Deepest solo yet

[flareless]

I'm just starting solo diving so all of my dives have been at a familiar local shore dive spot. I've been down to about 90' on several dives when the water has been between 45 and 71 degrees (F).

These dives were done with a set of doubles, wearing a drysuit. I often took a deco bottle with me, not necessarily for the dive but to practice gas switches while I did practice deco stops..

I LOVE diving solo and this year I intend to try a familiar wreck solo. Not sure which one yet

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I suspect a troll, for the same reasons N. is so amused. The consumption math, assuming an RMV of half a cu.ft. per minute, would chew up half the back gas just for a bounce, no stops..

-Bryan

Apparently you are not too good at math. People dive deeper than that on a single breath (with no scuba gear). An 80 is more than enough gas to get you down and back if you hurry. I DO NOT recommend this to anyone!

 

[Stoo]

My deepest solo to date was 288 on air with a single 80 and a 13 cu-ft pony bottle on a wall in the islands. I was a little surprised how fast my air was used up. I got a little bent the week before and this was my first dive after the incident. Guess I wanted to see if the bubbles were all gone. I was pretty buzzed below 250.

Now I try to stay above 200 (or 225 very rarely) on air now.

LOL... I don't know why you bothered with the pony... All that extra drag and all! Way, way back when, I did a 200'er on a single AL 72 up here... only to have my reg freeze up at about 180. That can drain a tank pretty quick. As much as people mock those little 13 foot ponys, that little sucker came in damn handy that day. (I was able to shut down my main valve as I was hauling a** upwards while I was on that pony. By the time I got to about 40', the pony was dry, but I opened my main valve again and all was good. One of those "character-building" dives!

Good thinking about setting some "moderate" depths for air...

 

[Dive-aholic]

With a single deco bottle on a dive like that, I seriously doubt you had 2 of everthing that you needed to complete the dive. Who taught you that it is ok to go to 180 ft with only 1 deco bottle? Solo?

There are some dives to 180 that can and should be done with only 1 deco bottle. The last time I did a dive to 180 on trimix included a stage and 1 AL40 of O2. Very safe dive and pretty much everyone who does this dive does it the same way.

 

[Packhorse]

Well if that was then and this is now, then I agree, live and learn.

Deco on back gas is somewhat of a myth. I know some agencies teach it. But in reality if you look at how long it takes to deco on trimix back gas, in cold waters, it is effectively impossible, even if you have enough back gas.

That is why it makes sense to have 2 deco bottles with you anytime you are diving with trimix.

1 deco bottle is fine for nitrox back gas (EAN 25 or EAN 32), because nitrox does in fact deco fairly quickly, at least compared with trimix.

So if you did the dive with EAN 25 and a deco bottle, then I would agree, good dive!

If you did it on air, deco would take a little longer. Either way, the narcosis must have been extreme then?

Are you recommending 25%ean on a 180ft dive? Really?

 

[ROCKY_ONE]

Dropped down at the dam at Lake Jocassee to 200' and swam over to the junk. Dbl HP 130's, stage bottles, back up lights, etc. Several solo's to 200. Always carry backups.

 

[opti12206]

75 feet at Lake Travis. I have dove there many times before and it is quite easy. Had good gear and tested equipment. If I had a failure I can swim that far without taking a breath. May not be the best idea, but it is done and over with.

 

[EagleDiver]

95' at Casino Point, Avalon, Catalina, to view the wreck, SueJac. Water was 57 degrees (felt colder) and I had my trusty 13 cft pony which is always with me on solo dives below 40'. I've done this dive solo many times before - the SueJac is the most soulful (solo-ful?) spot at the Point, IMHO.

100' is my personal max limit for solo diving, but one day I expect I'll exceed it, if there is something to see that warrants it, or if the ocean is feeling especially welcoming. If I do, I think I'll swap out the 13 for my seldom-used 19 cft pony (too bulky) - just to be safer.

 

[hwa0421]

40m(131ft) at Menjangan, Bali. 25th Jan 2009. Al80 with 30cf pony.
Steep reef wall (could not see bottom).
I have to more frequently check my depth gauge.

 

[TheMadDane]

105' in Monterey Bay (unintentionally), 80 cu.ft HP, pony.

I, like Doc, prefer maximizing bottom time and like to stay between 40' & 60'.