Solo Diver Course Outline

[Jeff Toorish]

I just stare intently and say "of course I have a buddy, he's standing right beside me."

Then I turn to my "buddy" and say, "the nerve of some people....what? No, no...put that dive knife away."

*smile*

But that's just me...oh, and my buddy of course.

J

 

[Alex777]

Stealing students from classes is great fun.
Just plant them in the path of the class later in the dive, get clear of the area and watch the fun!

The "Student Handoff Manoeuvre" shoud be a required skill for any solo diver cert.

Lots of good suggestions here - looks like this will be a multi-day course ...

 

[do it easy]

wow, this thread sheds some light into the lonely, misunderstood world of the solo diver... I think we should all get together and have a group dive.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

I've emerged from a solo dive to the questioning stares of a couple of fellow shore divers. I grinned, and told them about the gold rolex I'd found which must have slipped off the wrist of some intoxicated but wealthy boater. When they asked to see it, I noted that I made it a rule to never bring anything up with me lest it anger the gods and I not come up myself on some future dive, so I had to leave it lying there - but that it didn't belong to me anyway, so it wouldn't have been right of me to take it.

Whatever they were going to say to me, they forgot about it...

As I was taking off my rig at the back of my van, for some reason they were very rapidly getting their stuff together and heading out to do their second dive.....

Distraction and diversion get them off your back and let you get on with business!

 

[WVDiver]

I've emerged from a solo dive to the questioning stares of a couple of fellow shore divers. I grinned, and told them about the gold rolex I'd found which must have slipped off the wrist of some intoxicated but wealthy boater. When they asked to see it, I noted that I made it a rule to never bring anything up with me lest it upset the gods and I not come up myself on some future dive, so I had to leave it lying there - but that it didn't belong to me anyway, so it wouldn't have been right of me to take it.

Whatever they were going to say to me, they forgot about it...

As I was taking off my rig at the back of my van, for some reason they were very rapidly getting their stuff together and heading out to do their second dive.....

Distraction and diversion get them off your back and let you get on with business!

You're smooth Doc.

 

[Diver Dennis]

I've emerged from a solo dive to the questioning stares of a couple of fellow shore divers. I grinned, and told them about the gold rolex I'd found which must have slipped off the wrist of some intoxicated but wealthy boater. When they asked to see it, I noted that I made it a rule to never bring anything up with me lest it anger the gods and I not come up myself on some future dive, so I had to leave it lying there - but that it didn't belong to me anyway, so it wouldn't have been right of me to take it.

Whatever they were going to say to me, they forgot about it...

As I was taking off my rig at the back of my van, for some reason they were very rapidly getting their stuff together and heading out to do their second dive.....

Distraction and diversion get them off your back and let you get on with business!

I can imagine them out searching... for days.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The best one I've heard and am waiting to use it is "he ticked me off so I left him chained to the platform". I think next time I'm asked I'll just say "he's with me in spirit, cause his wife made him go shopping".

 

[captain]

Just use one of those blow up dolls and say she is doing ditch and recovery drills and after a rest you and her will go back and recover her gear.

 

[Brandon]

(Looking back towards the exit, smacking forehead)

"Oh crap... not again!"

Bonus points if you hurridly get back in for a second dive.

-B.

 

[drbill]

I now call my pony bottle Heather. When someone asks the question, I simply say "Yes, Heather was with me the whole dive."

I'm fortunate in that people have seen me dive solo in the dive park and on our dive boat now for decades and aren't fazed by it. In fact, they sometimes ask questions when they see me with a buddy!

I have no problem with, and actually occasionally recommend that, instructors explain to their classes that although I am diving solo, I have special training to do so. I think it is a very legitimate issue for a class to question it, and for the instructor to explain it.