Solo Diving - Yes, No, Perhaps?

[kinetic]

This will, no doubt, be a touchy one.....I wouldn't mind hearing views on this.

I know it's said "you dive alone you die alone" but, for example, cave divers often dive alone and are prepared for that situation and what it may bring.....problem and crisis solving on the spot, which is what all divers should, in theory, be able to do.

Please don't take this as encouragement to dive alone...it's just a question.

Anyway, thoughts please.....

Kinetic

[And]

<font color='#0000FF'>No surprise at my answer

No, No and Yes, its a no go area.

Andy

[Mdemon]

My favourite type of diving is with mates, solo, but in the same area. &nbsp;It is a fantastic feeling doing what you want, when you want, with the added bonus that someone will work out something's wrong if you go missing...

Don't do it often, and I have the gear for it.

Newbies, don't go there. &nbsp;Please.

[Richie]

Absolutely - best way to go. Not very sociable but much more entertaining

[Jay]

Have done it and would do it again - wouldn't do it on any dive that makes me feel apprehensive (deeper than 30m) or one where there are known issues (like a wreck covered in fishing filament). But shallow, warm and using my own kit I have no issues with solo diving.

[peter k]

Same as mdemon. I wouldn't just toddle off on my own, but if there's a bunch of us then I much prefer solo. I'm not the worlds best dive leader(pure ingnorance on my part. I hold my hands up) and can't stand going where someone else wants to go. If I'm on a wreck I prefer to see it as going round a pub and bumping into various friends along the way.

Peter

[Allan B]

Love solo diving, most of the diving I do is solo and hopefully I will be Solo again tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it.

Allan

[Mark Chase]

My favorite diving is with Andrew because we have droped into a kind of grouve and it works.

My second favorite diving is solo but whilst I love the freedom of the dive and the fantastic feeling of calm it gives me I am always a bit disapointed on the trip home to not have any one to talk through the dive with who shaired my experiance.

I used to have a depth restriction on solo but now I don't. My self imposed restriction is limited penitration into any wreck and not atempting any tight swim throughs.

My kit configuration for buddy diving is exactly the same as my solo rig. I always dive with a level of redundancy to cope with problems on my own.


Totaly independant bail out gas (even with a twin set on deep dives)

Two cutting tools

Three SMB's two reels including two self inflators for redundent lift

an EPERB

Two dive computers

Spair mask

Back up tourch

The vast majority of Solo dives I have done are off a boat so I have surface cover / support

I think solo shore dives are more dangerous but informing the cost guard or a RELIABLE person before and after the dive and having an EPERB is a prety safe way of doing them.

The only two risks for me on a solo are entrapment and personal medical incident. One of the Delta teem had a sheet of boiler plate fall on him when he was inside a wreck. If a passing teem member hadent seen bubbles rising he would be dead.

You cant odds that

ATB

Mark Chase

[budgy]

Solo dives can be fun. Certain dives are more suited to solo diving and there is always less peer pressure for you to accompany someone on doubtful dives.  Last week I dived in the surge, swimming circles in the shallows in swiftly accelerating currents that would  carry you up and down and pull you back, great fun on your own, but no place to be keeping tabs on the whereabouts of a buddy.

[peter k]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (budgy @ Sep. 26 2003,19:59)]Solo dives can be fun. Certain dives are more suited to solo diving and there is always less peer pressure for you to accompany someone on doubtful dives.  Last week I dived in the surge, swimming circles in the shallows in swiftly accelerating currents that would  carry you up and down and pull you back, great fun on your own, but no place to be keeping tabs on the whereabouts of a buddy.

I'll second that. Your buddy thought &quot;Fu*k this for a game of soldiers&quot; and bailed out to nurse his sore parts. Of which there is still many. I feel like one of those wee Ribena men with the amount of bruises on me.

Peter