Split from A&I Yukon thread: Gas Rules in OW Solo Dives

[Cave Diver]

In fact the quote straight from the SDI Instructor Guide is this: “We have settled on the rule of thirds as the appropriate reserve volume for the purposes of this course. However, even though this would give a diver ample volume for most emergencies – such as emergency decompression or losing up lines – solo divers must still be configured with a complete redundant gas source to safely manage the unlikely event of catastrophic failure somewhere in our primary gas system.” (Copyright credit to Scuba Diving International)

So is decompression taught as part of the solo diving course? If not, then why mention that among the reasons for 1/3's?

Unless it's along the lines of "since you're diving alone if you get entangled with no one to cut your free, you might exceed your NDL's." But in that case your gas plan is probably blown all to hell already...

 

[PfcAJ]

Its in there because they couldn't come to a consensus on anything because there is no standardization. Some sort of rule had to be agreed on, and thirds is a real popular thing nowadays. Its a poor attempt to make an unsafe thing seem safe.

Duh.

 

[DaleC]

Sort of like cave diving.

 

[Jax]

My, hasn't the tone of this thread turned snarky. Why is everyone so determined to whack on SDI's teaching? And why will it matter because we'll all do what we darned well please, anyway?

 

[Blackwood]

. Why is everyone so determined to whack on SDI's

I didn't get that feeling at all, Jax.

People are just being frank with their opinions.

 

[DevonDiver]

Why is everyone so determined to whack on SDI's teaching?

I don't think anyone is whacking SDI's teaching.... they are whacking the lack of it.

It seems that the rationale behind the 'rule of thirds' for the SDI solo course consists of nothing more than "because I told you so".

Solo diving is a higher risk activity. If this course is to train and certify divers, then I would expect a lot of thought to have gone into the course structure, methods and procedures. That doesn't seem to have happened.

 

[Thalassamania]

I'm still assuming that SDI has some rationale and I really am interested in what it might be.

 

[AfterDark]

IMO anyone that thinks they need a solo diving course to be ready to solo dive, isn't ready to solo dive. Solo diving is about self-reliance after all.

 

[HowardE]

My opinion on Solo Diving classes, and gas management.

If you don't understand the difference between planning a dive to 15 feet, or planning a dive to 80 in open water, or a dive to 130 feet and to penetrate a shipwreck... by yourself; then you should just not be diving solo. If you don't understand HOW MUCH GAS YOU NEED to exit the dive... then you should not be diving solo. If you don't understand when its appropriate to carry redundant gas, doubles, a pony, follow an arbitrary "rule" regarding planning, etc; then you should not be diving solo. To certify someone as a "solo diver" when quite simply they don't understand the intricacies of the components involved with solo diving is irresponsible, and builds false confidence to the diver who thinks they're "capable of diving solo". Some people are just in a hurry to take every class out there, so they can think they're an accomplished diver. But its like the difference between knowledge and wisdom. You just can't take a class in wisdom. It's acquired. If you want to dive solo... make sure you fully understand how gas management works, and what are the factors that influence your plan... otherwise... don't do it.

 

[DevonDiver]

My opinion on Solo Diving classes, and gas management...

If you don't understand..... If you don't understand ..... If you don't understand .... then you should not be diving solo.

To certify someone as a "solo diver" when quite simply they don't understand the intricacies of the components involved with solo diving is irresponsible, and builds false confidence to the diver who thinks they're "capable of diving solo". .

Howard... I agree with you 100%.

I assumed that the SDI training course existed to provide that knowledge to sutdents who haven't already become immersed within the cave and technical diving communitites.

The issue that is being addressed here,... is that it doesn't seem that SDI students aren't being taught to understand why they are using rule of 1/3rds.