Diving Solo

[76107]

I noticed a thread in the ‘Instructors Panel’ about diving solo, as I’m not an instructor, I could post a reply, so I thought I ask the question here….

I am a now (PADI) Rescue level diver.
The week before doing the rescue diver course, I bought some new equipment and to check my buoyancy and get a feel for it (It was a new rash top and hood along with new fins), I went to a familiar lake and spent around 10 mins SOLO checking things out in around 10 ft of water, by the ladder from the platform into the lake (CSSP).
I didn’t consider what I was doing to be beyond my ability or in any way dangerous.
The reason I write this note is that I saw on the thread in the ‘instructors panel’ a few contributors mention they were certified to dive solo. I was wondering, as I can’t find any reference to it on the PADI website, if anyone could tell me about the certification as it sounds like a useful tool to keep in the back pocket (so to speak) as I sometimes find myself thinking ‘I wouldn’t mind doing a solo dive this weekend as I haven’t got and buddies to go with’.
I do hope that I haven't broke any rule by diving solo without certification... If I have my name is Fred and I live in Norway.


Regards,
John.

 

[vyvial]

You do not need a certification to go solo diving, you just need to be smart.

Aaron

 

[F106A]

I went to a familiar lake and spent around 10 mins SOLO. I saw on the thread in the ‘instructors panel’ a few contributors mention they were certified to dive solo. I was wondering, as I can’t find any reference to it on the PADI website, if anyone could tell me about the certification as it sounds like a useful tool to keep in the back pocket (so to speak) as I sometimes find myself thinking ‘I wouldn’t mind doing a solo dive this weekend as I haven’t got and buddies to go with’. I do hope that I haven't broke any rule by diving solo without certification... If I have my name is Fred and I live in Norway. Regards, John.

Dear John/Fred,
Akershus!
No rules. You should have your act together, i.e., your head screwed on right. SDI (I think) has a "Solo" badge. I don't know how useful it is in the real world since many ops have a "no solo" protocol. The only thing I might caution against is be very careful when diving with insta-buddies; it is, frequently, not as safe as solo diving.
BTW, send me $10 and I won't tell on you.
Regards,
A solo diver from the very-long-ago get-go.

 

[Phrenzy]

If I have my name is Fred and I live in Norway.

Hello Fred! Welcome to :sblogo:

 

[tstormdiver]

A quick check- out like you did,.... probably not a problem. SDI does offer a Solo Diver certification. It basically goes into things like gas management, redundancy, entanglement, failures (basically the "what ifs") that can occur when by yourself. My instructor teaches & feels his instructors & technical divers should be self sufficient when in the water. He basically puts it this way, since the topic of solo diving can be controversial, that although he doesn't really advocate solo diving, that more advanced divers should be able to take care of themselves if for some reason they lose there buddy, team or group. Although he does teach the solo diving course, he will only do it for a VERY select handful & they must have a completely reasonable & legitimate reason before he will take them on for this. He will then proceed to "take them through the ringer" with a multitude of "situations" that could occur, some at the same time. Basically, he tries to put the student through some the worst case scenarios that he can come up with before he will give them a certification card.

 

[76107]

I asked the question based on these comments from instructors (in the aforementioned thread):

“…When a student asks me why I dive solo I simply say, because I can - I'm certified and I have self-rescue skills…” Fotoz4FX

“…There is a definite training and experience level required. I don't think you should even consider taking a solo class before you have experienced several different types of diving over a reasonable period of time. I am being purposely vague on particulars because it should be different for everone since it is such a hazardous activity and should be determined on a case by case basis by the certifing instructor.
…” Pir8

“…Solo diving is a separate certification, and once they meet all the pre reqs, they too can earn this certification if they want to…” Standingbear56

“…if a solo diver is diving who is going to tell on him and who does he show his solo dive certification if he's solo diving so what is the point...” Scubamanbo

It seems like there is some confusion... well I'm confused

 

[76107]

Thanks Tammy, that sounds reasonable.

 

[DaleC]

H Fred,
Take a look at the technical dive specialties forum. There is a sub forum for solo diving where your inquiries will be answered by divers who solo. You may have to register to post but if you say your name is Fred from Norway the scuba police won't be able to trace it.

 

[Teamcasa]

Here is a good place to ask. Solo Divers

 

[alcina]

Solo diving always causes a lot of hand wringing and there are many different views.

You have to decide what works for YOU and forget about what works for Joe Blow down the road. I've heard it said that "if you have to ask if you are ready to solo dive, you aren't" and there is some truth to this imho.

Getting some "formal" training is a great option. Not everyone takes this option and it doesn't make them any less of a solo diver.

I solo dive virtually every dive. It's a choice I make each time I head out and I am happy with that choice - any day I'm not happy with it, I don't dive solo.

Learn as much as you can and never poo-poo information that is offered. You will have to filter the information, just like anything, and figure out what applies to you. Hitting the solo diving forum here and being respectful will allow you to receive a great amount of first hand experience stories and advice from our members.

Not everyone should dive solo...not even those who want to.