Alpine soloist?

[lizardland]

First....put on asbestos clothing.....you will get a lot of those that don't know what they don't know and will be quick to decry such diving and be absolutely insistent that it will lead to death....hogwash.

Of course it won't lead you to death. Just like not wearing a seatbelt won't lead you to death. I don't think anyone is really suggesting that. External circumstances lead you to that point. What the choices you make before you get in the water will do is either give or remove options when those circumstances come knocking.

The reality is that most divers will never face anything life threatening underwater. But it is going to happen to someone. You could argue all day about whether or not those divers brought it on themselves. Pretty much everything is avoidable yet as much as we all know that it doesn't stop accidents from happening.

For me it comes down to how much do I have to go out of my way to give myself a fighting chance of survival when something happens and I'm alone? In recreational depths, a simple mod like strapping a pony bottle down the side of your cylinder or fitting an H valve is something you'd barely notice. It's not really "gear hung over me".

I also think a lot of people are diving with overkill equipment because that's what they have for the majority of their diving. Most of my diving is on CCR. Keeping a simple OC set-up for a handful of dives a year is a waste of money. So yes, I'm doing 20m no deco shore dives with a Mk15 and OC bailout. And quite often trimix dil because I'm not dumping perfectly good helium. I suspect that applies to most people diving CCR or even diving twinsets. I don't know anyone who keeps multiple different set-ups unless they are teaching.

Each to their own, it's a personal decision. There is no dive police, at least not in communist Europe where I live. I can't speak for the land of the free.

Gear does not make or keep you safe. In water skills and good judgement gained through a lot of water time is primary for diver survival.

I think it is a bit of both. Neither an all skills nor an all equipment mindset is optimal.

In todays environment with so many groups in lockstep and espousing redundant redundance the concept of diving with minimal gear but with strong in water skills is never a consideration and something to berate.

Are there many groups like this? The DIR community is the only one I can think of and the standard Hogarthian set up is fairly minimal and grew out of experience.

So short answer, yes solo diving at altitude or sea level is safe without gear hung all over you. Remembering the basics and being competent with your in water skills is what keeps you safe, not the latest, greatest add-on. Enjoy the freedom of solo diving.

With that I will agree. 99% of problems would be solved by keeping an eye on your SPG. Hopefully, these people aren't solo diving.

 

[Wallowa]

Good posts and kept respectfully of others right to choose how and where they dive. Solo diving is not for everyone but it opens a lot of doors. My experiences are strictly what I have seen and done; so I heartly concur: "Each to their own, it's a personal decision. There is no dive police, at least not in communist Europe where I live. I can't speak for the land of the free."

'Land of the free'....Hmmmm... Won't go there.........but conformity seems to be the new norm. Stay safe.