Aspiring Solo Diver

[Tigerman]

Hahahaha, nice one

 

[davidbaraff]

Hmn, the other day I started to descend, and in the first 2 feet, sucked a bit of water in through my regulator. But I didn't choke (I was happy about that -- i wondered what my reflexes would be if i suddenly got water instead of air), and I pondered for an instant that somehow i must have forgotten to turn on my air. In the next split second, the other half of my brain said, "then you'd be sucking against resistance, not getting water. Think of something else."

It was at that point that I realized I still had a snorkel in my mouth, pushed up to the surface, and switched to my regulator... (My air was on, of course.)

I guess that counts as 2 things: a brain fart, and getting water in your mouth...

 

[divin'dog]

Hmn, the other day I started to descend, and in the first 2 feet, sucked a bit of water in through my regulator. But I didn't choke (I was happy about that -- i wondered what my reflexes would be if i suddenly got water instead of air), and I pondered for an instant that somehow i must have forgotten to turn on my air. In the next split second, the other half of my brain said, "then you'd be sucking against resistance, not getting water. Think of something else."

It was at that point that I realized I still had a snorkel in my mouth, pushed up to the surface, and switched to my regulator... (My air was on, of course.)

I guess that counts as 2 things: a brain fart, and getting water in your mouth...

Good work! You broke the chain of accidents. I've done that myself...

 

[Barracuda2]

And... of course..... the critical factor being that 'in the olde days' divers received much more comprehensive and robust training

And some of us received no "comprehensive or robust training" before entering the UW realm; I purchased my first cylinder and reg from a local hardware store long before YMCA, PADI and the rest of them.

The 'olde timer' might not have required specialist solo training, but his modern McDiver counterpart most certainly does.

Why is that? What's different between the "olde timer" and the "modern McDiver?

 

[DaleC]

I'm a modern trained diver and began solo diving very early???

Statistics always break down at the individual level. While they may be useful for discussing trends they are lousy for predicting actual outcomes. In this forum I try to discuss my personal actual outcomes.

Like a few others in the solo section do: Because I do not personally dive with most of the people here and cannot predict who may or may not be suited to it, I do not offer advice regarding solo diving. I only share my personal experience, which I can account for. I cannot tell you if you should start early, after 100 dives, or ever; whether you should take a course or are capable of self learning. I don't know so I don't try. Each person is different and any "blanket" statement will fail to apply to some.

Solo diving is a very personal activity and decision. How we approach it and our experiences within it will vary from person to person and from stage to stage of development.