Do you dive solo?

[Eric Sedletzky]

LEGACY OF THE DEEP / Kawika Chetron lived for his time spent at sea, and his time there spawned a treasure of ocean images - SFGate

Lesson learned: If you're gonna dive off-shore solo especially off your own dive skiff, at the very least leave an itinerary/dive plan with a friend/relative/neighbor; have a full-size redundant gas source (Backmount or Sidemount Doubles); two EMT cutting shears easily reachable -one in pocket and one in a holster mounted on a waistbelt/weightbelt or BCD; and by all means a mandatory Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) in a Dive Canister.

Or in Kawika's case, just cut the anchor line and get home. Forget about trying to retrieve it. I had a big orange ball tied to the bitter end of my anchor line. If I ever needed to leave in a hurry or fouled and anchor I could just throw the whole works overboard and pick it up later.

 

[drrich2]

What I do as an "expect" is built upon the very same principles that I teach "newbies" - Never dive solo.

A lot of what's taught to newbies can be left behind with appropriate further training and experience; don't go over 60 feet deep, don't go into overhead environments, don't violate NDL limits, don't solo dive, etc… A person doesn't have to do these things; I've yet to violate an NDL and some people prefer shallow diving. But I don't think there's any expectation that experts are to adhere to all of the limitations of a freshly graduated OW cert. diver with no further experience.

Richard.

 

[Kharon]

... two EMT cutting shears easily reachable -one in pocket and one in a holster mounted on a waistbelt/weightbelt or BCD

Seems to me everyone should develop their own kit, especially where things are placed for their easy access. SDI strongly takes this position. The only valid reason for a specific configuration is "because it works for me". There is no "standard" configuration. Also, why 2 pairs of sheers and not a quality knife and sheers? You (I think) are mistaking your preferences for the only way.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I also do not fit into the profile. I teach the way I dive and dive the way I teach. What kind of instructors tell their students to dive with a buddy and then proceed to dive alone?

I do ... but I also tell them why they should dive with a buddy, teach them how to dive with a buddy, explain to them why they do not want to be or dive with a poor dive buddy, and explain to them that at some point in their development they may consider solo diving, but they should only do so after gaining enough experience to make an informed decision about whether or not it's right for them.

In other words, I don't give my students "rules" without telling them why those rules exist ... and I start them out from Day One with the concept that there are many different approaches to diving, and that the one they are learning is merely a starting point ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

---------- Post added June 10th, 2014 at 08:06 AM ----------

What I do as an "expect" is built upon the very same principles that I teach "newbies" - Never dive solo.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess ... I personally have found that the word "never" gets overused in dive instruction, and generally substitutes for any understanding of why the "rule" exists in the first place.

In your approach, no one would ever dive below recreational limits, exceed NDL, dive in overheads, hold their breath, or dive solo. And yet all of these are things that experienced divers do with some regularity ... and under the right circumstances are perfectly acceptable for the diver to do. What's important is to understand how to do them, and when not to ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[gypsyjim]

rules is so no one has to think for themself..

 

[Tigerman]

Oooh.. Ill remember that and just switch my brain off for the next 2 weeks of diving in the red sea

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Envious ... I'll be making my first trip to the Red Sea in September. I might even do a solo dive or two while I'm there ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Kevrumbo]

Seems to me everyone should develop their own kit, especially where things are placed for their easy access. SDI strongly takes this position. The only valid reason for a specific configuration is "because it works for me". There is no "standard" configuration. Also, why 2 pairs of sheers and not a quality knife and sheers? You (I think) are mistaking your preferences for the only way.

Unless you gotta a better way to quickly cut through a variety of monofilament line tensile tests and material types. Two shears -one as a redundant back-up- both easily reachable should you be unfortunate enough to be caught & wrapped in these floating invisible "death nets".

. . .New materials, e.g., Spectra or Dyneema, are finding growing usage as fishing lines. Polyvinylidene fluoride sold as fluorocarbon is very much like nylon monofilament, but has several advantages. Optical density is lower, which makes the line less easily discernible. The surface is harder so it is more resistant to sharp fish teeth and wear. Furthermore PVDF does not take up water and it is resistant to UV-light. It is denser than nylon, too, which makes it sink faster and it will not float on the water surface.

Dyneema is also becoming very popular and it is much stronger, but it is used mostly as a braided fishing line. Because the elastic stretching is only a fraction of that of nylon monofilament, the contact with fish or bait is more direct. It is often used for deep water fishing from boats because lower diameters are used, which give less resistance to currents, and the low stretch makes bites easily detectable.. .

And yes, EMT shears did work for me when I got snagged by a braided line on a night dive. . .

 

[Kharon]

Unless you gotta a better way to quickly cut through a variety of monofilament line tensile tests and material types.

I've got a super sharp J-cutter and a super sharp knife with a line cutter - both of which I've tested against heavy braid (which I use when I'm fishing) and both of which I can use much more easily than sheers. Notice I said I. You find sheers easier, fine. Just don't tell me they are the only option, nor the best option for everybody. They are not.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Rabbit Trail, I was at Wood Holes with the boy scouts years ago and the guide was showing off the new spectra line (about one inch diameter) which they we using to hold a core sampling device. He carefully explained how it was stronger than steel (and in tensile, pound for pound it is). One of boys asked if he could test a scrap section, everyone thought he was crazy. His common boy scout pocket knife made short work of it. Not a clean cut (it as thick line), but all it took was 30 seconds or so to sever it.

My take away is almost any tool will work for common entanglements (knife, shears, Z/J cutters, etc). You do have to carry the tool and it needs to be accessible. I personally stay away from ultra sharp knives because I am concerned I can cut myself or my gear re-sheathing. Shears (with lanyard) from this perspective are almost idiot proof. Knives are cooler.