I solo dive at CCV all the time. They don't force you to buddy up. It's a very laid-back dive op.
CoCo View Solo Diving
- Thread starter phillyrob
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CODMAN
Contributor
Like I said, it's just my oppinion... And I agree; I'm not too hot on insta-buddying either...
As for it not being of PADI's business... I'M not sure they'd would agree with you there... When you're a PADI resort, or "active" professional, you are representing the PADI name. And your practices have repercussions on them. Now personally, i don't really care about that or what they like/ dislike. I do care about safe diving practices though. And for me (again, just MY oppinion
), that doesn't usually include solo diving.
To each his/her own!
Cheers!
As for it not being of PADI's business... I'M not sure they'd would agree with you there... When you're a PADI resort, or "active" professional, you are representing the PADI name. And your practices have repercussions on them. Now personally, i don't really care about that or what they like/ dislike. I do care about safe diving practices though. And for me (again, just MY oppinion
), that doesn't usually include solo diving.To each his/her own!
Cheers!
CODMAN -- Don't assume you know PADI's position on solo diving. They don't agree with you. They believe in safe diving practices which DOES include solo diving for some people.
Take a look at PADI's position: Solo Diving: PADI Worldwide's Position
Take a look at PADI's position: Solo Diving: PADI Worldwide's Position
CODMAN
Contributor
Well Phil, although I didn't specify it, I was referring to typical recreational diving. Not specialised technical divers... That is a whole other matter... And different discussion...
I'm still pretty sure PADI wouldn't appreciate one of their centers permitting this practice in recreational diving... Then again, I'm not going to be telling... I'll just keep diving the way I see suits me, and that's with a buddy... To each his/her own... As long as they know about and assume the risks it entails!
Cheers!
I'm still pretty sure PADI wouldn't appreciate one of their centers permitting this practice in recreational diving... Then again, I'm not going to be telling... I'll just keep diving the way I see suits me, and that's with a buddy... To each his/her own... As long as they know about and assume the risks it entails!
Cheers!
UTLgirl
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I didn't see anything RE: Technical diving in the 'Position on Solo Siving' link above. Did I miss it?
I prefer a buddy, but have certainly seen situations where solo diving, of a qualified individual, is preferable to the dive buddy assigned.
I am curious though. If PADI were so against it, why is it that pretty much every dive operation in the world has the DM/INST diving solo when leading a boat dive group in a non-teaching situation?
I prefer a buddy, but have certainly seen situations where solo diving, of a qualified individual, is preferable to the dive buddy assigned.
I am curious though. If PADI were so against it, why is it that pretty much every dive operation in the world has the DM/INST diving solo when leading a boat dive group in a non-teaching situation?
robint
Contributor
solo diving - yes, another controversial issue.
Personally, I have done it intentionally and unintentially numerous times. My husband is an Instructor, so while he is teaching students I have been known to dive solo. I am experienced, and have done 100+ dives at the site, and I am confident in my abilities to resolve any issue that may arise. I take that risk on my own. My husband has no problems with me diving solo either, he has 100% faith in my skills.
A few times, while on vacation, my hubby and I have gotten separated fromt he group for one reason or another. Once I had to return to the boat to fix a camcorder issue (forgot to open the lens) and got back in the water 5 minutes later after the group had left the area - I met up with the group 30 minutes later, no problem. It shocked the DM for a second when I returned but we all finished the dive together.
Another time I had a weight pocket fall out on a drift dive in Cozumel when I entered the water. The rest of the group drifted while I returned to the boat to get some weights. When I got back in the water, they were gone out of sight. I drifted and did a solo dive, the boat driver knew where I was and I had a safety sausage to signal him if needed. I ran into the group again when they were near the end of the dive, no problems. (Husband had the same type of dive once too because he had to take our daughter up to boat and returned to find us drifted out of sight). Should we have done the dives solo or sat on the boat? That was our decision. We opted to go ahead and dive knowing we were responsible for ourselves.
Also, since I shoot video and hubby does photo (when not teaching), we tend to get separated from each other. We just look for bubbles and meet back up eventually.
I have no problem with anyone diving solo. Many people now get the Solo cert card and do it even on liveaboards. We have seen this often. When we were in Bonaire last summer with a group of photographers, many of them were diving solo, day and night. Is that wrong - No, not for them.
Just my 2 cents.
robin
Personally, I have done it intentionally and unintentially numerous times. My husband is an Instructor, so while he is teaching students I have been known to dive solo. I am experienced, and have done 100+ dives at the site, and I am confident in my abilities to resolve any issue that may arise. I take that risk on my own. My husband has no problems with me diving solo either, he has 100% faith in my skills.
A few times, while on vacation, my hubby and I have gotten separated fromt he group for one reason or another. Once I had to return to the boat to fix a camcorder issue (forgot to open the lens) and got back in the water 5 minutes later after the group had left the area - I met up with the group 30 minutes later, no problem. It shocked the DM for a second when I returned but we all finished the dive together.
Another time I had a weight pocket fall out on a drift dive in Cozumel when I entered the water. The rest of the group drifted while I returned to the boat to get some weights. When I got back in the water, they were gone out of sight. I drifted and did a solo dive, the boat driver knew where I was and I had a safety sausage to signal him if needed. I ran into the group again when they were near the end of the dive, no problems. (Husband had the same type of dive once too because he had to take our daughter up to boat and returned to find us drifted out of sight). Should we have done the dives solo or sat on the boat? That was our decision. We opted to go ahead and dive knowing we were responsible for ourselves.
Also, since I shoot video and hubby does photo (when not teaching), we tend to get separated from each other. We just look for bubbles and meet back up eventually.
I have no problem with anyone diving solo. Many people now get the Solo cert card and do it even on liveaboards. We have seen this often. When we were in Bonaire last summer with a group of photographers, many of them were diving solo, day and night. Is that wrong - No, not for them.
Just my 2 cents.
robin
"PADI views it as a form of technical diving and not for everybody."
You're right, DMs and instructors are essentially diving solo. And in my opinion, the vast majority of "solo" diving is done unintended or unknowingly. I believe that is far more dangerous than solo diving "responsibly".
I hate it when groups lump together stats to support an agenda. Like the way PADI says "Since 1989, there were at least 538 fatalities where it was clear divers were either intentionally diving solo, or became separated from a buddy and were de facto alone." Those are two distinct categories and risk factors. We need them broken down further. For all we know, that could be 537 lost buddy divers and 1 responsible solo diver.
CODMAN
Contributor
Well you are and you aren't solo when guiding. If you do it right, there are people in the water with you, not too far off (of course, you are right that this is not always the case), who have redundant breathing equipment you can use if something goes wrong.
Anyways, I'm not trying to convert anyone here. To each his own. But I'd still be very surprised if PADI would knowingly condone this...
charlesml3
Contributor
I don't think we're asking anyone, Cocoview or PADI to "condone" solo diving. Being organizations that can be sued, we all know what their response has to be.
The questions is whether or not you CAN solo dive at CCV. The answer is : Yes, you can. Whether you should or not is a personal decision. You're a certified diver who's aware of the risks. You need to decide for yourself if this is an activity you want to pursue.
-Charles
The questions is whether or not you CAN solo dive at CCV. The answer is : Yes, you can. Whether you should or not is a personal decision. You're a certified diver who's aware of the risks. You need to decide for yourself if this is an activity you want to pursue.
-Charles
amaxey
Registered
I've been to CCV twice and nobody has ever said you can dive alone. In fact, they talk about "you and your buddy" during the dive briefs and welcome brief. I may have even heard them say the recommend the buddy system, I can't remember now, but I'll listen for it next time I go. (next week actually)
Maybe they don't allow solo diving....i don't know.....but people do it there. I wouldn't push the issue if I were a solo diver. They don't babysit unless someone demonstrates that they need babysitting. It's a place for grownups to go, dive, have fun, and be safe.
The other argument you'll hear from solo divers at CCV is that the best stuff is 30' and above. Doc Adelman has written volumes on what you will see in 15' or less at CCV. Many of the best photos taken by CCV guests come from the safety stop (3 minutes in shallow water does wonders for people's critter finding and photo skills).
Not that shallow equals safe, but it is a factor that influences people's decisions to dive alone at CCV.
I don't usually see solo divers out very deep at CCV, they always seem to be photographer types hanging around in the 20' range where the good stuff lives.
~Al
PS. I don't recommend diving solo to anyone. I also don't recommend smoking, drinking, speeding, watching too much TV, running with scissors, playing with matches, picking your nose, peeing in your wetsuit, farting in church, sleeping at work, or feeding ducks. (just wanted to cover my bases so I don't get sued)
Maybe they don't allow solo diving....i don't know.....but people do it there. I wouldn't push the issue if I were a solo diver. They don't babysit unless someone demonstrates that they need babysitting. It's a place for grownups to go, dive, have fun, and be safe.
The other argument you'll hear from solo divers at CCV is that the best stuff is 30' and above. Doc Adelman has written volumes on what you will see in 15' or less at CCV. Many of the best photos taken by CCV guests come from the safety stop (3 minutes in shallow water does wonders for people's critter finding and photo skills).
Not that shallow equals safe, but it is a factor that influences people's decisions to dive alone at CCV.
I don't usually see solo divers out very deep at CCV, they always seem to be photographer types hanging around in the 20' range where the good stuff lives.
~Al
PS. I don't recommend diving solo to anyone. I also don't recommend smoking, drinking, speeding, watching too much TV, running with scissors, playing with matches, picking your nose, peeing in your wetsuit, farting in church, sleeping at work, or feeding ducks. (just wanted to cover my bases so I don't get sued)
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