OP
You're twisted -- or I am.
If you have to ask, you're not ready to solo......?
- Thread starter Walter
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A pre-req for the SDI solo diver course is a minimum of 100 logged dives.
As for doing anything that can kill you without proper training ...it's probably a bad idea.
Brings to mind a great movie quote:
"Any time you try a decent crime, you got 50 ways you can ****** up. You think of 25 of them and you're a genius. And you ain't no genius."
Mickey Rourke in Body Heat (1981).
As for doing anything that can kill you without proper training ...it's probably a bad idea.
Brings to mind a great movie quote:
"Any time you try a decent crime, you got 50 ways you can ****** up. You think of 25 of them and you're a genius. And you ain't no genius."
Mickey Rourke in Body Heat (1981).
This has been a very interesting thread to say the least.
I did my first 3 solo dives in Kona over the last two weeks.
I must say I did play it somewhat safe as I did the first two in an area where there were plenty of divers and snorkelers in the water. Divers in the water gave me a bit of a comfort level and the snorkelers, I figured, could point out my body location just in case
OK, Seriously, I found it very interesting how attentive I was about my pre-dive checks and how much more attentive I was in the water. I was very aware of my location, depth and navigation. More aware than when I dive with a buddy which, I feel, made me a better diver because on following dives with a buddy I was more aware than I ever have been before.
In the past my compass was a nice decoration that I thought I knew how to use but after diving solo my compass became my friend as did my depth gauge. In past dives I was always aware of my depth but diving solo I was keenly aware of depth and location.
I also found that I was more aware of my environment and looked for obstacles in case I had a situation arise. I kept my depth to 50 feet on all three dives as that was as deep as I felt comfortable going. Had I needed to bail out I figured I could make it to the surface albeit it would have been a painful ascent.
All in all I am happy that I did my solo dives and I am sure there are more in my future as there will be times I dont have a buddy available to dive with but I do think I enjoy diving with a buddy more. Although it was a great learning experience I had know one to point out some cool things I saw and I did feel alone. On the other hand it was just me, some bubbles and the ocean and that was a very cool feeling. So it was a bitter sweet experience.
To wrap up; I learned a lot about my self and I feel that the experience made me a better diver and I do agree that diving solo is not for everyone. It opened my eyes to so many areas where I THOUGHT I knew how to dive or I THOUGHT I knew how to navigate but in reality I was just fooling myself.
Will I do it again: YES
Do I recommend it to everyone: NO
I do agree that if you have to ask, your probably not ready. Just my 2 bar!
I did my first 3 solo dives in Kona over the last two weeks.
I must say I did play it somewhat safe as I did the first two in an area where there were plenty of divers and snorkelers in the water. Divers in the water gave me a bit of a comfort level and the snorkelers, I figured, could point out my body location just in case
OK, Seriously, I found it very interesting how attentive I was about my pre-dive checks and how much more attentive I was in the water. I was very aware of my location, depth and navigation. More aware than when I dive with a buddy which, I feel, made me a better diver because on following dives with a buddy I was more aware than I ever have been before.
In the past my compass was a nice decoration that I thought I knew how to use but after diving solo my compass became my friend as did my depth gauge. In past dives I was always aware of my depth but diving solo I was keenly aware of depth and location.
I also found that I was more aware of my environment and looked for obstacles in case I had a situation arise. I kept my depth to 50 feet on all three dives as that was as deep as I felt comfortable going. Had I needed to bail out I figured I could make it to the surface albeit it would have been a painful ascent.
All in all I am happy that I did my solo dives and I am sure there are more in my future as there will be times I dont have a buddy available to dive with but I do think I enjoy diving with a buddy more. Although it was a great learning experience I had know one to point out some cool things I saw and I did feel alone. On the other hand it was just me, some bubbles and the ocean and that was a very cool feeling. So it was a bitter sweet experience.
To wrap up; I learned a lot about my self and I feel that the experience made me a better diver and I do agree that diving solo is not for everyone. It opened my eyes to so many areas where I THOUGHT I knew how to dive or I THOUGHT I knew how to navigate but in reality I was just fooling myself.
Will I do it again: YES
Do I recommend it to everyone: NO
I do agree that if you have to ask, your probably not ready. Just my 2 bar!
Walter:
I've puckered up so tight you couldn't drive a real sharp straight pin up my butt with a real big jack hammer.
Everyone gets scared. I tell all the new troops that as long as the job scares you once in a while keep doing it. BUT, the day it doesn’t scare you anymore go find something else to do.
This one wasn’t on a dive but I still needed a bigger boat.
http://www.cdapress.com/articles/2006/06/02/news/news01.txt
One of the ER docks just stopped by and said they are making a B***h In Heat cologne for me.
I work with such compassionate people.
Gary D.
Walter:
Have you considered the possibility that both of you are?
AlaskaDiver
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I have enjoyed this read- at least the parts related to solo diving.
Everyone's approaches to a new activity are going to be different. I did my first solo dive in Palau this Spring at a wall near the dive operation base. I was only 12 ft deep the whole time, but I noticed that I kept looking at my gauges as it were a regular dive. I occasionally coud see figures standing on the dock's edge leaning over me. I assumed they were simply watching me to see what I was doing. I spent approximately 60 minutes photographing the creatures in the shallows. When I came up, my husband had said he was there all the time watching me as were several other people who ventured over out of curiosity.
I asked a few DMs there if solo diving was okay to do at the dock area (obviously no boats were active in the area) prior to the dive. I had every bit of condfidence in my diving abilities considering the profile, but I wanted to make sure it was okay in this area. I was asking permission - not to dive solo, but to dive in this particular location.
I think the gist of this thread was really about permission. There are people who ask permission to dive solo who are not only interested in the location of the dive, but if they themselves can dive solo. That is really the crux of what I believe Walter referred to regarding the orignal posting. The original poster appeared to be asking others for permission to do the solo dive. This comes off as self-doubt. Self-doubt in one's abilities means that it is not the right time to act upon them.
Athough I do not foresee myself diving solo in the future, those that do dive solo should have a strong sense of self confidence in their own abilities before attempting the task.
Everyone's approaches to a new activity are going to be different. I did my first solo dive in Palau this Spring at a wall near the dive operation base. I was only 12 ft deep the whole time, but I noticed that I kept looking at my gauges as it were a regular dive. I occasionally coud see figures standing on the dock's edge leaning over me. I assumed they were simply watching me to see what I was doing. I spent approximately 60 minutes photographing the creatures in the shallows. When I came up, my husband had said he was there all the time watching me as were several other people who ventured over out of curiosity.
I asked a few DMs there if solo diving was okay to do at the dock area (obviously no boats were active in the area) prior to the dive. I had every bit of condfidence in my diving abilities considering the profile, but I wanted to make sure it was okay in this area. I was asking permission - not to dive solo, but to dive in this particular location.
I think the gist of this thread was really about permission. There are people who ask permission to dive solo who are not only interested in the location of the dive, but if they themselves can dive solo. That is really the crux of what I believe Walter referred to regarding the orignal posting. The original poster appeared to be asking others for permission to do the solo dive. This comes off as self-doubt. Self-doubt in one's abilities means that it is not the right time to act upon them.
Athough I do not foresee myself diving solo in the future, those that do dive solo should have a strong sense of self confidence in their own abilities before attempting the task.
DennisW
Contributor
The fear is fun gene must have been left out of our family's genetic make up. It isn't fun for me either. Afterword, I am just relieved to have lived through the experience. No euphoria or rush for me.
Scuba
Contributor
LavaSurfer:
Very good observation. You either do it yourself or it doesn't get done. It's just as important when buddy diving, though it may not appear to be so.
Different subject.
All these arguments about whether you have to ask, you need the mindset, skills and experience are equally applicable to buddy diving. It's all prejudice. With one exception, when you rely and place your life in trust of a capable buddy to keep you from trouble and save you if necessary.
Borrels
Guest
I am not a dive master, with hundreds of dives under the belt, but in my book, to dive alone is to die alone.
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