First Solo dive

[Hockeynut]

Less than 50 dives and already diving solo? I was over 60 at least...

Just an observation. It's just what it says there, it doesn't mean that's how many dives he really has. I dive solo, am i bad because I have none, not certified?

 

[David_57]

No you are not bad, you are not breaking any laws I know of but if you look like your pic I could put you over my knee and spank you ;-}

I have never been asked to show my Solo card besides even if you have the card most dive ops will not allow it as they look at it as Taboo, the Dark side ;-} As long as you are equipped and have educated yourself on Solo Diving and aware of the risks associated, but why would you bother being a commericial diver? Although I would recommend taking the course to anyone else.

My buddy (wife) and I are both Solo certified we use the training as a backup to the buddy system and do not get our knickers in a twist if we are not side by side within arms length, this enables us to spend more time focusing on the beautiful under water views and enjoying the dive.

 

[dsdiving]

This is a very addictive practice. I probably wouldn't advise it to someone until they have at least a hundred dives but now that you have had a taste there's probably no stopping you. Proper training is always a good idea. To say the least, keeping your gear up to snuff and having a proper back up system will be your saving grace.

 

[Barracuda2]

To me though, the real value to the "card" is access. Some places will not let you solo without it. Private dive parks and some dive ops come to mind. Some liveaboards will only allow solo divers with the solo card. If you plan to frequent these operations and wish to solo it may be worth that 150$. Otherwise you are stuck with a stranger, if not a group, and all that beautiful video would never have been shot.

You can have all the experience, common sense, confidence, comfort, and more experience you want - but when you get on the boat, what they generally want to see is "the card" - and if you don't have it, then too bad for you. But thanks for my daily dose of pedantic.

Exactly---the only reason I got my AOW is because I would have been locked out of one of my local dive sites' "deep end" if I didn't. It was pretty much a waste of time and money. Before I do my next live a board trip, I will find out if solo is allowed and if so, if I need a card to do it. If I need "the card", then I will again shell out $150 to validate myself so the solo door will open to me for trips like that. That's the reason for my rant.


How long it will take for your card to come in the mail.

Ain't that the truth!!

 

[mksmith713]

Oddly enough, I mentioned doing a few solo shore dives while visiting Lauderdale and the Keys next month and the other posters ripped my @ss for even mentioning solo diving.
I can't undersatnd why.
I plan on diving shallow.....probably less than 40 fsw and possibly even less than 30fsw.
I'm even considering a pony bottle to avoid an OOA emergency.
I'm extremely cautious and keep one eye on my guages while scanning for subjects to photograph.
I found diving with a buddy to be a real pain in the @ss.
I can't move at my pace, looking for cool stuff to photograph because my buddy is moving either faster than me or in the opposite direction.
If I find a cool subject to shoot pics of....and I want to shoot 30 or so pics so I'm sure at least one will turn out good, I don't feel I should be rushed my an inpatient buddy.
While doing the photography portion my AOW course...I found myself alone frequently because the rest of the group left me.
Granted....the vis was awesome and I could see where they were 100' away but still.......100 feet is a long way to be from a buddy.

Is this unreasonable for me to want to solo dive?

 

[Barracuda2]

Oddly enough, I mentioned doing a few solo shore dives while visiting Lauderdale and the Keys next month and the other posters ripped my @ss for even mentioning solo diving.
I can't undersatnd why.
I plan on diving shallow.....probably less than 40 fsw and possibly even less than 30fsw.
I'm even considering a pony bottle to avoid an OOA emergency.
I'm extremely cautious and keep one eye on my guages while scanning for subjects to photograph.
I found diving with a buddy to be a real pain in the @ss.
I can't move at my pace, looking for cool stuff to photograph because my buddy is moving either faster than me or in the opposite direction.
If I find a cool subject to shoot pics of....and I want to shoot 30 or so pics so I'm sure at least one will turn out good, I don't feel I should be rushed my an inpatient buddy.
While doing the photography portion my AOW course...I found myself alone frequently because the rest of the group left me.
Granted....the vis was awesome and I could see where they were 100' away but still.......100 feet is a long way to be from a buddy.

Is this unreasonable for me to want to solo dive?

Right On!----I have some great video of garden eels, a sand tile fish building his nest, a yellow jaw cleaning his eggs, pederson shrimp cleaning the mouth of a grouper, manderin fish "playing" (if you know what I mean), and cleaner wrass cleaning the outside and inside of a moray--only because I was alone and able to spend the time it takes to get "the" shot at these locations. If I knew how to post video, I would show you these clips.

 

[vixtor]

Oddly enough, I mentioned doing a few solo shore dives while visiting Lauderdale and the Keys next month and the other posters ripped my @ss for even mentioning solo diving.
I can't undersatnd why.
I plan on diving shallow.....probably less than 40 fsw and possibly even less than 30fsw.
I'm even considering a pony bottle to avoid an OOA emergency.
I'm extremely cautious and keep one eye on my guages while scanning for subjects to photograph.
I found diving with a buddy to be a real pain in the @ss.
I can't move at my pace, looking for cool stuff to photograph because my buddy is moving either faster than me or in the opposite direction.
If I find a cool subject to shoot pics of....and I want to shoot 30 or so pics so I'm sure at least one will turn out good, I don't feel I should be rushed my an inpatient buddy.
While doing the photography portion my AOW course...I found myself alone frequently because the rest of the group left me.
Granted....the vis was awesome and I could see where they were 100' away but still.......100 feet is a long way to be from a buddy.

Is this unreasonable for me to want to solo dive?

You are the only one knowing if it is reasonable or not to dive solo. Nobody else can give you assurance by telling you it is reasonable. It is a matter of training, comfort in water, gear redundancy and good planning, and if the conclusion of all these aspects is reasonable, you will know/feel it then.

I usually enjoy a lot solo diving (and specially night solo shore diving, when my friends wait me at a nearby restaurant, and I know a hot tea will wait me on the table when I exit the water), but sometimes I am worried that by stating this I might push somebody else to do it, somebody else who's not otherwise ready for it.

 

[Sas]

Oddly enough, I mentioned doing a few solo shore dives while visiting Lauderdale and the Keys next month and the other posters ripped my @ss for even mentioning solo diving.
I can't undersatnd why.
I plan on diving shallow.....probably less than 40 fsw and possibly even less than 30fsw.
I'm even considering a pony bottle to avoid an OOA emergency.
I'm extremely cautious and keep one eye on my guages while scanning for subjects to photograph.
I found diving with a buddy to be a real pain in the @ss.
I can't move at my pace, looking for cool stuff to photograph because my buddy is moving either faster than me or in the opposite direction.
If I find a cool subject to shoot pics of....and I want to shoot 30 or so pics so I'm sure at least one will turn out good, I don't feel I should be rushed my an inpatient buddy.
While doing the photography portion my AOW course...I found myself alone frequently because the rest of the group left me.
Granted....the vis was awesome and I could see where they were 100' away but still.......100 feet is a long way to be from a buddy.

Is this unreasonable for me to want to solo dive?

Who knows? It's your decision. It's not a bunch of strangers on the net's decision If you have more specific questions about what type of redundancy you need and things like that, post it in the solo diving forum and you'll get a more friendly response

I just finished my first solo dive this afternoon and thing went swimmingly. It was really nice and relaxing. I really liked not have to lead or follow, I could just do my own thing. I can definately see doing this more in my future

Glad you had fun I have recently started solo diving also and I love it much for the same reasons you've mentioned.

 

[tomboyy]

You can have all the experience, common sense, confidence, comfort, and more experience you want - but when you get on the boat, what they generally want to see is "the card" - and if you don't have it, then too bad for you. But thanks for my daily dose of pedantic.

Nudediver.. looks like you are good for something. I just learned another word

Which I'll most likely forget by tommorrow

 

[NudeDiver]

Nudediver.. looks like you are good for something. I just learned another word:

Wow!!! And so many people tell me I am good for nothing. Ha!! Now I have evidence to the contrary. Thanks

p.s: Although, I used it as a noun, rather than the adjective that it really is. YMMV.