How to make Solo Rebreather Diving safer?

[cedricverdier]

Hi all,

Just to start a new thread, please find a new article: How to make Solo Rebreather Diving safer?

on my web site at

Cedric Verdier. Articles

I would like to have some feedback from solo rebreather divers:
- how do you plan your dive (compared to a dive with a buddy)?
- do you use any specific equipment?
- what kind of dive profile in what kind of environment?
- is there a way to improve safety?

Cheers

[Mark Chase]

Regardless of it being OC or CCR, solo diving will always be more dangerous than diving with a confident and accomplished dive buddy who has a modicum of bravery / ability to work under pressure.

Nothing you do preview, during the dive or to your equipment, will alter this fact.

However, diving with an incompetent buddy or worse a buddy who appears competent but panics under any kind of pressure situation. This is far more dangerous than diving solo.

CCR divers are unique in the fact that they can more easily pass out on the unit. This one situation can easily be fixed by a competent buddy if its a P02 issue and although harder, it should be possible to fix a C02 problem as well.
In the situation of C02 the diver will be so narked that a competent diver may be able to see signs that all is not well, before the hit takes full effect.

02 convulsions are a massive problem for any diver 0c or CCR unless the diver is using a full face mask or a gaged regulator. From what i understand of 02 hits a solo diver still wouldn't survive this despite the gag or ffm.

What can be done to make solo diving safer?

Big improvements in pp02 monitoring equipment (starting with the cells). Cheaply available (preferably on unit) cell testing equipment that can take a cell through air and up to 2.0pp02 on dry land. A c02 analisor on the CCR would help a lot as well.

PERSONAL SOLO DIVING

When I solo dive the unit I am far more cautious in all aspects of the dive. I will avoid potential entanglement and entrapment situations. I will also avoid task loading so no video unless conditions are perfect and ill try and follow the wreck rather than lay line or ill follow someone else's line.

I will run the dive well inside CNS limits possably dropping the set point on deeper dives. Dropping the set point also gives more time to react to solenoid issues should they occur. Equipment is meticulously checked before any dive so that makes little or no difference. I run solo bailout on all dives now so that doesn't make any difference however it is more likely i would bailout to OC on a solo dive than on a buddy dive. On a buddy dive id alert my buddy to a problem and probably try and fly the unit out.

I strongly believe that any diver not mentally prepared to be solo on a dive is inadequate to the task and using another diver as a crutch. However this fact doesn't stop me realizing diving with a competent buddy is always the best policy.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Freeflow]

Equipment failures aside, there seem to be two reasons for solo incidents:

Complacency-'I've done this site loads of times, I'll be OK', 'It's OK, I can dive on the other handset only' etc.

Lack of preparation. This can be lack of experience, lack of equipment, lack of training, lack of skills, lack of the ability to recognise your limitations, or lack of common sense.

My first 'proper' solo dive on OC at Scapa was interesting. On the Coln at 30 odd metres I found the plaque on one of the guns to someone who had died on the wreck. I felt very alone and wary.