Your Preferred Solo Configuration

[SeanW]

Hello all,

Posting to see what everyone likes using for their solo configuration!

 

[34109411]

i am using a back mounted and use a pony on the side for the last two years, but just bought my hollis katana 2 for SM so soon i will be a real diver. I will than complain a lot about people using a pony.

 

[Boarderguy]

Until recently it was a single 100 with a BM upside down pony. Air 2 and 40" primary hose.

Now I'm in BM manifold double 100s with necklaced 2nd. AL40 slung with 50% regardless of planned deco obligation. This is my standard setup regardless of solo or buddies.

 

[SeanW]

Until recently it was a single 100 with a BM upside down pony. Air 2 and 40" primary hose.

Now I'm in BM manifold double 100s with necklaced 2nd. AL40 slung with 50% regardless of planned deco obligation. This is my standard setup regardless of solo or buddies.

Do you have any concerns with manifolded doubles diving solo? I dive sidemount mostly when I’m solo bc I always felt a little weird with the thought of bubbles behind my head and essentially guessing where they were coming from

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

For depths up to 60' just a single tank, no pony, high quality first stage impeccably maintained, one durable simple second stage impeccably maintained, SPG, compass, two cutting tools, and a lot of self awareness. It's more about what not to do than what you would do if a good and attentive buddy was around.
Added gear may not save your ass, it's possible you shouldn't be in a situation solo no matter what gear you have or think you need.
Deeper than 60' and I may add a small pony with an impeccably maintained 1st and 2nd stage, but I have not dived solo deeper than 45' in a long time so the point of that addition is moot.
Too much added crap makes you a prisoner of that crap.
Less is more.

It's interesting how all the agencies used to beat us to death at the mere mention of solo diving, yet they never really taught buddy diving well or at all. They just said "don't dive alone, always dive with a buddy". Ok, how?? What are the rules?
"If you lose your buddy look around for one minute then surface and re-group". Well I got news for you a lot of bad stuff can happen to someone with limited experience in one minute solo, with the agency sermon ringing through their brains that solo is a death sentence!!

So then some rogue agency decides to step out into the freeway of bashing and ridicule hell, and comes out with a solo course, very cutting edge and very controversial. Then, gee wiz, everyone else has to do the same to grab a piece of the market share! Amazing!
But us solo divers have already been sinning for years and a lot of soloists by that time have already written their own rules. Now some agency that was religiously vehemently against solo diving up until a few years is now suddenly all about it and they show up with "their" rules, like they now think they invented solo diving.
Sheesh!

 

[Boarderguy]

Do you have any concerns with manifolded doubles diving solo? I dive sidemount mostly when I’m solo bc I always felt a little weird with the thought of bubbles behind my head and essentially guessing where they were coming from

None whatsoever. I can reach my valves and I can hear pretty well. If push comes to shove I have 40 ft³ to clear out whatever deco I have. If I'm below 70 and my tanks haven't imploded them I'll just keep breathing off them until I get up to 70. Catastrophic failures happen but losing all back gas right instantaneously isn't a reality. Closing valves doesn't take that long. Close one and listen. Switch regs, close the other and listen. 50/50 chance of only having to close one side. Catastrophic failure close your manifold and save half your gas.

 

[happy-diver]

Do you have any concerns with manifolded doubles diving solo? I dive sidemount mostly when I’m solo bc I always felt a little weird with the thought of bubbles behind my head and essentially guessing where they were coming from

Maintaining your gear, and leaving unfounded concerns to others, is conducive to far heathier diving
I dive with minimal gear and no pony and no divers
Before experience or understanding their only concern should be them breaking down not their gear

 

[34109411]

For depths up to 60' just a single tank, no pony, high quality first stage impeccably maintained, one durable simple second stage impeccably maintained, SPG, compass, two cutting tools, and a lot of self awareness. It's more about what not to do than what you would do if a good and attentive buddy was around.
Added gear may not save your ass, it's possible you shouldn't be in a situation solo no matter what gear you have or think you need.
Deeper than 60' and I may add a small pony with an impeccably maintained 1st and 2nd stage, but I have not dived solo deeper than 45' in a long time so the point of that addition is moot.
Too much added crap makes you a prisoner of that crap.
Less is more.

It's interesting how all the agencies used to beat us to death at the mere mention of solo diving, yet they never really taught buddy diving well or at all. They just said "don't dive alone, always dive with a buddy". Ok, how?? What are the rules?
"If you lose your buddy look around for one minute then surface and re-group". Well I got news for you a lot of bad stuff can happen to someone with limited experience in one minute solo, with the agency sermon ringing through their brains that solo is a death sentence!!

So then some rogue agency decides to step out into the freeway of bashing and ridicule hell, and comes out with a solo course, very cutting edge and very controversial. Then, gee wiz, everyone else has to do the same to grab a piece of the market share! Amazing!
But us solo divers have already been sinning for years and a lot of soloists by that time have already written their own rules. Now some agency that was religiously vehemently against solo diving up until a few years is now suddenly all about it and they show up with "their" rules, like they now think they invented solo diving.
Sheesh!

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Do you have any concerns with manifolded doubles diving solo? I dive sidemount mostly when I’m solo bc I always felt a little weird with the thought of bubbles behind my head and essentially guessing where they were coming from

That's one of the reasons why, when I taught solo, I required the students to have a mirror. Either in a pouch or on the back of their hand. That allows you to do your bubble check and buddy check as well. I got that from my sidemount instructor and found it highly valuable.
It also comes in handy on wrecks when you are considering a new entry point. Rather than stick your head in and risk a sharp object or maybe a monster biting your head off, just stick the mirror in and survey the opening all around its perimeter.

Though I voted sidemount as that was my primary configuration, if I was staying shallow and just cruising around the quarry, single tank backmount and a slung bottle also worked.

 

[tursiops]

Do you have any concerns with manifolded doubles diving solo? I dive sidemount mostly when I’m solo bc I always felt a little weird with the thought of bubbles behind my head and essentially guessing where they were coming from

Carry a small mirror if solo, to look behind you. You should have one anyway for signaling.

Added: Ditto Post #9.