PADI Solo Course?

[BEM]

I think PADI will eventually offer a Solo course - there's money to made, but not until they remove all negative references to Solo diving in the other courses.

 

[rigdiver]

They were not going to do Nitrox either were they? Can't be treated for bends, un-insurable!!!! "Never" was the word from Karl Shreeves. ?sp on name Scathing articles in Skin Diver magazine.
Remember those words from the 90's? I do.
Oh, but wait there was $$$$$$$ to be made.

 

[otterdive]

I answered that I don't want PADI to offer a Solo Diver course. I just don't feel that it's appropriate. In my opinion, solo diving is something that individual divers should decide to do when/if they feel that they are personally ready, not when they have a certification.

I guess I could possibly understand a Solo Diver course that does not issue a certification. Something offered to expand a divers knowledge, but not leading to any kind of card. The best way for me would be for divers to ask more experienced divers for some advice, and then try it themselves in a setting where other divers are in the area, and know the solo diver's plan. My gut feeling is that solo diving is an 'individual' (ha ha, get it?) decision. I love it occasionally, but usually it's limited to the few minutes alone setting up an ascent/descent line, while my students stay on shore. Wish I could do more actually.

 

[otterdive]

Hey BEM, if you are a solo diver, who took your underwater photo? Just kidding!

 

[WetDawg]

Solo Diving: PADI Worldwide's Position
By:
Drew Richardson President & Chief Operating Officer, PADI Worldwide​

Why PADI advocates the use of the buddy system

The buddy system in use today for scuba diving came from a decades old water safety concept found in swimming and lifeguard training. It was adopted because it applied to diving and because it made good safety sense. Early support of buddy diving safety procedures was referenced by Jacques Cousteau and the crew of the Calypso in the book "The Silent World". The goals of training divers include developing the skills to take responsibility for themselves and to be self-reliant. The buddy system provides divers in training with a safety redundancy to this skill base that diving alone simply cannot provide. PADI has, and will continue to, train divers using the buddy system based on its proven benefit to diving, divers and diving safety.

Practicality & Convenience

The buddy system has provided tangible contributions to millions of dives. Buddies provide an extra set of eyes and hands for each other. Providing assistance in putting on equipment, adjusting straps, assisting with weights and tanks, entering the water, helping to load and unload gear are but a few practical arguments that support the buddy system.

Safety:

The roots of the buddy system arise from diving and water safety. Early days of diver training heralded the buddy system as an important safety procedure because only through the buddy system could a diver reasonably expect to escape from entanglement, entrapment, out of air situations, disorientation, a head injury, chest pains, cramping and dozens more. Diver training and diving equipment have improved, yet these same values apply today. Like all safety-based systems, the buddy system is not perfect. However, the simple fact is that without a buddy in the water, the distressed diver has little or no chance of assistance.

The buddy system is the most basic form of scuba diving fail-safe. Buddies have helped each other in subtle and profound ways for decades. Often the smallest buddy intervention averts a string of error chains occurred and negative outcomes or tragedy. The safety record of scuba diving has improved dramatically over the past few decades, while the number of certified divers has increased. During this time, buddy system training techniques have been an integral component of this training. While there is no way to quantify the accidents that were prevented or did not happen because of one buddy looking after another, empirical outcomes support the relevancy and integrity of this training.

Enjoyment:

Diving is a social activity, so the buddy system is more than a safety rule. Diving with someone you know and are comfortable with adds to the fun. Most divers actually enjoy companionship in and out of the water. It is fun to share exciting adventures and experiences with others. Fundamentally, the buddy system is about dive companionship, something that won't appeal to misanthropic personality types.

Can Solo Diving be done responsibly?

Yes, but let's be clear about what responsible solo diving is and what it is not. It requires experienced scuba divers willing to make the necessary commitment to train and equip themselves to accept the added risks involved. That is to say, a person with the required attitude and aptitude to pursue responsible solo diving. This is true in other adventure sport activities such as solo rock climbing.

It is important to clarify what responsible solo scuba diving is. PADI views it as a form of technical diving and not for everybody. To responsibly engage in solo scuba diving, a diver must first be highly experienced, have a hundred or so buddy accompanied scuba dives, be absolutely self-reliant and apply the specialized procedures and equipment needed to engage in the activity. This includes, but is not limited to redundant air sources, specialized equipment configurations, specific dive planning, and management of solo diving problems and emergencies. When solo diving is performed within this description, we see a place for it. Responsible solo diving is not diving alone without the mental discipline, attitude or equipment. That said, no amount of redundant equipment can effectively back up a diver's brain better than another individual.

What concerns does PADI have with regard to solo diving

When a problem occurs on a solo dive, or when the diver is alone in the water, there is little or no chance of assistance for the distressed diver. This decreases the chances of a diver surviving the problem or having a favorable outcome. Diving alone reduces the chance of survival regardless of the problem. Since 1989, there were at least 538 fatalities where it was clear divers were either intentionally diving solo, or became separated from a buddy and were de facto alone.

PADI is concerned by certain proponents of solo diving within the dive industry, including a major diving publication, who attempt to promote solo diving by bashing both PADI and the buddy system with headlines touting " Why the Buddy System is dangerous". This is both irresponsible and reckless. To suggest that the buddy system fosters a false sense of security and increases the likelihood of panic is outrageous and contrary to the empirical evidence. To claim that divers shouldn't use the buddy system for fear of being sued by a diving companion is ridiculous. The unfortunate reality in the litigious U.S. is that folks have sued one another for nearly anything. It is no surprise that there have been a handful of cases where one buddy has brought suit against another. Outside of the U.S., this argument doesn't hold up and smacks of the fear mongering to sell magazines. Besides, how long will it be before a solo death results in a suit against a magazine or other forum endorsing solo diving, a practice that is contrary to community practice. There is nothing to prevent such lawsuits from arising.

PADI's position is clear; solo diving proponents should advocate responsible solo diving on its own unique merits, requisite training, and equipment needs and not through sensationalized attempts to disparage a proven safety system, that has served the majority of recreational scuba divers well.

Send all comments and suggestions to webmaster@padi.com
©2007 International PADI, Inc.

 

[WetDawg]

Even if you never "plan" to dive by yourself, it is well worth the time and effort to learn how to be self-reliant AND strengthen your buddy team skills.

SDI Solo Diver Course

I share this simple phrase with all my students; "There are more than 50 ways you can "mess" up a solo dive... if you can think of 25 of them you are a Genius"

You don't know what you don't know.

 

[Rhone Man]

If it ever happens, it will be a long way away.

PADI has said "never" many times and later changed its mind, but I don't see it here. Swimming against the tide (nitrox) or being shut out from a lucrative market (tec diving) is one thing. Being able to teach one extra speciality? Just not enough upside.

 

[Kiwi Sean]

I would be surprised if they officially offered a solo diver course anytime soon. But I would not be at all surprised if distinctive specialties that were solo diver courses in all but name weren't already being offered. Sure, the course would have to emphasise that it wasn't about solo diving (in order to get accepted as a distinctive specialty by PADI). But you could do that by saying that the purpose of the course was to prepare a diver for when the buddy system goes wrong. But at the end of the day, if it looks like a duck and quacks...

 

[shaggie]

If PADI offers an solo course look for a run on pony bottles.

 

[shoredivr]

In my opinion, solo diving is something that individual divers should decide to do when/if they feel that they are personally ready, not when they have a certification.

You could say that about any kind of diving, no?

Each time I dive, I evaluate if the dive is right for me, am I in the right frame of mind and physical ability to do it, do I have the required equipment and gas for the dive, etc. etc. I do this whether I'm diving alone or with a buddy.

Taking a course in something gives you (hopefully) knowledge and skills. I'll never turn down a chance to acquire knowledge and skills.

For me the purpose of taking the solo diver course was to get a certification that would allow me to dive in places that said: "no solo diving without certification". I had already been solo diving for 8 years when I took the course and had the equipment and mindset to do so. I did learn a few things that made the course worthwhile, too.