solo diving as a beginner

[jjhill]

Thanks to everyone for the excellent feedback.

I do not dive with a redundant air source, but I have practiced emergency ascents in the pool a few times. That is exactly the type of skill (along with bouyancy, trim, mask drills, propulsion techniques, etc) that I would want to practice on a solo dive (shallow swim beach) because I wouldn't want to ask a new dive buddy from a LDS fun dive (my only diving right now) to waste their dive practicing fundamentals. When practicing these skills in the pool I was able to complete them all calmly and comfortably and with proper form, but I not only want to improve on them, but make sure that I stay in good practice with them all (especially emergency skills that may not be used frequently, but should still be in good practice). It seems to me that practicing this stuff would make the 'hard-wired' 'fight-or-flight' response a little easier to control.

Anyhow, don't get me wrong, I am not planning to go out and dive recklessly. I am just using the forum to explore ideas that come accross my rookie mind.

Its great to have the desire to practise skills. Is there any chance to go back to your instructor and ask to tag along for more pool time? The pool is a good place to practise a lot of these skills. Here we often have divers asking to join us at the pool where we are teaching classes. They come swim around the class on their own while we keep an eye on them while helping with the class. It works out great and they get good practise in.

Of course nothing beats open water training and you should practise these skills in open water too, but I would do so in the buddy format for now.

 

[Dsix36]

I dive solo quite a bit and find it to be much more relaxing and easy, but that is just my opinion. I have been entangeled, hooked by a fishing boat that was trolling (drug about 300' before I could get cut free), head butted a nurse shark (not looking were I was going), wedged and stuck in many openings and many more adventures while I was solo. A good buddy would have been a very valuable asset at these moments.

There are a couple of sayings that I really like. I can't take credit for them, but would like to.

1 - I strongly believe that any diver not mentally prepared to be solo on a dive is inadequate to the task and using another diver as a crutch. However this fact doesn't stop me realizing diving with a competent buddy is always the best policy. ---- quoted from Mark Chase.

2 - The only way to dive solo and be safe is to make sure that you are not diving with an idiot --------- paraphased from Dave Sutton.

I firmly believe in both of these and hope that I am not an idiot. I am now trying to learn how to be a better buddy and overcome my solo habits. The solo mentality is difficult to overcome and many people may not appreciate it. Luckily for me my friends are "working" with me to improve my buddyness (nice word eh).

Just be safe and careful in whatever you decide to do.

 

[Afakasi]

Its great to have the desire to practise skills. Is there any chance to go back to your instructor and ask to tag along for more pool time? The pool is a good place to practise a lot of these skills. Here we often have divers asking to join us at the pool where we are teaching classes. They come swim around the class on their own while we keep an eye on them while helping with the class. It works out great and they get good practise in.

Of course nothing beats open water training and you should practise these skills in open water too, but I would do so in the buddy format for now.

Actually, I am planning on sitting in through my instructors next OW course (classroom and pool) which includes 5 or 6 pool dives. I'm looking forward to going through everything again and getting the extra pool time and free air .

 

[Afakasi]

I have been entangeled, hooked by a fishing boat that was trolling (drug about 300' before I could get cut free)

Wow!!!!! Not to hijack the thread, but I'd love to hear the details of that one.

 

[Jupiter31]

Remember, if you are set on doing this - and you have beens cautioned - at the very least, get a redundant air source.

The pool is a controlled environment - and while the skills are valuable to practice there, its a totally different thing when you are out diving, be it in a lake, quarry, or the ocean. Just because you can do something in a pool does not mean you can while out diving.

We want you around to continue to post!

 

[Spg01]

When I was first certified (not that long ago) and I could not find a buddy I would go out with my instructor and his class just to get into the water. As long as I don't get between him and his students I can dive with them whenever I want. There are usually a few safety divers with him also watching over the students, so technically I am diving with lot's of buddies.

They are not the most fun dives in the world, but it is a chance to get some bottom time when things are slow.

 

[halocline]

You should look into taking a solo diving course at some point. There are some skills and equipment considerations that you'll learn about that can help you.

The biggest thing, though, is developing the judgement needed to anticipate and avoid potential problems or dangerous situations, and you can only develop that through a combination of experience and attitude. It sounds like you have a good attitude about it, but you do need experience in order to fully evaluate situations you find yourself in.

Entanglement can be a real problem in a shallow lake near shore. That's exactly the kind of place fishermen leave line. The first time your reg gets pulled out of your mouth by some invisible line, it's a memorable experience!

 

[TSandM]

First off, let me say that your desire to practice and perfect your skills is GREAT! Recognizing that the work you did in your certification class is only the beginning is part of an attitude that will likely make you into a very good diver.

And second, l'll tell you that, when I was new, I dove solo . . . in my swimming pool! The advantages of a pool are that someone spotting you from the patio can see you, and you can be quite sure there is nothing in the water that is going to surprise you. I'm sure some people would even frown at what I did, but I'd do it again. But unless the lake you are talking about has crystal clear water (that will remain so, after you have waded through the shallows to begin your dive), no one who watches from shore can know what is going on with you, or know if or when to intervene. As previously mentioned, lakes are dynamic environments, in which people boat, fish, and dump or lose items. Entanglement is the most frightening risk, because your air supply is finite.

Since you have permission to go share the pool sessions for the next class, I'd advise choosing that option instead. And you always have the possibility of finding a fellow student who wants to practice once they've finished, and the two of you can go find out what's in that local lake!

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I got certified when I was 13 and soon was doing solo dives in lakes and reservoirs etc. I also did my first night dive solo in a lake. I had a terrifying incident.

I was nervous swimming around in a very dark lake in vermont at a depth of only 12-15 feet and had essentially no lights on shore. Visibility was only about 8 feet, the bottom was soft mud and weeds and it was spooky for a 13 yr old kid solo diving at night.

I bent over underwater for some reason and when I straighted up again, something was hitting me repeatedly and firmly on my lower back. I spun around and around; I freaking out trying to figure out what kind of "lake monster" had me. Finally after a few moments, I stopped and realized that is felt like someone was slapping me on my lower back (I had a 7 mm suit on). I bent over a little and out popped a large sunfish.

Somehow, a sunfish became trapped under my backpack in the curve of my lower back (which will pull away a little when you lean over) and when I staightened up, it was firmly captured. These fish are pretty much asleep at night, so he must have gotten scared and then darted in under the backpack.

In my opinion, you should not be solo diving until you have had the crap scared out of you a few times and begin to develop enough experience to respond in a resonable manner to minor emergencies.

I have seen so many weird things happen underwater. If it CAN happen it will happen, sooner or later.

So what can possibly happen in a lake?

 

[Tigerman]

...
The issue is that being comfortable underwater to the point that you respond calmly to emergencies is not generally a trait new divers possess. You are not born with it. In fact, the emergency response instincts that work well for you on land are the same ones that get you in trouble underwater. The correct responses to underwater emergencies are somewhat counter-intuitive.
...

Responding calmly to emergencies is a trait not all divers possess, regardless of experience level.
If you never deal with stressful situations above or below water you simply wont know how you respond to them. Being a skilled diver does give you an edge, but its not even close to a guarantee of staying calm and staying calm is probably the most important part. As long as youre able to stay calm, youre able to think things through and analyze whats going on, something you wont if you just panic and "do something"..