Importance of Self Reliance

[NAM001]

chrpai

I just did the same thing not long ago and you recovery process and mine are photocopies. The only difference is that i had a buddy. Whether that failed to prevent the problem or was the cause, I cant say. Fortunately i dive H valves and switched regs as i made a safe and gracefull exit to a more open water area to fix things.

Contrary to some opinions i think this event and mine proves just what self reliant skills can accomplish.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

OP -- your post seems to me to be a strong argument against the concept of "self-reliance" as in solo. Had you been part of a real team (i.e., had a REAL buddy and done standards checks), you would have known about your problem before entering the water.

This one always makes me laugh. If he'd been a real solo diver, who does standard checks, the same outcome applies...no problems if you always follow the rules. The reality is, sometimes divers rush into the water--both solos and teams are guilty of it.

The consequences here were pretty light. Doing a negative entry in a drysuit and heavy steel doubles with both posts off is an excellent way to become a shrink-wrapped bottom feature.

 

[AfterDark]

Here's one for ya! Three years ago I sat on a dive boat bench all geared up but couldn't move because my tanks were STILL BUNGIED TO THE HOLDERS! Did I feel stupid asking my insta-buddy to release me! The valves were on . Good job realizing and fixing the issue.

Diving to me as been a solo sport for a very long. Like another poster I began solo diving with one tank w/ J valve, one regulator and no auto inflate BCD. Self reliance, IMO is something that someone has in them or not, some people need a team to be able to function. Going it alone is just not for them. I love being alone in the ocean.

 

[redacted]

Here's one for ya! Three years ago I sat on a dive boat bench all geared up but couldn't move because my tanks were STILL BUNGIED TO THE HOLDERS! Did I feel stupid asking my insta-buddy to release me! The valves were on . Good job realizing and fixing the issue.

Diving to me as been a solo sport for a very long. Like another poster I began solo diving with one tank w/ J valve, one regulator and no auto inflate BCD. Self reliance, IMO is something that someone has in them or not, some people need a team to be able to function. Going it alone is just not for them. I love being alone in the ocean.

My biggest solo diving challenge is getting in a wetsuit with bad shoulders. An extension on the lanyard and an overhead hook lets me step away and squat to zip it up.

 

[Peter Guy]

Dr. L wrote:

no problems if you always follow the rules

THAT, ladies and gents, is the REAL "Golden Rule" of scuba diving!

 

[chrpai]

This one always makes me laugh. If he'd been a real solo diver, who does standard checks, the same outcome applies...no problems if you always follow the rules. The reality is, sometimes divers rush into the water--both solos and teams are guilty of it.

"Real solo diver" ?

 

[Dr. Lecter]

"Real solo diver" ?

Put your hackles down; I was merely using a tongue-in-cheek term as a way of pointing out the silliness of Peter Guy's "this never would have happened if he'd been diving with a real team/buddy and that's why solo is a bad idea" assertion. In other words, the assumption that teams are any better than solos about always following proper procedures with a 0% error rate is bull, as is the idea that any "real" divers never make silly mistakes.

 

[chrpai]

I was just looking for clarification.

At least you didn't accuse me of still not knowing how to use a valve after 12 years...

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I was just looking for clarification.

At least you didn't accuse me of still not knowing how to use a valve after 12 years...

Well I can't make that accusation any more. You (finally) do know how to use it now, RIGHT?

 

[ianr33]

I'm also a firm believer that valves should be either ON or OFF. Not kinda somewhere in the middle.

Chrpai, are you considering doing that after this incident?