Entanglement??

[Sasquatch]

I'll have to agree with those stating that it isn't wise to attempt a penetration in close quarters while diving solo. The only time I was entangled diving solo was in clear water and I didn't see the danger behind me.

My first thought was "what am I hung up on?" and my second thought was "a buddy would be handy right about now". I could only don and doff so I did and was released. The lesson I learned was that the unexpected can happen at any time. No matter how diligent you are. Diving solo carries risks that buddy diving doesn't. We that enjoy diving solo are aware of them all and we do not court an increased risk like a solo peneteration.

Cool?

 

[DiverBizz]

I have only been snagged by fishing line and a little kelp and able to cut it without difficulty. Although a friend shared how he was in Laguna and entered an area where doubles had no business trying to squeeze through. He had to release the tanks and almost lost them as he pushed them through the opening. Planning and be prepared.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

Maybe it's because I'm still new to solo diving, but for now I have resolved to go by the rules I learned: no solo night, no solo overheads. Period.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

I'll have to agree with those stating that it isn't wise to attempt a penetration in close quarters while diving solo. The only time I was entangled diving solo was in clear water and I didn't see the danger behind me.

My first thought was "what am I hung up on?" and my second thought was "a buddy would be handy right about now". I could only don and doff so I did and was released. The lesson I learned was that the unexpected can happen at any time. No matter how diligent you are. Diving solo carries risks that buddy diving doesn't. We that enjoy diving solo are aware of them all and we do not court an increased risk like a solo peneteration.

Cool?

Care to elaborate on the nature of that entanglement? Would love to learn.

 

[ianr33]

.. Now the biggest problem I've encountered is entanglement... lets hear some tactics for untangling yourself... Me

1. My first option would be my knife I've got one on the left side of my BC for my right hand. and the other on my left ankle for my left hand..

If you get rid of the knife on your ankle you will reduce the chance of getting entangled in the first place.

Best way to deal with entanglement is to not let it happen .

 

[drbill]

I dive kelp forests solo all the time and have for nearly 40 years. Even the best of us (which I'm not) gets entangled in kelp, especially if there are strong currents or young plants... or we dangle a lot of unnecessary gear. Agree with the recommendation to get rid of the knife. Never seen much use for them since the days I carried a Jim Bowie replica dive knife to fight off the great whites.

Pteranodon gives good advice... no solo night or in overhead environments. Occasionally I will do a solo night dive, but only in our dive park and to shallow (< 40 ft) depths. As for penetration, there's only one thing I'll do that with... and it doesn't involve being solo (nor do I wish to violate the TOS).

 

[captndale]

I have been diving Great Lakes wrecks for 35 years. Getting hung up or entangled is not at all uncommon in our environment. Getting clear rarely requires the use of any kind of cutting tool. When it does, however, you will be very grateful that you have the tool that works. No one tool will work for everything. At least one knife blade and one shear or wire cutter are an absolute requirement. A second knife is recommended.

 

[gnwes]

Great post!! Will read again!!

 

[gnwes]

Maybe it's because I'm still new to solo diving, but for now I have resolved to go by the rules I learned: no solo night, no solo overheads. Period.

Just wondering, where did you learn those rules? I'm not saying you're wrong by any means but I do know (not personally) there are plenty who solo cave and/or night.

Wes

 

[farsidefan1]

Ok first the confession. I've done several solo dives and a few at night. But accidents are usuallly the result of several things adding up to disaster. Penetration of a wreck - hmm, if the opening is frigging huge perhaps but I wouldn't add the additional risks of night and He... no I wouldn't do it if it was a tight fit and double he.. no if it was so tight I had to remove tanks and bc. It is just a matter of accumulated risk factors.
Look at the Titanic. Had they seen the iceburg one minute sooner they could have missed it entirely. One minute later they would have hit it head on and only the front 2 compartments would have flooded - no biggie. but it was juuuust right. And it ripped open several compartments on one side and bye bye big boat. Flat calm seas, night, captain racing to set record. They all added up to disaster. My last solo night dive I was 85 feet down, having a great time on a wreck, contemplating entering a large opening when it occured to me - What the he.. am I doing? I made the choice to move to shallower water and not penetrate the wreck. You sound skilled, you can make your own calls, just remember the Titanic, good old unsinkable er, wait, I guess she never got old. Or unsinkable.