Solo Kit setup: the required, redundant, optional, and hell-no items

[happy-diver]

An argument for or against, Blondes, Brunettes, Red wine or White, can I say White without being labeled
about as useless as gear talk as generally your stuff won't fail and over time your preferences may change

 

[Nemrod]

The spare mask thing. I have carried a spare mask in deep/dark and especially COLD water solo dives where I might be pushing limits. I can deal with my eyes open in saltwater, no issue. But cold freshwater, horrible. But also, I do not generally do such dives solo anymore. My solo diving these days is pretty simple stuff behind a resort just before happy hour. I do not need a spare kitchen sink and possibly encountering a great white or UFOs or incredible scenarios that are not going to happen to justify piling on all sorts of equipmrnt.

I have taken to using two computers because on multi-dive days on long trips where it is dive, dive, dive all day and night I do not want a computer failure to prevent me from finishing the day or week(s). And I have had computer failures several times prior to my now Shearwater common era. So there is that. But I have yet to have a passing porpoise to take my dive mask and run off with it so that is pretty low on my imaginary calamity scale. But, we are all different and dive in differing conditions and there is that also. Do what is really needed to make it back top side for happy hour! Do not be late .

 

[davehicks]

Always two masks, solo or not, makes no difference.

The mask could start leaking; change it.
Strap could part; change it.
Maybe it could fog really badly (have had this in the past); try taking it off, cleaning with fingers, put it back on. If that’s not fixed it; change the mask.
Could hit something, nets, wreck sticky-out-things and break the mask; change it.

Basically the two masks travel in my fin pockets — there’s two fins — so always have my spare mask, so may as well put it in my pocket; better to have a spare and not use it rather than need it and not have it.

A friend of mine was on her first trip to Indonesia, and was lucky enough to see a Mantis Shrimp. Now if you've seen one of these move, they can zip around in the water like a little torpedo. Very fast. So, the Mantis was zipping through the water, hit her in the head, and punched out her mask lens!

Picture or it didn't happen!

 

[MB NZ]

Re: two computers, it's not just about a safe ascent, it's having some way of determining if the information that is being given is accurate. Also, if one computer completely craps out, I'd continue the dive. Chances of it happening twice are slim to my mind. And yes, I have had a computer crap out underwater.

 

[grantmac]

Two tanks, two masks, two computers and no manifolds for me thank you.

 

[Cthippo]

I had that happen when I put an extra pair of trauma shears in my mask bag at a race. I now have a extra mask in the RV.

 

[34109411]

Two tanks, two masks, two computers and no manifolds for me thank you.

during my first in galapagos my mares M1 went sideways just after immersion and it was fairly new less than 30 dives maybe. This was not great. 15 years later i still got it it s my back up computer sometime is ok sometimes not. LOL

Than it order to replace it i bought a suunto zoop. After 10 dives went sideways also ! That one was easy there is a recall on the computer (didn't know about that when purchased, depth sensor issues).

Send it to suunto they send it a new one for free. new unit arrive now it was taking water . I send it again they send me another one ! . I soon discovered that the button on the zoop are so difficult to press you need a hammer it hurt the tip of your fingers. Cause i dive only solo i didn't want to deal with that.

I finally end up buying a mares quand air cause i had a good deal (it has a large screen and easy to push button) and the suunto is my back up computer. ( i will had bought a sherwater but was much more expensive for the budget i i had)

LOL short story long

 

[Still Kicking]

The question that i am still asking is if i should remove that octo from my primary.

I keep mine. If i have a torn mouthpiece or a leaky exhaust valve, the reg will be breatheable but it will be wet and not fun for a whole dive. It's nice to have another second stage to switch to. It's not obtrusive.

Also while most of my dives are solo, there are times when i may dive with a buddy so i don't have to alter my setup for that situation.

 

[34109411]

I keep mine. If i have a torn mouthpiece or a leaky exhaust valve, the reg will be breatheable but it will be wet and not fun for a whole dive. It's nice to have another second stage to switch to. It's not obtrusive.

Also while most of my dives are solo, there are times when i may dive with a buddy so i don't have to alter my setup for that situation.

thank you for your input.

 

[NothingClever]

With winter and few options for hitting the water right now I'm reviewing my kit for my independent diving to see what I might want to add and what I might want to leave behind. This applies to both in-water kit and support kit I leave onboard the boat, or in my truck.

My independent diving parameters are pretty tame, 45-foot max dive and bottom depths, mostly shore based though I do sometimes use a boat. May do up to three consecutive dives per trip but more likely two or less.

Kind of curious what you folks consider to be essential items and what items you can do without. Also curious which items you absolutely want more than one of.

And, as usual, I'm very much interested in your reasoning behind your decisions

Mission?

Any specific tasks?

Underwater terrain and soil?

Current?

I recommend basing your equipment selection on the dive mission and profile along with a deliberate risk assessment (probability and severity of hazards).

I’m all about redundancy but 45ft is pretty shallow. I’m thinking clearly-defined abort criteria and immediate action drills are going to be more important than tech-level equipment redundancies.

Don’t forget to get off ScubaBoard, just go dive and have some fun.