Question Solo Cert for Technical Dives?

[jstotz]

I'm reading the SDI Solo Diving Manual for fun and on page 19 it says that tech and solo should never be mixed, regardless of training level.

Do all agencies hold this position in their solo diving courses?

I also wonder what consequences this has in the world of dive locations. I'm reminded that at Gilboa Quarry in Ohio, solo diving (with cert) is restricted to the shallow side at ~40ft.

 

[MB NZ]

It is an oddity of diving education development. Technical divers have the skills and equipment to dive solo, more so than recreational divers with a solo certificate and in the real word, lots of solo technical diving occurs, yet there is no officially sanctioned technical solo diving to my knowledge.

 

[Rilelen]

Ginnie in Florida explicitly allows solo diving if you’re Full Cave (or higher).

 

[Cthippo]

Why is it pinnacle diving considered tech?

 

[rjack321]

I'm reading the SDI Solo Diving Manual for fun and on page 19 it says that tech and solo should never be mixed, regardless of training level.

Do all agencies hold this position in their solo diving courses?

I also wonder what consequences this has in the world of dive locations. I'm reminded that at Gilboa Quarry in Ohio, solo diving (with cert) is restricted to the shallow side at ~40ft.


View attachment 878636

SDI is a recreational agency. So their recreational solo course is limited by the lawyers to exactly what they endorse here and no more.

 

[happy-diver]

Why is it pinnacle diving considered tech?

It's definitely pinnacle mate however there are many mountains in the range

 

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

Probably the only training that does “solo” would be cave diving training through CDG due to local conditions: Solo Cave Diving and UK Sump Conditions | Cave Diving Group (havent trained with them but the manual is decent).

Once you are at tech level, you should be able to make an informed decision and you are trained to be completely self-sufficient so I’m not sure what a card or training would achieve.

When diving solo, you give up on having a second brain, second pair of hands, some spare gas that you should not need and if you have a medical problem close to the surface or on the surface, you are more likely to drown without a team. Can’t train for that.

No real impacts in the UK - boats are water taxis, you just go diving. Nobody checks any cards, loads of people solo dive where it makes sense, some might do a bubble check at the beginning and aim for group deco (shared deco station) but stay solo on the bottom. All quarries except one prohibit solo diving. Nobody is policing caves and mines.

 

[jstotz]

Why is it pinnacle diving considered tech?

When I first read "pinnacle dives" I interpreted the phrase to mean diving at the edge of one's ability. i.e. you shouldn't solo dive at the edge of your ability. However, upon googling I see Pinnacle Dives are those which:

...explore underwater rock formations that rise vertically from the seabed, creating a "pinnacle shape", often with challenging features like narrow crevices, overhangs, and strong currents, typically requiring a higher level of diving skill and experience compared to a standard reef dive.

I have only dove freshwater quarries and Florida caverns. Having no experience with current, it sounds like a dangerous, anxiety-inducing environment to me.

 

[tursiops]

When I first read "pinnacle dives" I interpreted the phrase to mean diving at the edge of one's ability. i.e. you shouldn't solo dive at the edge of your ability. However, upon googling I see Pinnacle Dives are those which:

...explore underwater rock formations that rise vertically from the seabed, creating a "pinnacle shape", often with challenging features like narrow crevices, overhangs, and strong currents, typically requiring a higher level of diving skill and experience compared to a standard reef dive.

I have only dove freshwater quarries and Florida caverns. Having no experience with current, it sounds like a dangerous, anxiety-inducing environment to me.

What you Googled was a 14-year-old piece from Scuba.com in a blog on Terrain terminology.

Your first interpretation is much more relevant and common.

 

[34109411]

Probably the only training that does “solo” would be cave diving training through CDG due to local conditions: Solo Cave Diving and UK Sump Conditions | Cave Diving Group (havent trained with them but the manual is decent).

Once you are at tech level, you should be able to make an informed decision and you are trained to be completely self-sufficient so I’m not sure what a card or training would achieve.

When diving solo, you give up on having a second brain, second pair of hands, some spare gas that you should not need and if you have a medical problem close to the surface or on the surface, you are more likely to drown without a team. Can’t train for that.

No real impacts in the UK - boats are water taxis, you just go diving. Nobody checks any cards, loads of people solo dive where it makes sense, some might do a bubble check at the beginning and aim for group deco (shared deco station) but stay solo on the bottom. All quarries except one prohibit solo diving. Nobody is policing caves and mines.

i would like to see statistics to see if there is more diver that drown diving solo versus buddy team