Question Marine life risks while solo diving

[swimmingpooldivein]

Hello!

I'm an SDI Solo Diver in NSW, Australia. Typically, my solo diving is at night, shore dive, max depth 7m, about 120min. As of recent, I'm starting to get concerned (maybe even slightly paranoid) about my increased risk of severe harm or death due to marine life (bites or stings) when diving alone. The notable large and/or venomous marine life in my area are wobbegong sharks, short-tail stingrays (aka smooth stingrays), grey nurse sharks, bull sharks (during summer and autumn), and blue-lined octopuses. In particular, wobbegong sharks and short-tail stingrays have surprised me with their presence several times underwater, and it's making me uncomfortable. My questions:

1. Are the risks of severe harm or death due to marine life increased when diving alone, compared to diving with a buddy?
   1. I already confirmed that for buddy diving, death due to marine life is negligible compared to the common causes.
2. If it is increased, is the risk significant compared to all the other causes of severe harm or death when solo diving?

Basically, do I have reason to be concerned, especially in comparison to all the other causes of incidents? I've tried googling, but I can't find any definitive information. Citations / reference links in your answer would be greatly appreciated!!! Please and thank you for your help!!

 

[happy-diver]

When I drove cabs, people would ask if anyone has robbed me, or jumped out without paying
and I would sit my 6'4" large frame upright, inflate my chest, and turn around to stare at them

If some hear about my lifetime of diving exploits then it's, "But aren't you frightened of sharks!"

It is funny when I go around to my hairdresser, I'm introduced as, "Happy he dives with sharks!"

A look at the injuries I've sustained, I think the thing I should have bought, was a bubble house
Instead I looked at my personalities and got rid of the ones that couldn't control their thoughts

I've got a great OP Shop find. Marine Animal Injuries to Man or something
Solved the issue of a 6 months of festering urchin spine, in my finger joint

I dive like this in Queensland, maybe it's a buoyancy thing

Yeah night dives, or dusk dives without switching on my torch, also SOLO

No matter, almost every dive I would come up bleeding from somewhere


Come down my way, bottom of SA where the great whites live and grab my shark shield that I've never used


"Moops, it's Moors, look the "R" is smudged!"

 

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

I’m scared of conger eels… those things are almost blind, hide inside random holes and can be pretty large (think 2 meters / 6 feet). They mostly don’t care but in poor viz, that could cost you a hand if they get spooked.

I think a bigger risk for you would be exiting water with no people around, tripping and drowning in ankle-high water or just getting injured with nobody around.

 

[lexvil]

The risk is doubled without a buddy since you’re the only one there, it’s still pretty close to 0%.

 

[Doc Harry]

I get it.

Once I did a solo night dive off the Kona coast of Hawaii. I went in the water at dusk, and as it became dark I decided to leave my light off as long as possible. I didn't turn on my light, and I swam for about 45 minutes in total darkness. I could see dark shadows of the reef, but that was all.

Soon I got really paranoid, and convinced that I was shark bait. I finally turned on my light, and made a straight panicked swim to shore.

It is my understand that shark attacks on divers can be counted on one hand, excluding divers who were spear fishing at the time of the attack.

 

[Pressurehead]

I'm an SDI Solo Diver in NSW, Australia. Typically, my solo diving is at night, shore dive, max depth 7m, about 120min. As of recent, I'm starting to get concerned (maybe even slightly paranoid) about my increased risk of severe harm or death due to marine life (bites or stings) when diving alone.

Relax, stay calm and breath.
I have done a lot of night dives in your area.
The only wild life that gave me a 'slight fright' was when I was bumped by a Bull Shark while on the surface during the day off Middle Head, just telling me to 'bugger off', the other time I was 'hit' by a Numb Ray near Fort Denison Sydney Harbour, again during the day.
This is over 20+ years diving there. You may have to re-evaluate your mindset and ask yourself " is solo night diving for me?".

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

Don't get scared, get even: carry a really big knife (BFK) strapped to your leg and be the meanest, nastiest critter in that ocean...

 

[MB NZ]

I used to look at this to get reassurance, but it had the opposite effect!

How to search GSAF data

 

[missionmtb]

Vigilance.

My closest call I had my face buried in rock reef checking out a slim midshipman for a few minutes when I sense something looming to my right. Look up to a 7 gill shark a foot from my head. I think it thought I was dead on account of my face-downedness, we were both startled and swam in opposite directions. I now have my head on more of a swivel when no one is watching my 6:00.

$0.02

 

[Nemrod]

It is funny when I go around to my hairdresser, I'm introduced as, "Happy he dives with sharks!"




View attachment 866554




"Moops, it's Moors, look the "R" is smudged!"

My take away from this is that you have a hairdresser and she/he is responsible for that!

(Shhh, I quite like it, maybe I will show that picture to my hairdresser and see if she can do something similar for me ).

On subject , the few encounters I have had where a shark was on the verge of misbehaving I have been alone but for one exception and those were baited in.

You will not find google satisfying, there is so little data collected on scuba deaths and most of it is not accurate or biased. There is no data to support solo diving more dangerous than buddy diving and the few solo accidents I read about are mostly buddy dives gone wrong and the unprepared now solo diver was not up to the task that remained or that sharks played a role in any of it.

I do not know about you, solo or not, I do not think I would want to meet up with a tiger or some other sort of toothy creature in the dark and alone but would a buddy make it more comforting? Maybe you could take up solo diving during the day time instead?