solo dive definitions?

[waterpirate]

In another thread the lines were blured, there is a surprise, and I wanted to get a feeling for who and what a solo cert really implies or means. Who does it really benefit?

1. My take on this is a solo dive is defined as a dive in a place or enviroment that all but ensures you will be alone, not even the surprise of another solo diver or other dive groups. This means that dive planning in regard to gas management is only for the solo diver.

2. A solo cert lets you get on and off a boat by yourself, or in and out of the quarry by yourself, or not get a ticket on the beach in some states. However I term this same day same water solo diving. To me this means that I went in the water by myself, but the likely hood that I will encounter another diver during the dive is high.

Now this is where morality and dive planning converge. Although I am self suffecient and plan on my own rescue and bailout, there is the possibility that I may have to bail out some other soul. That being the case I gas plan based on thirds when diving same day same water so there is an allowance for bailing out another diver in distress.

I do not dive single tank anymore, and certainly not an al 80. Carrying a lot of gas for a dive such as number two does nothing to pennalise me, it only helps some one else. In number two I tink the solo cert only allows the lawyers to be held at bay some what in the event of an incident, not eliminate or negate the moral issue.

Comments or disscussion?
Eric

 

[fire_diver]

I solo dive all the time, but I don't have the "card" for it, so I can't really answer your question.

 

[Jax]

It may sound cold, but I do not plan my dive around some other person that runs into a problem. Nor will I put myself in danger for someone else. (First rule of rescue diving - don't make two victims.) Morally, I will do what I can to help, but if I think it will put me into danger, that guy better know how to do a an emergency ascent . . .

Considering the many that say they dive solo without the cert, it is obvious it isn't necessary. However, I have had boat operators that first say no, but when I tell them I have a card, will say yes.

 

[redacted]

If I am not diving with an established buddy relationship, then I am diving solo; and my gas planning may be adjusted accordingly. How many other divers may or may not be in the area is not part of my gas planning considerations.

I'll do what I can reasonably and safely do to help another person in distress.

 

[waterpirate]

whether you are a card carrying solo or not, if you solo what is your take on this? I do not have the card, and the last time I was asked who my buddy was it was in coz 05.
Eric

 

[Hemlon]

I solo dive often and I do not have the certification. I have no intention of getting the certification either.

The places at which I dive solo do not require it. And the places at which I dive with a buddy do not allow solo diving, with or without the certification.

I define solo diving as any dive in which I start and end the dive buddyless. I do not put any other modifiers or disclaimers on my definition such as total self-sufficiency, etc because I dive with that intention even with a buddy.

 

[fire_diver]

In another thread the lines were blured, there is a surprise, and I wanted to get a feeling for who and what a solo cert really implies or means. Who does it really benefit?

I don't know that the solo cert implies anything other than the holder has had some exposure to the concepts of safe solo diving. The only people I think benefit from it are the instructors teaching it.

1. My take on this is a solo dive is defined as a dive in a place or enviroment that all but ensures you will be alone, not even the surprise of another solo diver or other dive groups. This means that dive planning in regard to gas management is only for the solo diver.

To me, a solo dive is one in which I plan it alone, execute it alone, and exit the water alone, regardless of any other divers in the water. They should be executing thier own dives, with thier own buddies.

2. A solo cert lets you get on and off a boat by yourself, or in and out of the quarry by yourself, or not get a ticket on the beach in some states. However I term this same day same water solo diving. To me this means that I went in the water by myself, but the likely hood that I will encounter another diver during the dive is high.

The places that require cards to solo are not places I spend my money at.

Now this is where morality and dive planning converge. Although I am self suffecient and plan on my own rescue and bailout, there is the possibility that I may have to bail out some other soul. That being the case I gas plan based on thirds when diving same day same water so there is an allowance for bailing out another diver in distress.

I will not plan my solo dives based on other peoples problems. They have thier own plan and thier own buddy. If they interupt my dive because of thier lack of planning, I will get them to the surface (because I do have redundant gas supply) where I will probably spend the next hour chewing some serious ass for thier screwup.

I do not dive single tank anymore, and certainly not an al 80. Carrying a lot of gas for a dive such as number two does nothing to pennalise me, it only helps some one else. In number two I tink the solo cert only allows the lawyers to be held at bay some what in the event of an incident, not eliminate or negate the moral issue.

I still single tank dive, even solo. It depends on what my dive plan is as to how much gas I carry. That solo card won't stop anything a lawyer wants to throw at you, and will probably make it much harder on you.

Morality is fluid. I will not do anything that needlessly endangers MY life in the attempt to save another.

 

[diver_doug]

I define solo-diving as: diving solo . No need for the definition to get slippery...like firediver said; if I enter alone, dive alone, exit alone then it's a solo dive. I don't think a dive loses it's solo-status just because there happens to be other divers in the water.

Solo-cert is probably educational/valuable to some, but for most people it is just a means of being able to solo-dive from a boat.

No qualms with single-tank diving (unless you consider a pony a second tank...I always have a pony, even on shallow dives).

 

[drdaddy]

Never been asked on a boat for a solo card. The captain just wants the redundant air supply - in my case 19cf pony.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

No solo cert here, don't know anyone with a solo cert and also don't know any charter dive boats here in Hawaii that would accept a solo cert.

That said, I'm not saying there is no solo diving happening from charter dive boats in Hawaii. There are a number of charter dive boats that I could dive solo from if I wanted to; all the boats I have worked as instructor/guide from would most likely let me solo dive. There are even some operators I have not worked for who would likely allow me to solo, because they want to solo from the boats I have worked for; reciprocal benefits.

I think an instructor cert is the true solo cert. Then if you know how to network, even solo without redundancy is no biggie.

Back to the topic; duty of care.

As a solo diver, I sometimes return to shore or kayak with only enough air to dry my first stage cover. Often, that exit point is frequented by other divers. Now that you force me to make a plan, with three threads of lurking to ponder, my response would be to donate my primary, as a distraction, in order to oral inflate the OOA divers BC &/or power inflate my BC.

If I'm your last chance for survival, you better understand the part about exhaling!