My FIRST Solo Dive (Non certified)

[Tigerpaw]

Just remember that the first 10-20 dry dives are a learning curve. The steepness and duration of that curve is dependant on your skill base diving wet and assistance with getting it figured out. No class, no buddies = more $hitty dives. New diver with only basic skills to avoid dying = more $hitty dives. Skilled wet diver with friends that dive dry = fewer $hitty dives.

I LOVE the way you explained that!!! THANKS!!!

 

[Barnaby'sDad]

I regularly dive in rivers that are about 23 feet deep, with fairly high current; yet, I have never used a pony bottle. I many times use an octopus, or in one of my twin tank configurations, use a double hose regulator with a second single hose regulator. I also have dived these areas with a “vintage” configuration of a single stage, double hose regulator and a J-valve (no SPG). So to say that a pony bottle should always be dived I find a bit hard to believe.

SeaRat

I had a similar experience diving a shallow river with high current while solo. The dive operator politely said something along the lines of “you’re probably not going to want to take that with you” (pony bottle).

After finishing dive one (“muck” diving on the bottom for teeth)…had the pony hose wrap around a tree branch, bottle rattling on the bottom, etc., i surfaced and said “yup…you’re right…I won’t be taking that down for dive two.”

But yeah…for everywhere else (other than shallow rivers) that I’ve dived solo, I carried it. I’d say that the pony should be carried in MOST conditions if solo, but yes…agreed…in some conditions…less crap hanging off your body is a good thing.

 

[Tigerpaw]

Well 6 months and 71 unofficial solo dives later, I am now OFFICIALLY a SDI SOLO DIVER!!! Doing those unofficial dives really aided in my development as a diver. With so many solo dives under my belt you may ask why did I bother to get the cert? Well I was reading that there are some dive outfits that will let you dive solo BUT you need a Solo card.

 

[Cthippo]

Cool, congratulations!

 

[inquis]

Congrats! Have you changed anything (configuration or view/outlook) from what you had in the beginning? Anything changed due to the formal training or interaction with your instructor?

 

[Tigerpaw]

Congrats! Have you changed anything (configuration or view/outlook) from what you had in the beginning? Anything changed due to the formal training or interaction with your instructor?

THANK YOU!

In the beginning, I really needed practice but because of my work schedule I couldn't find any dive buddies. It was at that time I realized that I couldn't rely on anyone to help me out. The only way to work on my dry suit buoyancy, DSMB deployment and gain experience was to do it myself. I have discovered that because of the repetitive diving I have a new found confidence, NOT cockiness. I actually had a few minor hiccups while diving solo and I had to rely on my training and staying calm to successfully solve a problem. Diving solo and being Rescue qualified made me more self reliant, while knowing my limits. So all that to say, NO my outlook has remained the same. I may pray but I rely on my training and experience to solve a problem.

As far as configuration, this past weekend, I earned my TDI Sidemount certification! So I'll be doing even MORE solo dives to stay proficient at SM. Prior to earning SM, I took the Intro to Tech course and opted for sidemount and learned the setup and various drills. Afterwards I worked ALOT of overtime, bought the setup, then I practiced and practiced and practiced some more and passed the e-Learning. I was fortunate to have a smooth OW eval. My instructor was impressed because he said most students earned rec sidemount first, then jump to Tec SM, whereas I just jumped straight into Tec SM, with no formal experience.
I have also since then bought a pony bottle, I'm discovering that I need to practice for each configuration I have, different configurations, different situations and responses.

In spite of this recent success, I still plan to train and practice as much as I can.

 

[inquis]

Very cool you're willing to put in the effort to practice and improve. Nothing like time in the water!

 

[joebob24]

I was just reading some of the earlier posts in this thread and I was going to suggest going to doubles instead of a pony bottle as some were suggesting, but it sounds like you beat me to it and already switched to side mount! SM or doubles just seem like a way better way to get redundancy to me. I only had around 10 dives when I started diving doubles and I have never dove with a pony, so I might just be biased.

Did you add the pony to the side mount setup for additional air, or are you planning on needing deco mixes in the future?

 

[Tigerpaw]

Did you add the pony to the side mount setup for additional air, or are you planning on needing deco mixes in the future?

I plan on using the pony's for deco with sidemount. I've practiced a few times using air, just to start to get used to it.