clumsy and not at all aware of whats going on around them. Their the ones that will be first to kick you in the face and test your skills when you don't want to be tested. But then again I am no professional diver either so someone else who has years under their belt would probably choose to dive with someone else. For me I want to make sure that what ever it is I end up doing with diving, I go about it slowly. I don't like the way I was rushed through an AOW certification. Your get the cert when you really haven't done **** yet to prove your worth it.
"It was the Law of the Sea, they said. Civilization ends at the waterline. Beyond that, we all enter the food chain, and not always right at the top."
-Hunter S. Thompson
Welp,Originally Posted by phrenicnerve
I would suggest that you go to the regional forum that covers your area and post that you are looking for a dive buddy/group. Thats what I did (differant forum sorry,) and I found a great bunch of guys to dive with.
sounds like we need to gear up a teampaulc uberwagen and hit the highway in the sinister way that only a vehicle with a clown on it can -- warmeister
I'm sure someone on the dive boat would love to pair up with Lottie. What do you think? Yes, No, Maybe.
I'm sure someone on the dive boat would love to pair up with Lottie. What do you think? Yes, No, Maybe.
What does that have to do with anything?
I had about 3 replies to this as well, but they are all very acidic, thanks for taking the high road acelockco.
I guess when you are 17 you say things like that.
<shrug>
sounds like we need to gear up a teampaulc uberwagen and hit the highway in the sinister way that only a vehicle with a clown on it can -- warmeister
I was just wondering the same thing myself.....
Care to elaborate Phlocker???
Lottie
Seasnake and AllisonFinch both said a lot of things that resonate with my own situation. Photographers and instructors often dive essentially on their own. When I'm working, I feel like I am diving solo, at least in terms of emergency support, even though there are other people around. For example, can I expect my DSD folks to "be there" for me if I have a problem? When I'm diving for my own pleasure, I'm usually taking pictures, so even if I splash in with a buddy, it doesn't take long before we are separated doing our own thing and become "same ocean" buddies.
SDI (the rec division of TDI) does have a "Solo diver" cert, and PSA has one they call "Self-sufficiency diver." I haven't seen the PSA curriculum, but the focus of the SDI course is to create self-sufficiency with an emphasis on self-rescue and redundancy. Most dive ops (at least the ones I've had dealings with) are pretty careful about permitting solo dives under their care, so proof of training can come in handy. If you are clearly an experienced diver (especially a photographer) or a dive pro, they usually don't give you much hassle when it comes to solo recreational diving as long as you check in and out and set up surface support of some sort.
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