Solo dive a good idea?

[Aussie Diver]

Just how dangerous is solo diving? I mean i know we're always taught to have a budy, but how necessary is it?

I'm going to be away for a week next month. I'll be doing a boat dive, but other than that, would love to do some shore dives. However, there'll be noone else to dive with me. Now, if the maximum depth i get to is say 10m, thats about 30 feet, and just off the beach, with only a single tank etc, how dangerous is it going to be? Worst case scenario I can think of is gear malfunctioning, and having to do an emergency assent. Or maybe a shark coming along, but a budy's not going to help there. I was wanting to get some opinions. Thanks.

 

[Snowbear]

...Worst case scenario I can think of is gear malfunctioning, and having to do an emergency assent...

Actually, worst case scenario would be have any kind of malfunction, and not being able to do an ascent, doncha think?

 

[Xman]

I agree with the previous post. Worst case scenario is that you get entangled and are unable to free yourself, or have some medical mishap which leaves you unconscious, and therefore dead.
Solo diving to that depth is hardly the end of the world, but should not be a spur of the moment thing. You should feel supremely comfortable about dealing with any likely problems (except I guess the aforementioned medical mishap which you can't deal with). It is also a good idea to have redundancy in your life support equipment (yes, even at 10m in my opinion). An H valve and second regulator might be worth a look, or a pony.
I guess at the end of the day, solo diving to 10m will probably not get you killed. Decide how much risk you are willing to take to enjoy that 10 metre dive and then you'll know whether or not its for you.

 

[mbeerski]

Just how dangerous is solo diving? I mean i know we're always taught to have a budy, but how necessary is it?

I'm going to be away for a week next month. I'll be doing a boat dive, but other than that, would love to do some shore dives. However, there'll be noone else to dive with me. Now, if the maximum depth i get to is say 10m, thats about 30 feet, and just off the beach, with only a single tank etc, how dangerous is it going to be? Worst case scenario I can think of is gear malfunctioning, and having to do an emergency assent. Or maybe a shark coming along, but a budy's not going to help there. I was wanting to get some opinions. Thanks.

Diving solo is a whole different ball game. Diving with a well trained buddy is usually a good idea but not always possible. I would not recommend diving solo without proper training. Check out the Solo Diver course offered by SDI. "Solo Diver Course
One of SDI’s most popular courses, the solo diver program teaches experienced recreational divers how to safely dive independently of a dive buddy. The course stresses proper dive planning and accident prevention and in the benefits, hazards, and proper procedures for diving solo."

 

[Aussie Diver]

Yeah, that's about what I thought. I knew that it wasnt the best idea. Thanks for convincing me though.

 

[Gary D.]

Yeah, that's about what I thought. I knew that it wasnt the best idea. Thanks for convincing me though.

There is nothing wrong with solo diving. But if you have to ask if your ready or not, Your Not.

It's all based on your comfort level. If you feal comfortable doing it, then do it. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, then don't. Simple as that.

Gary D.

 

[wedivebc]

. Or maybe a shark coming along, but a budy's not going to help there. I was wanting to get some opinions. Thanks.

Actually if you're a faster swimmer a buddy can be quite useful. He would be more of a chum than a buddy though

 

[Kim]

We have a solo divers forum on the board - you'd have to opt-in from your user control panel to read the posts. It might be a good idea to read them before you consider solo diving at all. As Snowbear said - anything that goes wrong could kill you. Another common theme with people who do solo dive is that they don't dive solo at sites they don't know well - unknown beach dives are just that - unknown. Entanglement hazards and currents are just two of the things that come to mind - and that's before you get to any equipment failures. I don't know how much experience you have as it's not in your profile yet. I believe that a requirement of the SDI solo course is at least 100 dives. On top of that there is of course the necessary equipment redundancy.
Solo diving is not to be undertaken lightly, and even with training etc can be an extremely dangerous form of diving.

 

[alcina]

There is nothing wrong with solo diving. But if you have to ask if your ready or not, Your Not.

It's all based on your comfort level. If you feal comfortable doing it, then do it. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, then don't. Simple as that.

Gary D.

That about sums it up. I solo dive almost all the time. Did it in Cozumel shore diving, do it wherever I am mostly. But you need to understand and prepare for the risks.

As for the course, I've never done it. Probably has some good information in it, but not sure I'd be confident after a "course". You might want to check out the Solo Divers forum here - read through threads then ask questions.

 

[Keysdrifter454]

Just how dangerous is solo diving? I mean i know we're always taught to have a budy, but how necessary is it?

I'm going to be away for a week next month. I'll be doing a boat dive, but other than that, would love to do some shore dives. However, there'll be noone else to dive with me. Now, if the maximum depth i get to is say 10m, thats about 30 feet, and just off the beach, with only a single tank etc, how dangerous is it going to be? Worst case scenario I can think of is gear malfunctioning, and having to do an emergency assent. Or maybe a shark coming along, but a budy's not going to help there. I was wanting to get some opinions. Thanks.

The safest diver in the world is the self-reliant one.

What is solo diving?

Being alone?

Separated from your buddy by more than an armlength?

Being paired with someone you never dove with before?

Not knowing if your buddy will wig out and take you with him?

Any of these apply to you?

Me, too.

Your chances of dying as a true solo dive are minimal.

Your chances of diving as an accidental solo diver are somewhat higher, like maybe (out of thin air) a million to one.

Be prepared to be solo, most of us are more than we think (or care to admit).

And my rule of thumb is, if you have to ask about solo diving, you're probably not ready to be a solo diver.