Changing dive op attitudes to "solo"

[Akimbo]

… Ironically, some of the most challenging places I've dived ... like Browning Passage BC and Channel Islands ... have never had an issue with people solo diving. By contrast, some of the easier places I've dived ... mostly tropical locations ... have strict anti-solo policies…

Lots of "fair weather" divers that only dive on tropical vacations are certainly a factor, but I am convinced that solo diving is more accepted in places with poor visibility. It is easy to see your buddy 50' away and "think" you are buddy diving, but there is no doubt you are solo diving when you can’t see him/her even when they are only 10' away.

 

[descent]

Drbill, what were the circumstances requiring you to do those emergency ascents ...

This may not be the ascent he is referring to, but this story is on-topic, scary, and educational.

Set the Wayback Machine to 2003 ...

After 41 years I almost bought it today... | ScubaBoard

Dive Dry with Dr. Bill | 061: Complacency Can Kill | starthrower.org (greater detail)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Lots of “fair weather” divers that only dive on tropical vacations are certainly a factor, but I am convinced that solo diving is more accepted in places with poor visibility. It is easy to see your buddy 50' away and “think” you are buddy diving, but there is no doubt you are solo diving when you can’t see him/her even when they are only 10' away.

Might be something to that. But by the same token, poor visibility tends to lend itself well to people learning and developing better buddy habits as well ... because if they want to dive with a buddy, they have to ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

---------- Post added February 5th, 2015 at 02:28 PM ----------

This may not be the ascent he is referring to, but this story is on-topic, scary, and educational.

Set the Wayback Machine to 2003 ...

After 41 years I almost bought it today... | ScubaBoard

Dive Dry with Dr. Bill | 061: Complacency Can Kill | starthrower.org (greater detail)

The thing about skills is that in order to maintain them you have to practice them with some regularity. If you haven't done a skill in a few years, it's not a good idea to assume that it'll just be there when you need it. Scuba diving ain't "like riding a bike" ... for that matter, neither is riding a bike ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Akimbo]

…The thing about skills is that in order to maintain them you have to practice them with some regularity…

As deadly as drowning and air embolism is, free ascents are literally the only skill I formally practice — at least once a year. Keeping my airway open is deeply engrained in my psyche… or is that psycho?

To quote my first dive instructor:

“Never hold your breath while ascending in SCUBA or your lungs will explode in your chest and you will die a horrible death.”

I was only 11, but it made a lasting impression.

 

[lowviz]

... As deadly as drowning and air embolism is, free ascents are literally the only skill I formally practice ...

Yes, one of the two Come to Jesus moments in my diving experience involved a free ascent. I couldn't agree more.

The other thing I practice regularly is getting out of dumb $hyt that I get my self into in "benign" dive conditions. Good example: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/pe...t-dive-8-11-14-a-post7236331.html#post7236331 buzz down to my reply to BRD.

I let the floating poly line go slack and the tide took it around the piling. Tried to retrieve it but the attached sea life held it like a belayed hawser. So now the float is jammed under the dock, the line is around my isolator and my back is to the piling. I wasn't really in distress... But my favorite Daniel Boone quote did come to mind at that time:

"I can't say as ever I was lost, but I was bewildered once for three days."

 

[NAM001]

I really have always hated questions like this. That is because it is not a we against them. Its not we the 90% of divers who are ok to dive solo wanting the boats to change thier views. It is just a few % of the divers that want this. I worded it that way because out of 100% of divers perhaps 1 percent is solo qualled. although 50% may want attitudes changed they are not qulalled to solo to begin with. With that statement I would like to say that I dont believe to be functionally qualled you need to have a card. I am refering to the small amount that have the skills to do it,,, or with card or not can still do these skills in the environment they want to solo in. It is my opinion that there are not many solo orientated divers out there. It appears that on SB there are a lot but I dont believe we have the majority of divers on SB or if we do that they are more than read only web surfers. We can look at preticular sites that are a high draw for solo diving like photo disneyland's that exist. Once again the divers that go there to get great photo's are not the same statistical mix of divers that hold cards in general. What I do believe we have is a large group of divers, think they can do it , and if they think they can, then they can. That reasoning does not make a fair foundation to say go and do it. However a NON solo carded person with an adaquate tech card should not raise a red flag. At least it would not with me. I can hear it.... hey boat owner can i dive solo,,, NO,,,,, well I have a rebreather card and a tech gagillion card, NO and you cant have nitrox either cause you only have a trimix card.. Some may laugh but I have been denied nitrox for that reason and nearly had my tank refused cause of fear that it might have He in the remaining 300#.

So from those aspects I would not be in favor of boats changing thier solo policies. To be fair however,,, I can see a change in attitude needed for the boats to allow solo on a solo trip. You dont set perceived bad examples for non solo divers, As it stands now no solo on boats really works fine. We have all been working around this obstruction for a long time. A couple of solo divers enter the water and reboard together. the boat is happy, the divers are happy, and as far as anyone else is concerned no one knows they are solo cause they are soloing it with others in the water. I have always liked the attitude of a boat being a taxi and not the scuba police. Not every world is perfect.

 

[lowviz]

... I am refering to the small amount that have the skills to do it. ...

I see it as the 1% that have the intestinal fortitude and the primal desire to do it. When I pull up to the ramp at the Brielle basin at 2 AM without a soul in sight, I could dive or pass without anyone being the wiser or caring. It is (purer than the driven snow) a personal thing.

It is truly something I do for myself. I am not a self-centered person. Those that know me would agree that I am open and caring of others. But solo diving is something that I do for myself.

 

[uncfnp]

I really have always hated questions like this.

Among other things, I think you may have misunderstood my question (assuming that's the question you are referring too) I did not ask how to change dive ops attitudes but rather are they changing. As perhaps a natural evolution of diving, similar to the gradual acceptance among the general diving population.

 

[lowviz]

Yes, attitudes are changing. There was an unspoken trust on the NE Atlantic, don't ask don't tell. You can dive solo, just don't make a big deal about it.

Now it is policy. Yes, a fundamental change: John Jack - Seagoing Adventures - Information

 

[Doc Harry]

...solo diving is no longer in the closet...

Are you "outing" me?