solo diver is better?

[loosebits]

We don't need to qualify the poll's question with "solo". True <insert-any-adjective-here> divers are better at handling emergencies than the average diver. Get on a day boat at any popular destination and you'll see what the average diver is capable of.

As far as caves, knowing your team's location is is usually much easier as the viz is *usually* excellent and everyone brings a nice bright light. Handling an emergency with your buddy is a little more complicated... me and my team just did our full cave and the OOA/lights out drill from the restriction in downstream Cow was a little more complicated than the OOA drill you do in OW.

 

[rockjock3]

I see many good point on both sides.

As for what can a buddy help you with that you can't do yourself well;

You can't pull yourself to the surface if you get hit with Oxygen Toxicity,
You might not recognize severe NN in yourself and fail to go shallower,
You can't pull yourself to the surfact if you blackout due to bad air (very rare these days), but still a possibility.

 

[Soggy]

As for what can a buddy help you with that you can't do yourself well;

You can't pull yourself to the surface if you get hit with Oxygen Toxicity,
You might not recognize severe NN in yourself and fail to go shallower,
You can't pull yourself to the surfact if you blackout due to bad air (very rare these days), but still a possibility.

A buddy is also a second (or third) brain to help solve problems when something bad happens and your judgement is no longer very good.

 

[mdb]

There are some good points from both sides. One of the benefits of solo diving is is less task loading. I don't have to keep an eye on anyone else which in itself is a blessing when vis is less than optimal. Isn't it nice to be able to take pics underwater without having to stop and check how your buddy is doing or where he is in relation to you? Bottom line is that it depends on the circumstances anyway, there are times when buddy diving is better, and there are times when the best dives you'll ever have were solo.

all4scuba05: I think you nailed it spot on. Some of the best diving I've ever had were quiet and tranquil solo dives, just me and the ocean. No "team", no drills, no signals, etc., just observing and enjoying the ocean. On the other hand, diving with a trusted and true buddy, my sons, good friends, etc. provides another level of shared enjoyment.

 

[Meng_Tze]

Get on a day boat at any popular destination and you'll see what the average diver is capable of.

Hear hear!! This is the is the issue, the average diver level of competence with skills and drills and mindset....

Its true Soggy (I know you know this), that in a cave with ideal circumstances, not much can go wrong.... you are in a tunnel and as long as you have the line in sight, you know where you are. Nothing to it, no current to sway a buddy away, no uncontrolled ascend from bottom to surface, not infinite bottom, no weather changes like you could experience out in the open.

But should something go wrong in a cave.... it goes black (in all senses of the word) VERY quickly. This is why most cave/wreck and other technical divers practice skills and drills on a regular basis (at least we do)......I have never seen any diver out in the open (the boat above) do skills and drills......... so this leads me to believe that all divers in more challenging environments (inclusive of solo divers) tend to be able to handle issues better. Purely because of awareness of what can go wrong and practicing this regularly......

 

[matt_unique]

The problem is that a team mentality and a solo mentality are so completely different that it is next to impossible to be good at both. Someone who believes that solo diving is 'better' or 'safer' has the wrong mentality to function well in a team diving environment. *Some* can cross-over and do it well, but in my experience that is definitely the exception rather than the rule.

The mentality is completely different but if you have an open mind they are certainly not mutually exclusive. Neither approach is rocket science, contrary to the most enthusiastic from each camp. Both approaches must be practiced of course.

>>Someone who believes that solo diving is 'better' or 'safer' has the wrong mentality to function well in a team diving environment.<<

Your statement above goes to the core of this thread and I totally disagree. Two solo divers who choose to dive and practice as a team are FAR better and safer in my opinion than two exclusive team divers.

--Matt

 

[Soggy]

Your statement above goes to the core of this thread and I totally disagree. Two solo divers who choose to dive and practice as a team are FAR better and safer in my opinion than two exclusive team divers.

You are entitled to your own opinion, even if it is wrong.

Seriously, it depends on the two divers. My experience contradicts your hypothesis. We have not dived together, so I do not know how *you* function in a team, but most of the time, when I have dived with someone who chooses to solo dive, they just do not 'get' what is required of team diving (which is not to be confused with buddy diving). Often, that is *why* they are solo divers. Obviously, as I've said above, this is not universal, but seems to be true more times than not.

 

[matt_unique]

I see many good point on both sides.

As for what can a buddy help you with that you can't do yourself well;

You can't pull yourself to the surface if you get hit with Oxygen Toxicity,
You might not recognize severe NN in yourself and fail to go shallower,
You can't pull yourself to the surfact if you blackout due to bad air (very rare these days), but still a possibility.

With exception of NN, the best buddy or team diver will likely just be the first person to see you "go". If you Tox and convulse or blackout with your head falling back/mouth wide open you're 'done' and there is nothing the buddy will be able to do but deliver you to the boat if he does not kill himself in the process (rapid ascent, etc). Miracles can happen thankfully but there are some circumstances underwater when you are "alone" even if you're surrounded by buddies. I'm not an expert on the success rate of rescue from Tox or blackout but my understanding is a recovery is basically a miracle and happens rarely.

--Matt

 

[matt_unique]

You are entitled to your own opinion, even if it is wrong.

Ha ha ha - back at you Soggy! :bigun2:

--Matt

 

[Soggy]

With exception of NN, the best buddy or team diver will likely just be the first person to see you "go". If you Tox and convulse or blackout with your head falling back/mouth wide open you're 'done' and there is nothing the buddy will be able to do but deliver you to the boat if he does not kill himself in the process (rapid ascent, etc). Miracles can happen thankfully but there are some circumstances underwater when you are "alone" even if you're surrounded by buddies. I'm not an expert on the success rate of rescue from Tox or blackout but my understanding is a recovery is basically a miracle and happens rarely.

--Matt

Undoubtedly, blacking out underwater is the worst possible thing that could happen, *but* there are several reports of toxing divers being rescued by knowledgeable individuals that have practiced the specific rescue skills applicable to this situation. Keep in mind, the odds of toxing are significantly lowered with the presence of a teammate who will be watching and confirming your gas switches when you screw it up.