SDI Solo Dive Course - March 20th 2008

[Sixsquid]

Originally Posted by big_si

The rule I like best is rule 6. That's the most important one.

You big tease !!!

[Ahmed Adly]

Originally Posted by tom

safer than with a good buddy? no.
safer than with a bad buddy? quite possibly.

Here is an old question of whom to dive with isn't it. I would never be forced to dive with anyone I don't deem fit. The main criteria for fitness in this case is attitude.

So is the question, "I have a bad buddy, so am I justified to solo dive?"

I think the fact is that peopl have the right to solo dive as much as you like, since the solo diver is the only possible casualty dur the decision.

The people I feel most sorry for are those who have absolutly no faith in other divers. This is mainly cause by the said diver getting VERY poor training and thus thinking to himself "if everyone is like me, I'm fckued".

The latter is the most common reason people find themselves turning into solo divers.

[principia]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Adly

The latter is the most common reason people find themselves turning into solo divers.

That is indeed one reason but I think you over simplify why people choose to dive solo.

J.

[Ahmed Adly]

Originally Posted by principia

That is indeed one reason but I think you over simplify why people choose to dive solo.

J.

No not at all. Like I said, I dive solo pretty often. Read my first post to this thread.

I think the true solo diver dosn't even have a name for it. It is just "diving" as far as they are concerned
Now if a person was to join one of these guys, I don't think that this "solo" diver would really have anything against it. Also, from what I have seen, these "pure" solo divers have proved to be pretty reliable when we talk about the regular diving. As they obviously enjoy company every once and a while and seem to use the company well.

I basically believ that you should dive the way it makes you happy as long as one causes no disturbance to others.

[Sipadan]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

Given appropriate circumstances, (relatively shallow, warm, good viz etc), I completely understand the "more comfortable" bit but I don't understand the "safer" part. How does being on your own make you feel "safer" ?

Thanks
Mal

as others have said, some people are a f****** liability, or words to that effect

[Okeanos]

I have dived solo now for many years, the only time I don't dive solo is when I'm paid not to or someone has requested me to dive with them.

The SDI solo diver course is a recreational course and only qualifies you to dive solo at recreational depths. It won't cover you for anything deeper and insurance companies know that.

[scuba g]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Adly

Here is an old question of whom to dive with isn't it. I would never be forced to dive with anyone I don't deem fit. The main criteria for fitness in this case is attitude.

So is the question, "I have a bad buddy, so am I justified to solo dive?"

I think the fact is that peopl have the right to solo dive as much as you like, since the solo diver is the only possible casualty dur the decision.

The people I feel most sorry for are those who have absolutly no faith in other divers. This is mainly cause by the said diver getting VERY poor training and thus thinking to himself "if everyone is like me, I'm fckued".

The latter is the most common reason people find themselves turning into solo divers.

Painting all solo divers with that comment is a bit rich, the divers who I know who prefer solo diving would be far from doubting their skills, for instance the cave diver who primarily dives on his own for logistic reasons or that they are exploring areas and find solo to be better for them. Having no faith in other divers might stem from bad experiences, but again, solo divers (and I cant vouch for them all) are usually a competant diver, they are self sufficent and capable of understanding the dangers involved.

[Ahmed Adly]

Originally Posted by scuba g

Painting all solo divers with that comment is a bit rich, the divers who I know who prefer solo diving would be far from doubting their skills, for instance the cave diver who primarily dives on his own for logistic reasons or that they are exploring areas and find solo to be better for them. Having no faith in other divers might stem from bad experiences, but again, solo divers (and I cant vouch for them all) are usually a competant diver, they are self sufficent and capable of understanding the dangers involved.

Very good argument. Actually one of the rare occassions that I change my mind about something.

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Adly

The people I feel most sorry for are those who have absolutely no faith in other divers. This is mainly cause by the said diver getting VERY poor training and thus thinking to himself "if everyone is like me, I'm fckued".

The latter is the most common reason people find themselves turning into solo divers.

This is perhaps the biggest load of old bollocks I have ever read.

I have had three buddies almost kill me, I have been abandoned / lost by countless buddies (Including once by a GUE diver) and I have nursed buddies through dives on many many occasions in the full knowledge they were as much use to me as a chocolate teapot in an emergency.

I have been diving for almost 20 years and in all that time I can count on both hands with fingers to spare the buddies I trust.

I do however, trust my self implicitly.

Solo diving is a safe and relaxing dive for me. Solo mentality diving with another solo mentality diver, is about as good as it gets.


Blind faith buddy diving will get you killed. Developing a relationship with a buddy is better but until one or both of you have been in a life threatening act now or die, situation you will never be able to fully trust the other diver.

I lernt that last lesson the hard way.

ATB

Mark

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

Given appropriate circumstances, (relatively shallow, warm, good viz etc), I completely understand the "more comfortable" bit but I don't understand the "safer" part. How does being on your own make you feel "safer" ?

Thanks
Mal

Simple answer is, I can focus 100% on me and my dive. No distractions, no worries just me, my kit, and the dive.


OC there is virtually nothing that can go wrong that will render you incapable of self rescue assuming you have planned the dive correctly.

Having a buddy along is often a liability. OK scenario for you. We are inside a wreck and our guide line has broken. Not good but I wont be even breathing heavy till I have exhausted plans A,B and C. By plan D I could be in trouble.

However the buddy, who didn't really have the confidence to penetrate the wreck but just followed you in anyway, goes ballistic and now I have no viz, a broken line and a buddy who's chufin 80lpm and is about to run out of his own gas and ask for My'n. At that moment what wouldn't you give to be solo?

Sadly CCR is not really suited to solo. I have dived solo a few times but I try to avoid it. On a CCR you can just pass out and no matter how well you planned the dive your dead for no good reason.

ATB

Mark