Did ScubaBoard sweep the Solo forum under the rug again?

[Wookie]

The lack off this is why many divers need a buddy and a dive computer to get back save So in general solo diving can be considered technical as these skills are not often taught in depth in "rec" dive training.

But these skills *should* be taught in Open Water. At least by advanced. If they were, there would have been no need of the "dustup" mentioned by the OP. The fact that the vast majority of OW divers are barely able to plan and execute a dive distresses me to no end.

 

[AfterDark]

The lack off this is why many divers need a buddy and a dive computer to get back save So in general solo diving can be considered technical as these skills are not often taught in depth in "rec" dive training.

A buddy you say? You don't mean a buddy trained the same way as the other diver do you? A situation where two heads maybe more useless than one.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

But these skills *should* be taught in Open Water. At least by advanced. If they were, there would have been no need of the "dustup" mentioned by the OP. The fact that the vast majority of OW divers are barely able to plan and execute a dive distresses me to no end.

That wasn't much of a dustup, Frank ... and I think it stems more from a difference in mentality between east coast and west coast divers (generally) than anything else. Out here we don't do dive guides ... if you want to dive, you're expected to be able to plan and execute your own dive directly out of OW class. Or, if you can't then you find a more experienced diver to help you get your fins wet until such time as you've developed a measure of self-sufficiency. Divers out here tend to, as they gain experience, become more independent-minded. And dive charters tend to be more accommodating toward that approach than is apparently the case in the southeast parts of our country. We just don't get much of the tourist divers out here ... even local divers who only dive occasionally tend to shy away from diving close to home, choosing to save their diving opportunities for warmer water with better visibility. As a result, solo diving tends to be looked at more as an extension of your experience level than the separate set of skills that the agencies are now starting to try to sell us.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[AJ]

What I'am meaning is I have had buddys who relied solely on me to get back save. They proposed not an asset to me, but if things wentawry, they even might have formed a liablility. IMHO this is caused by not being trained to the level of self sufficent divers and, even worse, they even never botherded to practice any skills after they were certified.

And yes, I think every diver should be taught to be self sufficent right from the start. I have been lucky to meet some "tech" instructors who taught me well in self sufficient "rec" diving.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

What I'am meaning is I have had buddys who relied solely on me to get back save. They proposed not an asset to me, but if things wentawry, they even might have formed a liablility. IMHO this is caused by not being trained to the level of self sufficent divers and, even worse, they even never botherded to practice any skills after they were certified.

And yes, I think every diver should be taught to be self sufficent right from the start. I have been lucky to meet some "tech" instructors who taught me well in self sufficient "rec" diving.

It's telling that we now have separate courses that teach divers self-sufficiency. That stems from a reliance on others to help assemble your equipment, plan your dive, and watch over you while you conduct your dive. I've seen many divers who have been diving for years who wouldn't be able to assemble their own equipment, because they haven't done so since Open Water class, much less jump in the water without someone to watch over them.

Those people aren't dive buddies ... they're just another human being in your proximity while you're diving. God help you if something happens where you require assistance ... because that "buddy" won't be able to. But the same people who will object to a competent diver going it alone will have no problem if you decide to instead take that dependent person along with you ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Wookie]

That wasn't much of a dustup, Frank ... and I think it stems more from a difference in mentality between east coast and west coast divers (generally) than anything else. Out here we don't do dive guides ... if you want to dive, you're expected to be able to plan and execute your own dive directly out of OW class. Or, if you can't then you find a more experienced diver to help you get your fins wet until such time as you've developed a measure of self-sufficiency. Divers out here tend to, as they gain experience, become more independent-minded. And dive charters tend to be more accommodating toward that approach than is apparently the case in the southeast parts of our country. We just don't get much of the tourist divers out here ... even local divers who only dive occasionally tend to shy away from diving close to home, choosing to save their diving opportunities for warmer water with better visibility. As a result, solo diving tends to be looked at more as an extension of your experience level than the separate set of skills that the agencies are now starting to try to sell us.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Yes. I wrote a far larger response, but it wasn't germane to the conversation. I agree with your assessment about east and west coast as well as cold water and warm water divers.

 

[scubadada]

...What confounds me is why it's in the tech section? Not that I care one way or the other; but what the heck is "technical" about solo diving? Too me at least solo diving is more about attitude then anything "technical".

There is nothing "technical" about solo diving, unless one considers the ability to think for yourself, plan and prepare your dive without assistance, and be able to help yourself out of an unforeseen circumstance as "technical".

But the majority of the training agencies that control our recreation don't teach those skills until one reaches the tech levels ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

SDI Solo is taught as a non-technical specialty course. PADI Self Reliant Diver is a non-technical distinctive specialty course.

I made a plea quite a while ago that Solo Divers be moved from Technical Diving Specialties to Advanced Scuba Discussions, nothing became of the request. Maybe the time is right to reconsider the move?

 

[Nemrod]

I too think the Solo Forum should be moved to the Advanced Forum as a sub forum and made an open group. I do not understand the subterfuge and hide and seek for a perfectly legitimate certification and topic.

N

 

[uncfnp]

I'm confused why it is even an issue.

Take a look. The Advanced Forum has no sub forums. The Technical has several including Advanced Diver Magazine, Hogarthian, DIR, Sidemount...

 

[AfterDark]

I'm confused why it is even an issue.

Take a look. The Advanced Forum has no sub forums. The Technical has several including Advanced Diver Magazine, Hogarthian, DIR, Sidemount...

I don't think it's an issue it's just not a technical diving activity. Observably some people think it's there to discourage newbies. Now if the state of diver training wasn't what many of us older divers think it is, abysmal. The pros and cons of solo diving would be part of OW and AOW and newbies as well as more experienced divers would have facts to come to an informed conclusion. Instead they get meaningless drivel like "if you dive alone you die alone" a product of a retarded thought process. If it is indeed there to "hide" it then it becomes the forbidden fruit, and I know how much I like forbidden fruit.

My classmate both 16 years old, and I were planning and executing dives ourselves right out of training. I don't use OW because then there was no such thing. My 1st solo dive was less than 2 years out of training, our 1st ice dive was the winter after. No classes existed for that either then. We were trained to dive not be guided around like puppies on a leash.