Poll: Threesomes or solo

[DannyB]

You have booked on a boat, no-one that you know very well. For the sake of argument and easyish dive (30M with 5 minutes deco). Do you dive on yer own or dive as part of a 3?

Personally I'll go on me own, never had a three work out well, carry enough redundancy to get me outta the sh1t if something goes wrong. If I am honest, I'll do the same on a not so easy dive, then I tend to descend as a 3, then separate (as agreed) on the bottom once I am happy that everything is working okay.

[Gareth J]

If it's divers I know, or a branch dive, or there is an objection to solo diving I'll dive as a three. (what I normally say is you two are together & I'll observe!)


I have dived solo a number of times (once on the Salcette), makes you much more cautious. On the Salcette it was unexpeceted but I was suitably equiped, twins & stage. I left the bottom with sufficent back gas if the stage was to fail stayed clear of most of the wreck & didn't do any penetration, etc.

I'm just in the process of changing to CCR.
On CCR my instructors convinced me that its trying to kill me so I need support divers to rescue me at all stages.
If you manage to make it back on your own you get a bonus point & you need 500 of these to pass the "Introduction to staying alive on a CCR".
(You loose 10 points for every unexpected alarm or failure on the unit, & go back to 0 if you have to be rescued!)
So on CCR for the foreseable future I will have a buddy, with 2 they can watch me & eachother & I don't have to watch them!

[johnkendall]

Originally Posted by DannyB

You have booked on a boat, no-one that you know very well. For the sake of argument and easyish dive (30M with 5 minutes deco). Do you dive on yer own or dive as part of a 3?

In this situation I'd dive as a 3. However, I'm only likely to do this on a DIR boat (As in, all or most of the divers are DIR)

I'd try and avoid the situation otherwise.

J

[Mark Chase]

Depends on depth and deco comitment. Generaly I would prefer solo to anything except a known buddy. OC this would be a definate but on CCR its a bit more dodgy going solo.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Lou]

Okay, I will ignore your definition of “an easy-ish dive” and substitute my own, for the sake of the argument.

The first point is that I just wouldn’t book onto a boat on my own, full stop, unless I was planning to go solo right from the start. Therefore an unexpected 3, with me as the third, would not happen, except in the situation of buddy bailing on the boat. In that case I would go as a three if there were people that I knew. I absolutely would not join a buddy pari I knew nothing about. If that was not an option then I would can the dive, almost certainly.

I can’t understand anyone getting on a boat and hoping to get buddied up. If nothing else it is unfair to ask a buddy pair if you can tag along if you don’t know them – I wouldn’t be happy with that, again, unless it was someone that I was familiar with. You could put someone in a situation where they feel they can’t say no.

In summation, if you book on a boat alone, be prepared, willing and capable to dive solo. If you are not all of the above find a buddy before you get there.


Of course, on a big YD gig you will always find someone willing to dive with you

[johnv]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

but on CCR its a bit more dodgy going solo.

Hi mark,

can you qualify this please. what do you mean and in what circumstances are you thinking of?

John

[Justin Owen]

would a skipper let you dive solo....?

hypothetically, if it was me, i'd dive as a three - but treat the dive as if i was diving solo, if you know what i mean... i doubt i'd end up in said situation though...

[And]

Hi

I'd dive in a three, even if I didn't know them. I'd probably cut the dive down to a non deco dive if possible, and I'd also offer to lead it, that way I know I am less likely to lose anyone as I can dictate the pace and keep us together, unless of course they are total muppets and determined to get seperated, but that can be ascertained by looking at their kit, and general demeanour during the diveplanning stage.

Just my opinion.

Andy

[Lou]

Originally Posted by And

, unless of course they are total muppets and determined to get seperated, but that can be ascertained by looking at their kit, and general demeanour during the diveplanning stage.

C'mon then, you got me to bite......expand

[And]

Hi

Its only an impression you get of divers as you speak to them and even initially see them (what are your first impressions?).

How experienced are they?
Is their kit configured in a way that suits the dive?
Are they paying attention to the discussion?
Do they agree and understand the dive plan?
Are they comfortable kitting up?

That kind of stuff. We do it all the time in our work and personal lives, its the same values you use when discussing diving with someone. I think this is discussed in both Sports diver and dive leader within BSAC.

Andy