Diving alone?

[String]

That sounds like a perfect advert as to why never dive there. Especially if they're retarded enough to demand a snorkel.

 

[Ann Marie]

That sounds like a perfect advert as to why never dive there. Especially if they're retarded enough to demand a snorkel.

It is worth carrying a snorkel in my pocket to dive it! Besides, I can get in a dive in the morning, grab some coffee on the corner and head to work! Ahhhh...what a great way to start the day!

 

[captain]

Laguna Beach, CA, has SCUBA Police They are also known as lifeguards. No buddy = ticket. No snorkel = ticket. They enforce times in which classes can be on the beach during the summer (7am-10am). They also have the authority to close the beach to divers during rough surf...dive it anyway = ticket.

Local laws vary....hire a DM and do a Discover Local Diving. Doing so gives you a buddy and someone that can inform you of local restrictions/laws.

Don't dive alone. It's not as fun and it's not as safe. In a report that DAN published, they determined that in 80% of the diving fatalities, during this reporting period, buddies had become seperated prior to any trouble.

Solo diving is entirely different from seperated buddies. Had the seperated buddies been diving with a solo mind set the fatalities may have been avoided.

 

[String]

Important not to confuse unintentional separation from planned solo diving. Theres a HUGE difference in approach and conduct.

 

[Charlie99]

Important not to confuse unintentional separation from planned solo diving. Theres a HUGE difference in approach and conduct.

Particularly since the cause of the unintentional separation (equipment failure, loss of buoyancy control, medical problem, etc.) may be also be the cause of the fatality.

Or to put it another way, in those 80% of fatalities that involve unintentional separation, the unintentional separation is likely to be the RESULT of the problem, not the CAUSE of the root problem.

 

[ShallowDiverDave]

There are many people near Destin who might be willing to dive with you. If finding a partner is the problem, use the Florida forums for that area to find a buddy.

If you wish to dive solo, I sure hope you are knowledgeable/experienced in the field. I am currently getting more knowledge in the field so that I can be prepared.

 

[Ann Marie]

Solo diving is entirely different from seperated buddies. Had the seperated buddies been diving with a solo mind set the fatalities may have been avoided.

I concur, but solo diving IMO is not recreational diving. Since this post is listed under Basic Scuba Discussions (and not in a Technical Diving Forum) I was merely pointing out the safety factor of diving with a buddy vs. being seperated/diving without a buddy. The original poster is not yet certified, i.e. not being properly trained for solo diving which is a whole different game than recreational diving.

 

[drbill]

There are municipalities and parks that have rules against solo diving, as well as some dive boats. However, to the best of my knowledge there are no state laws against it.

In MY experience diving with a buddy can be less safe than diving solo... but I would never advise a new (or any other) diver to do it. It is a decision I don't feel qualified to make for another person... I don't know their response to nitrogen narcois, emergency situations, etc.

 

[TomP]

I concur, but solo diving is not recreational diving. Since this post is listed under Basic Scuba Discussions (and not in a Technical Diving Forum) I was merely pointing out the safety factor of diving with a buddy vs. being seperated/diving without a buddy. The original poster is not yet certified, i.e. not being properly trained for solo diving which is a whole different game than recreational diving.

Just because solo diving is listed in the Technical forum doesn't necessarily make it Tech. TDI puts solo diving, and its certification, under its recreational division SDI.

Edit to add:

And further to the point, I actually think that your post pretty much demonstrates that the 'safety factor' of having a buddy is often an illusion

 

[Nemrod]

WC46 says:
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I realize it is unsafe to dive alone but my question is
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Who told you that, why is it unsafe to solo dive? Who ever told you that is WRONG and their moma is wrong too.

Solo diving with the equipment and planning needed is not the same a neophyte and inept buddy team becoming seperated and having some misfortune befall one of them. Solo divers are prepared for being solo--imagine that--buddy divers are not. Do not confuse the two.
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