Solo shore diving...

[halocline]

Albert Einstein could not spell to save his life... His writing skills were not any better... Would you give him a hard time ? I didn't think so...

Jim....

Well, I didn't intend to give anyone, Einstein and his followers included, a hard time, with my humorous post. But he may have been a better writer than you are implying. The question is, would he have approved of solo shore diving?

 

[cvchief]

Well, I didn't intend to give anyone, Einstein and his followers included, a hard time, with my humorous post. But he may have been a better writer than you are implying. The question is, would he have approved of solo shore diving?

I think it is relative.....

 

[dmoore19]

At least in theory anyway.

I think it is relative.....

 

[Ron Lee]

Getting back to the original post, how many people will tell an inexperienced diver, of unknown skills, training, temperament and ability to respond to issues underwater that they will be fine making an initial solo dive at any given dive site?

 

[redacted]

Getting back to the original post, how many people will tell an inexperienced diver, of unknown skills, training, temperament and ability to respond to issues underwater that they will be fine making an initial solo dive at any given dive site?

Not as many as will tell them they are going to die if they try it.

I find it better to talk about risks and added precautions rather than the do or don't do it. It is the diver's decision.

 

[halocline]

Getting back to the original post, how many people will tell an inexperienced diver, of unknown skills, training, temperament and ability to respond to issues underwater that they will be fine making an initial solo dive at any given dive site?

I wouldn't tell anyone who's diving I don't know anything about what would or would not be safe for that person, unless he/she is suggesting something so far off the norm as to be unsafe for basically everyone. I would say that in general, solo diving is riskier than buddy diving, and in general, shore diving in Cozumel is very easy and forgiving.

 

[uncfnp]

And I hope the OP is asking for input and opinion not permission. If he needs permission from us to do the dive, then he is definitely not indendent enough mentally to solo.

Yes oldschoolto, there is a difference in swimming, snorkeling and diving and I think the differences are obvious. But more to your point, there are indeed some people that I would caution not to solo, either swimming, snorkeling or diving and that is any individual that does not have the needed skills, equipment or temperament. Only the OP can answer this question.

 

[ggunn]

Not as many as will tell them they are going to die if they try it.

That's hyperbole; no one in here has said anything remotely like that.

Diving is all about risk management. There is a small but finite chance that you will die every time you dive, or fly on a plane, or cross the street. Diving solo adds to the risk of diving to some degree, which varies according to the situation and the diver, but it is there. It is up to the individual to decide whether the added risk is worth taking on, and that decision is (or should be) in large part based on the experience level of the diver, as well as the diver's general risk tolerance.

Speaking strictly for myself, I would not have dived solo when I was as new to the activity as the OP. Doo-doo happens, and a novice diver is less equipped to react quickly and correctly if and when things go abruptly pear shaped, even if the likelihood of the worst happening is low.

DSFDF and YMMV.

 

[oldschoolto]

I have no problem standing behind my posts or advice....

1: He's saying at a place that has shore diving right there....
2: He already has a shore diving lesson set up with a Dive Master on the first day...
3: He's looking to stay in 15 - 20 feet of water....
4: Other divers with experience at that very dive site don't see any big deal about....
5: It's very unlikely that he will be the only one in the water or at the site...
6: He is asking questions and looking for information ... A sign of a smart person....
7: What he wants to do is very low on the risk meter....

Jim....
A Solo diver from day ONE.....

 

[Ron Lee]

1: He's saying at a place that has shore diving right there....

Response: That does not mean that he is a suitable candidate for diving solo there.

2: He already has a shore diving lesson set up with a Dive Master on the first day...

Response: That is good but still does not show that he is ready to dive solo there.

3: He's looking to stay in 15 - 20 feet of water....

Response: Ok, no way to drown or embolize is that depth water.

4: Other divers with experience at that very dive site don't see any big deal about....

Response: See first response.

5: It's very unlikely that he will be the only one in the water or at the site...

Response: Can't be assumed.

6: He is asking questions and looking for information ... A sign of a smart person....

Response: See first response.

7: What he wants to do is very low on the risk meter....

Response: See first response.

There may be a dive agency that teaches solo diving. Google it for a possible method to approach this idea safely.