AOW class shows that Scubaboard standards exceed those in the real world

[Dan]

Almost every dive operation I have been on below 100 feet require AOW. The Lady Luck deck is around 108. What depths were your dives?

The deepest one was 143' in Nusa Penida to see that dang Mola-Mola on my avatar. But it was a short dip.

My 1st deep dive was in Cayman Brac, dive site called Son of Rock Monster, 126', on July 2005, dive log # 15. My more experienced dive buddy was with me, closely watching me.

I'm still here & ready for the next dive trip in 4 days. Yes!

 

[uncfnp]

That's interesting. I was wondering why so many posters were solo divers. I figured folks had access to bodies of water that made solo diving more of a possibility, like quarries, rivers, etc.

"Solo Diver" isn't a function of where you live or dive but how you dive.

 

[CuzzA]

"Solo Diver" is a function of where you live or dive but how you dive.

Indeed, I approach every dive as a solo diver whether I'm actually solo or with a buddy or in a group.

 

[ScubaJill]

"Solo Diver" is a function of where you live or dive but how you dive.

So, it's a function of where you live AND how you dive? Or was that a typo and you are saying it's strictly a function of how you dive? If the latter, I'm aware of that. My point is that without the self-reliant/solo diver certification, I thought most dive operators wouldn't allow divers to go solo. If divers didn't need to go through a dive operator to dive, such as in quarries or rivers, then such a qualification may not be needed.

 

[Dan]

It is much less of a problem diving in warm water. In Nusa Penida it was about 68F for >20' deep. Not much of thermocline.

I don't like to dive in cold water if I don't have to. Diving the Galápagos in December could be the coldest one I'd ever do, I think.

 

[uncfnp]

So, it's a function of where you live AND how you dive? Or was that a typo and you are saying it's strictly a function of how you dive? If the latter, I'm aware of that. My point is that without the self-reliant/solo diver certification, I thought most dive operators wouldn't allow divers to go solo. If divers didn't need to go through a dive operator to dive, such as in quarries or rivers, then such a qualification may not be needed.

Thanks. Yep it was a typo, corrected. As CuzzA pointed out. Its not a question of location or even certification but skills and mind set. Some people buddy dive as independent/self-reliant divers or even same ocean buddies. Others may drop with a group but then head off on their own. Still others may enter/drop as true solo divers.

But more to your point, there are some dive ops that require a card, some that do a kind of "don't ask, don't tell approach" and some that go by your skills. And then there are a few that prohibit it entirely. When its a choice by the dive op to exclude, I try to look elsewhere. If its the regulations of the local, well you work with what you got.

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

If divers didn't need to go through a dive operator to dive, such as in quarries or rivers, then such a qualification may not be needed.

In my case - it was for my wife. She worries less now or at least she tells me so - thinking that the solo training will keep me safer when I dive. I don't use my solo card on any charters. I will shore dive at night solo when others are not available to dive.

I have found drift diving off West Palm Beach area at 90+ feet or hunting for lobsters and fish at 80+ feet in NJ - you are essentially solo diving. In NJ I use a wreck reel due to low viz and being by yourself - you are in the same body of water with others but I am hardly ever close enough to assist or be assisted by others if the need arises.

Think of the card as more of a training class or refresher on the fundamentals than a Solo class and for me it made sense. If you have been solo diving - you may learn a few things but I doubt it will all be new skills or training. But like every class what you put in is what you get out. YMMV

 

[The Chairman]

So, it's a function of where you live AND how you dive?

In this case, no. It's only a group he joined. Again, here is the thread that explains how you get/change a user title: How To Change User Titles

Almost all solo diver certs require not only AOW, but a large number of dives. As for diving solo without a cert, that's up to the individual and/or the dive op (if they use one).

 

[tursiops]

We spent a lot of time on knots. None of the other students had tied a bowline or a sheet bend before the class, and they were all struggling. Our instructor was patient with them and demonstrated a bunch of times, but didn't seem to have very many pedagogic tricks up his sleeve. I did some demonstrations with two different colors of rope which seemed to help them, and encouraged them to think about the hand motions rather than the shape of the knot.

I also demonstrated another way of tying a bowline that allows the size of the loop to be adjusted more easily with the knot then locked by pulling on the ends. No one in the group, including the instructor, had seen it before, and he had me do it twice and then carefully untied it to see if the result at the end really was a bowline. Something was said about being able to tie knots one handed with eyes closed, which I couldn't do, so that will be my project while bored at work over the next couple of weeks.

Did they point out that the sheet bend and the bowline are really the same knot, the only difference being which ends or standing lines you grab to pull it tight?

 

[ScubaJill]

Indeed, I approach every dive as a solo diver whether I'm actually solo or with a buddy or in a group.

Thanks. Yep it was a typo, corrected. As CuzzA pointed out. Its not a question of location or even certification but skills and mind set. Some people buddy dive as independent/self-reliant divers or even same ocean buddies. Others may drop with a group but swim independently. Still others may enter/drop as true solo divers.

But more to your point, there are some dive ops that require a card, some that do a kind of "don't ask, don't tell approach" and some that go by your skills. And then there are a few that prohibit it entirely.

I've seen a range of dive buddy configurations like you described. I simply mistook the designation of "solo diver" under the avatar to mean a certified solo diver or one who technically dives solo (i.e., no one else in the water or no buddy at all). Which brings me back to my original question of solo diving with a total of 50 dives - in this case, I'm guessing this describes the mindset of a diver as being responsible for herself. From my perspective, this designation or qualifier seems unnecessary in that it is part of the definition of a diver (as compared to one who dives).

Edited to add: Net Doc just explained the difference. Thanks!