Changing dive op attitudes to "solo"

[Searcaigh]

Hi Wandersome,

Pity you were not interested when you dived with Divers Down, Paul certified me way back when PADI brought out the Self Reliant course, although I have been diving solo from his boats for over 10 years.

Get yourself a small pony, learn how to rig it and sling it and practice using it until you can deploy it as second nature.

If you do find a reliable buddy do frequent no mask swims underwater and carry an SMB always.

 

[NAM001]

Nice comment. A thought ..... just because they cant find the feet the fin goes on now,,,, does not mean they had problems when they certified. So the instructor may not be at fault.. The other thought is that the lack of abilities/profieciency's you reference appear to be welcome here but in other threads centering on limitations of new divers, many will insist that as long as you have an OW card you can do what you want with out limits. Funny one threads philosopher is another threads demon.

People who have to struggle to put their own rig together properly should never have been certified. Absolutely never. This is so fundamental that I would question the credentials of whoever certified them. Obviously, they could never function in the traditional capacity of a 'buddy', whose first task is to double check the rigging of their partner before entering the water.

The basic inability to dive with some level of proficiency is one of the reasons I do my best to keep my distance from the clots of sloppy fools one encounters on many tropical guided tour scuba operations. I tend to return to the same operators year after year in part because they know me and understand my insistence on not being paired with these people. I prefer to move much more slowly then the typical group, and stay in touch by watching the surface storm their bubbles create, visible long after the group has disappeared into the blue haze.

 

[Wandersome]

Indeed, Sear.... And thanks for the tip. Until I came here I never dreamed I would need to do solo diving. I suspect it will be awhile before I get to a place with an operational dive center and an instructor. It'll sort out though. Next trip stateside I'll pick up an alternate air source.. Cheers!

 

[uncfnp]

Indeed, Sear.... And thanks for the tip. Until I came here I never dreamed I would need to do solo diving. I suspect it will be awhile before I get to a place with an operational dive center and an instructor. It'll sort out though. Next trip stateside I'll pick up an alternate air source.. Cheers!

Hi Wandersome. Sorry to hear you are forced to solo rather then coming to it by preference but that happens too.

In above quote, I think you meant to say that you would pick up a redundant air source, not alternate. I also recommend reading through some of the solo threads on SB. I will link a few later tonight if I can. No time right now.

And if you don't have a mentor or a class available, can you at least get the SDI Solo book? It may help because there is a whole lot more to solo then just redundant gas/gear.

 

[sportxlh]

In SE Florida and the Keys, I've found it varies by dive operator. Many will let you dive alone if you have a solo certification and the redundant gear though some might want to get know you a bit better before they'll allow you to formally dive by yourself. I've found the dive operators that tend to attract more experienced divers are more willing to let solo certified divers actually dive solo. But there are exceptions to that too: my favorite shop in the upper Keys will let me solo the shallow reefs but not the deep wrecks. Other shops have allowed me to solo the deep Keys wrecks with no issue. I've never heard a pre-dive briefing directly say that it was OK to dive solo: usually if I flash my solo card, the crew wants me to keep it somewhat quiet that I'm diving by myself as to not encourage other divers that are not solo certified.

---------- Post added March 2nd, 2015 at 02:58 PM ----------

I wanted that personal instruction/mentor.

I agree: I had effectively been solo diving with redundant gear for quite a while before I took the class in large part because my main dive buddy moved away. My local dive operator sort of winked and let me dive solo but when I had a trip to the Bahamas booked the dive operator indicated that I could only dive solo if certified. When I took my solo class, the instructor really opened my eyes to what I didn't know (but thought I did) and how to react to emergencies. I was a pretty good diver before the class, but became a better diver, whether solo or with a buddy, afterwards. Even if one never plans to dive solo, its a pretty good SDI class.

 

[Wandersome]

Uncfnp thanks for the correction.... Forced is the right way to put it as well. Currently having problems getting air though... So it may be a moot point. The compressor operator is quite sick and it is unknown when or if he will return to the resort. Until then I'll look for a redundant air supply and hope for a buddy! Best all!

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Here in SoCal it is never mentioned, never monitored, and people solo dive on every boat trip I've been on.

I've seen the same. On a trip to California a few years back I made the false assumption that solo diving was not allowed and paired up with a couple of local yoculs. They were awful and causing me no end of grief. The boat captain noticed all of this after a couple of dives, pulled me aside and said, "You know, we don't have an issue with solo diving out here." Man did I appreciate that!!

 

[Fish&beer]

I've seen the same. On a trip to California a few years back I made the false assumption that solo diving was not allowed and paired up with a couple of local yoculs. They were awful and causing me no end of grief. The boat captain noticed all of this after a couple of dives, pulled me aside and said, "You know, we don't have an issue with solo diving out here." Man did I appreciate that!!

In my 46 years of diving I have never been challenged about diving solo in California. I usually dive Monterey and Southern Calif. dive boats and when they ask for anybody who needs a dive buddy I never answer up. I just gear up and jump off the boat, no problems. But in 2013 I went to Key Largo & dove with Rainbow Reef Divers and was was sort of forced to follow the dive guide. The guide kept getting on me to follow the group and I was getting pissed off as I wanted to stop and video certain things but he wanted me to continue with them. That will never happen again If I ever get back to Key Largo. I can understand them watching over divers for liability reasons, but next time I will find an operator that does not put a dive guide in the water as we have here in Calif.

 

[drrich2]

...but next time I will find an operator that does not put a dive guide in the water as we have here in Calif.

While I appreciated the guide service, to each their own and you'll have no trouble finding unguided offerings. Other people have posted a number of times positively about an outfit called Quiescence, a 6 pack out of Key Largo you might like. Check out some of the threads where they're discussed sometime.

Richard.

 

[Ghetto Diver]

@FishnBeer
As far as Rainbow Reef Divers, you can opt out of the guide, but I am guessing because you didn't have a buddy, you kind of had to go with the guide.
I have been with them before, but with my kid, so ....
Roll up North to Jupiter and you won't be asked, as long as you look like you know what you are doing :shiner: