I do not condone solo diving as it is quite dangerous....BUT if you chose to solo dive, please research the following info and procedure for your own safety as a new diver:
1. Find out the phone number and location of the nearest decompression unit as well as approximate response times for emergency services to your specific dive location.
2. Have an exhaustive list of emergency services numbers for the particular area you will be diving.
3. Make 100% sure that someone is aware that you will be diving solo, where, and when.
4. Find someone at the surface who you can make aware that you are diving in the immediate area (park ranger, gate attendant, etc.) They may not like the idea and may not want the info, but if you provide them with emergency contacts and a strict time plan with a follow up contact by YOU, then they may be ok with it.
5. If you succeed with 4, then make 100% sure you don't miss your follow-up contact with that person or you could be rescued and not need it, thus tying up emergency services and that stuff makes them VERY mad. Translates to make a dive plan and stick to it.
6. Educate yourself thoroughly on diver stress/rescue before you solo dive. It will help you be aware and deal with your own stress in the water.
7. ABSOLUTELY have a dive strobe (with fresh batteries) on your gear and use it! This thing will help rescuers locate you in the event of a dive emergency in the water.
8. Purchase a "dive emergency" or "dive accident" card from what ever company you are certified through, SSI, PADI, etc. Fill out the pertinent information that may be needed on the card and put it with your log book to help emergency services.
9. Make 100% you have your log book. This thing can save your life or prevent further injury if emergency services has previous dive info to go on and a proper dive plan in the book. Having your personal medical insurance card here is also helpful.
*Not everyone has a GPS unit, but if you do, attempt to mark the GPS coordinates of your particular dive site to help emergency services.*
When I perform search and recovery work, these items are absolutes and are not subject to compromise. If I can't check all of them off, I don't make the dive...period!