Solo diving

[safyrewulfie]

Im not saying I am tempted on bad days when I just want to be alone and underwater. But if I ever did go alone, i wouldnt even think beyond 16ft at least. I still just feel bad about bugging others, esp ones that dive solo.

 

[LowVizWiz]

Being alone under water is one of the eeriest quiet feelings I've had and a lot of people get freaked out by it. I wouldn't have done it 3 years ago, but now I feel like I dive solo almost every time even when there's someone there. I say that because I don't have a regular dive partner so I'm usually diving with someone who I have never dove with before or very infrequently.

Have you done a night dive? If you have, try going lights out and see how you feel after that!

Seriously, enjoy your diving, get out there and find some people to dive with!
Lot's of people dive Venice beach.

Wiz

 

[sglake]

Im not saying I am tempted on bad days when I just want to be alone and underwater. But if I ever did go alone, i wouldnt even think beyond 16ft at least. I still just feel bad about bugging others, esp ones that dive solo.

Diving solo is something that you would consider only when and if you are totally comfortable and confident in your skills and abilities! As you know the dive training agencies do not recommend it. Most divers that do are not new to diving and I believe they know that if anything where to happen they believe that they would have the confidence to deal with any problems. Also in the dive community and in your area I don't think that you are bugging people to find a dive partner.

 

[Divergirl4U]

Diving solo is something that you would consider only when and if you are totally comfortable and confident in your skills and abilities!
.

Hi I live S.E Florida and I solo the first reef from time to time. This reef is 12 to 18 ft and it is cool to go and be a part of it. But yes you can freak your self out if you are not comfortable.
I had a small Parrott fish chase me once that was a bit unnerving. Lol but that is another story ……

 

[Walter]

We're diving Venice on Sunday (weather permitting). You're welcome to dive with us. You're not a mooch.

 

[DebbyDiver]

I would never consider someone asking me to dive with them to be "bugging me". Go ahead, ask people to go with you, they will be so happy that you did!

 

[fgray1]

Most dives I go on in open water I consider a solo dive. Most times your Buddy isn't close enough to help out. The vis at Venice is usually so bad you couldn't find him if you needed to. You need to know how to save yourself. The only diver I rely on is me. When I cave dive I only go with divers I know I can trust to be there when if I need them. Even then you have to be ready to save yourself. Panic is what will do you in. Depending on someone to save you is not what I would suggest. Be prepared for what ever comes along and hope it never does.
Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[dkramer]

:
I had a small Parrott fish chase me once that was a bit unnerving. Lol but that is another story ……

Well, on my first solo dive, I had a Remora try to attache to me. Luckily I spotted him just in time. He & I had a little chat & at first he wasn't too pleased that he wasn't going to get a free ride but he eventually saw things my way.

 

[Wormil]

I had a small Parrott fish chase me once that was a bit unnerving. Lol but that is another story ……

I love it when some fish spends a bit of time swimming around me. I always wonder when the grouper will do that when I have my gun...

I'm not really qualified to answer the solo dive ready question, but I feel that learning the skills to self save are going to be important. I've had a couple of boat dives where I was less than impressed with "buddy" and felt the desire to learn to save myself. SDI offers a solo diver cert, and that was my goal for next year.

 

[tlawler]

I'm not sure of your certification level, but I would say have AOW and Rescue under your belt with at least 100 dives after Rescue. If there was a rule of thumb or guideline to go by, I would say that is probably about right. Only you know your comfort level with different scenarios. How comfortable are you with losing your mask or regulator, then finding them and replacing and clearing? These are skills that you should be practicing whenever you dive (with a buddy), until they become second nature to you.

In the meantime, develop an extensive buddy list and whenever you want to go diving, go down the list until you find someone who can buddy with you. The longer your list, the better the chance you'll find a buddy on short notice. Fantasea Scuba in Port Charlotte has a new club that just started a couple months ago and meets the last Monday of each month. Start going to meetings and meet more divers. I live in Port Charlotte too, and know offhand at least 10 to 15 divers that live in the area who would be willing to buddy up. You probably know a lot of them already. Add me to your list too. I'm available some weekends, evenings, and also some days when I dive either during lunch or after work when I'm in the Venice vicinity.