Seperated from buddy same as solo?

[redacted]

It seems to be very popular for some to equate a diver who has become seperated from his/her buddy on a planned buddy dive to a solo diver. And, of course, when it results in a death it is proclaimed to be another solo diver incident. It seems to me that continuing to dive after unplanned buddy seperation makes you a solo diver about as much as a BP and long hose makes you DIR.

 

[Mako Mark]

In reality, you are right, unplanned buddy separation is very different from a well planned solo dive. There is also the case of a diver diving as they would dive normally, just without a buddy.

I think that a well planned solo dive is probably fairly safe if it is approached as a technical dive, wherethe practice of diving without a buddy, or diving "same ocean" is not.

 

[Seabear70]

Ok, a lot of people will likely take this wrong, but...

But in my opinion, a good buddy dive consists of two solo divers who are working together.

I'm not saying that you should solo dive, I am saying that your buddy should depend on you, not you on your buddy.

 

[pipedope]

A dive where the diver is lost or separated from their buddy is NOT a solo dive. It is a failed buddy dive.

To truely be a solo dive it needs to be planned and executed as a solo dive.

A buddy dive where the divers are separated is FAR more dangerous than a solo dive because the divers are usually not equipped nor trained for a solo dive and the dive was not planned as a solo dive.

 

[TwoTanks]

Basic dive class says that in case of buddy seperation, you should look for your buddy for one minute and then surface and meet at the top. If you get seperated and then you don't surface, your buddy should be up there looking for you and then calling for help. If you agree not to surface upon seperation then you are agreeing to solo dive upon seperation and then it is solo diving.

I think anyone who doesn't respond and surface as taught upon buddy seperation is solo diving.

TT

 

[Kim]

A buddy dive where the divers are separated is FAR more dangerous than a solo dive because the divers are usually not equipped nor trained for a solo dive and the dive was not planned as a solo dive.

The fact that this is very dangerous was highlighted in Japan a week ago. A diver went missing, presumed dead, after continuing a dive on his own after his buddy had called it.

One diver was reported missing in Hayama, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun. It was basically a diver going solo after his buddy called the dive.

 

[DORSETBOY]

In reality, you are right, unplanned buddy separation is very different from a well planned solo dive. There is also the case of a diver diving as they would dive normally, just without a buddy.

I think that a well planned solo dive is probably fairly safe if it is approached as a technical dive, wherethe practice of diving without a buddy, or diving "same ocean" is not.

Glad to say I agree with you Mark on this one.

Solo diving and buddy diving are inherently different. With a buddy dive you go into the water with a shared responsibility for each other's lives. Other posts talk about being more self sufficient (solo divers have to be completely self sufficient) when diving as a buddy team. This is a good way to dive but you still have to take care of the other person you are diving with.

 

[jagfish]

Yup, agree with the flow so far, buddy separatoin not a solo dive...