Entry Level Solo Diver

[SCUBA482]

I began solo diving on dive 21.

Some thoughts I have on the subject:

I see soloing as a specific type of diving like cave or deep wreck diving, not as something a buddy diver does more or less on the spur of the moment.

I follow a graduated approach to soloing with specific goals and skills to practice and incorperate and generally take a technical approach to recreational diving. Most of my soloing is done in isolated locales (coldwater, low vis.) and I am usually the only person (diver or not) around).

I (currently) limit my soloing to 100' mainly to avoid the effects of narcosis.

There is basically one wild card in solo diving that I know I cannot control; a medical event at depth (LOC, heart attack, seizure etc...). If something like that occurs I accept that I am dead. However, I also think that when something like that occurs in a buddy situation the diver is almost always equally dead.

The actual "dive" skills are basically the same as with buddy diving but more emphasis must be placed upon them. Bouyancy, gas planning, navigation etc... The diver must become "a diver" in the older sense of the word.

While much emphasis is placed on redundancy (good to a point) I think a far greater element to focus on is situational awareness and the ability to avoid problems before they occur. When you are entangled you will or will not cut your way out and when you are OOA you will or will not find an alternate air source. The skill to develop is not to become entangled/ go OOA in the first place.

I have other thoughts but it's late and my wife is calling.... Hey, I'm not solo in everything I do

This is a great response! I think situational awareness & becoming a true "diver" will outweigh quantity of dives. I guess it's like the old saying quality over quantity and we each have our personal choices. Thanks for sharing your insight!

 

[SCUBA482]

My first solo was dive #53.

The fact you are asking questions in the first place is a huge step in the right direction for you.

How wonderful that we have this forum, with many experienced divers to draw advice from.

Take care, and dive safe!

Thanks for sharing where you were when you started. I wonder if some of the OG divers would have started sooner in their diving career if it wasn't such a taboo. Either way, yes this forum to pick brains is awesome! I am wondering if others viewing or commenting on this post are reflecting back on whether they started too early or late had they had these conversations with other SOLO divers. Not sure I'll start out right away, but it is imminent for me to go SOLO. I'll pull the trigger when I feel comfortable going it alone and have some idea what to plan for with ideas from this thread and my other thread on common SOLO skills.

Thanks!

 

[SCUBA482]

I started solo diving when I was working on a hookar unit collecting crayfish.
My reg was attached to the hookar unit which was on the boat, and 95% of the time someone was in it making sure it did not stop. After 500 dives of this type I had got to the stage of not thinking twice about jumping in by myself.

Recently I have moved into some cold water diving. My 2mm is now a 6mm. I am now wearing double the weights, and a bloody hood. I have never dove in water less than 24deg, and now it is 17 or less. This for me has its stresses. I also am learning to deal with different sealife, as well as enviroments, so I have decided to curtail my solo diving until I am far more confident in the different conditions.

Have set a limit on each site to 20, and 50 cold dives period to gain the experience I feel I need to be able to handle an unlikely event.

Lord help me when I gain a dry suit.

I like the limits set per site for familiarity. I also find it interesting that you reference the "cold" water issue. I also presume you mean degrees C not F based upon location and the numbers you mentioned...

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Everyone is different should be the way we start all similar self questioning. For someone who grew up solo cliff climbing (sans rope), solo backcountry snowboarding, solo freediving into caverns and even a couple years work as a cliff diver with regular solo practice sessions from 50' - 65', solo diving in modern equipment is not much risk at all. If I was a previously landlocked librarian who recently started diving the risk might be overwhelming.

 

[Cathay Stray]

I went solo first about, errr... hmm... I think it was right after my Rescue course. Let me think: I took the Rescue as soon as the number of my dives allowed me to enlist (40) and I had 10 dives during the course including fun dives between course ones.
So saying 50 won't be a big mistake.

Very important to mention that it was in Hong Kong with its safety, absence of currents, dangerous sea life, etc. That kept me very comfortable psychologically.
At about 120 dives I took an SDI Solo course and I was in fact more or less ready to face its challenges - because Hong Kong waters being safe and shallow are still sometimes frighteningly dark and murky, going down to 10-15 m in HK is much like having a night dive into a silted cave in terms of viz. The computer has to be brought right to the mask glass if you want to read anything at all, and you are lucky if you see your stretched out hand as far as elbow. Nets are aso something to beware.

I continue soloing in HK nearly every weekend but looking back I am really not happy about myself starting to solo so early. I should have at least carried a pony on every solo dive from the beginning.

And regardless the number of dives, I would not dive solo at unknown faraway locations - 2-3 guided dives before starting it solo I think should be a must.

 

[DaleC]

...And regardless the number of dives, I would not dive solo at unknown faraway locations - 2-3 guided dives before starting it solo I think should be a must.

Darn, why didn't somebody tell me that before I drove 2200km's to dive a couple of lakes I'd never been in before :loopy:

 

[Cathay Stray]

OK, let's make an exception for this particular time!

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

....
And regardless the number of dives, I would not dive solo at unknown faraway locations - 2-3 guided dives before starting it solo I think should be a must.

I'd be comfortable (in most cases) if I had a good dive briefing from another diver familiar with the site.

However, in a totally different environment I'd want an actual "orientation" dive(s) with an experienced local mentor.

As an example, I passed on a chance to dive near Laguna in southern California last summer because it would have been a solo beach dive in a totally different environment from my home waters (I dive in usually warm, sometimes clear water here in Hilo). It would have been foolish of me to do a solo beach dive in Laguna, since I'm completely unfamiliar with the area.

Best wishes.

 

[SCUBA482]

Well...I haven't been posting lately 'cuz I've been diving...did a few solo dives at Catalina last week and then some today...just got home after cleaning the boat from DP! Dove some kelp paddies in about 50fsw, then off to a sandy area for about 40fsw, then to another sandy/rocky bottom area in about 38fsw.

I have to admit that SOLO in Catalina with the much better viz makes a HUGE difference in comfort level. While there I primarily chose shallow areas of about 30fsw to enter from my boat then progressed to 60fsw on my first SOLO. A sandy beach and reading my chartplotter and selecting the area made the difference. I did 2 dives there in same conditions that day. The next day I went to Hen Rock (Catalina) and dove in shallow sandy water near some structure. Kept max depth to just under 30fsw as I was looking for Halibuts

Today while diving SOLO, and the water being colder 55 degrees F on bottom, and the viz being down to about 15 ' max and mostly around 10 ', I kept it tight to the boat, used the anchor lines as reference on a couple descents, and just kind of chilled under water poking around near the edge of the kelp.

First impression on these by me:

Viz is important to me. I like to see a little bit at least and be in an area with minimal boat traffic. It was kinda choppy on the open sea today and I played it safe. Really enjoyed my time in the big pond and am headed back to Catalina next week for some more BT.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Fresh out of certification (+ or - a couple) and solo diving in a Kelp forest......have you ever been caught up in kelp and had to free yourself? That would seem to be a very real danger there so experience with it will count for a lot towards your continued safety beneath the surface.