Alpine soloist?

[MB NZ]

Probably pushing what is already a niche style of diving, would you dive solo without redundancy and how deep?

 

[JohnN]

Probably pushing what is already a niche style of diving, would you dive solo without redundancy and how deep?

I wasn’t aware niche and stupid were synonymous.

Yes I dive solo, always with redundant air

 

[lizardland]

OC or CCR?

I've known a few people who dived alpinist CCR in the belief that good prep and never making mistakes will mean that you will never have to bailout. And also a belief that if you do need to bail out that it will happen early in the dive before you've racked up any major deco penalty and can ascend off your dil and a bit of O2 at a 6m stop. It was all the rage in the UK in the early 2000's. I've also known lots of people who thought that prayer worked and that billionaires cared about them too. All three of these groups will accept being brutally shagged in the arse rather than admit they were wrong.

For shallower open circuit, how hard is it to stick an H valve on your cylinder or strap a pony on the side? It really isn't inconveniencing anyone. For deeper diving then you'll reach the point where gas volume alone is going to require multiple cylinders. You'd almost be needing to make more of an effort to dive with no bailout than it would take to do it properly.

There's a bit of a dead zone from 40 to about 55'ish metres where you could get away with air in a single 12 or 15 litre and still have an OK bottom time and manageable deco. I ******* hate diving in this range because it attracts people brave enough to go beyond what they are capable of but without really having to invest much in equipment or skillset. I hate being on boats with these people.

If I remember right Brett Gilliam set his deep air record on a single cylinder with an H valve which is pretty much the same as no bailout at those depths.

 

[rjack321]

Probably pushing what is already a niche style of diving, would you dive solo without redundancy and how deep?

The US Navy CCR divers don't have OC BO. I suppose if you're defusing an acoustic mine or something like that it would be pointless.
The rest of us aren't in combat

 

[lizardland]

The US Navy CCR divers don't have OC BO. I suppose if you're defusing an acoustic mine or something like that if would be pointless.
The rest of us aren't in combat

The Mk15 was designed to allow two people to breathe from one loop. There are versions that had T pieces with a spare loop connected to the main loop so that another diver could bail to his oppo's unit. You'll sometimes see units with velcro straps on the hump on the case. This is where the spare DSV was attached so the two divers could ascend doggy style. The Mk15 breathes well but that could not have been a fun way to end a dive. Better than drowning I suppose.

The manual also recommends using the ADV as an open circuit bailout in a total failure too. Again, that won't be a fun ride with a 3L bottle of gas.

 

[Wallowa]

Probably pushing what is already a niche style of diving, would you dive solo without redundancy and how deep?

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.

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.

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.

By alpine I assume you mean at altitude. In 1955 we were diving in Lake Tahoe routinely to over 200ffw at an altitude of 6,200+absl. Single 72, DA or DW double hose and J-valve. I have dived at an altitude of 10,500ffw solo without redundant equipment and today at my ripe old age still dive where I now live to 110++ffw at 4,300absl without an octo or pony bottle. My only concession to 40degree water, altitude and old age is to use EAN40 for an extended 7-10min stop at 14ffw. Its the diver not the gear.

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.

Hey, I could be wrong!

 

[rx7diver]

Probably pushing what is already a niche style of diving, would you dive solo without redundancy and how deep?

I do--for local (MO/AR), open water, three-season, recreational, walk-in dives, max depth ~34 ffw. Wetsuit. I really like my DH reg for these dives.

Note: I use a Y-valve (with two complete regulators) for local (MO/AR), open water, three-season, recreational, walk-in dives, max depth ~68 ffw. Wetsuit. And I use baby doubles (Faber LP50's) for dives deeper than this.

rx7diver

 

[Wallowa]

I do--for local (MO/AR), open water, three-season, recreational, walk-in dives, max depth ~34 ffw. Wetsuit. I really like my DH reg for these dives.

Note: I use a Y-valve (with two complete regulators) for local (MO/AR), open water, three-season, recreational, walk-in dives, max depth ~68 ffw. Wetsuit. And I use baby doubles (Faber LP50's) for dives deeper than this.

rx7diver

How do you like the double LP50s? They look like a great set-up. Fairly light, balanced and good volume.

 

[rx7diver]

How do you like the double LP50s? They look like a great set-up. Fairly light, balanced and good volume.

I like them a lot. They are a bit too negatively buoyant when full for my (thin) 2-3 O'Neill jumpsuit wetsuit. But here in MO/AR freshwater lakes below 50 ffw or so, you're diving below the second thermocline, and for these depths you'll need at least a full, two-piece 6mm wetsuit with hood and gloves/mitts if you're going to linger. The manifolded LP50's with Alum backplate are perfect for me for this.

The attached pic compares the LP50's with LP46's (doubled), and old-school PST 72 (with Y-valve). Second pic compares my PST HP120's (3,500 psig), which I used for Great Lakes extended-range shipwreck diving.

rx7diver

 

[rjack321]

The Mk15 was designed to allow two people to breathe from one loop. There are versions that had T pieces with a spare loop connected to the main loop so that another diver could bail to his oppo's unit. You'll sometimes see units with velcro straps on the hump on the case. This is where the spare DSV was attached so the two divers could ascend doggy style. The Mk15 breathes well but that could not have been a fun way to end a dive. Better than drowning I suppose.

The manual also recommends using the ADV as an open circuit bailout in a total failure too. Again, that won't be a fun ride with a 3L bottle of gas.

View attachment 922890

Yeah the Meg isn't compatible with that dual outlet like the Mk15 had. I wouldnt know which units get used in which situations