Solo Diving: It's time to set the record straight

[LeadTurn_SD]

So for everyone that has responded so far: do you or do you not have a redundant air source when you solo dive. Thanks for your answers.

Rarely.

My solo dives are typically high viz, warmish water, mostly <60'. The highest risk is entry and exit in on a rockly lava coastline with surge.... I feel somewhat less "agile" with my AL30 slung to my harness when scrambling/climbing over/up/down slippery lava... so I have to weigh the increased risk of a slip and fall due to the extra weight, versus a very low risk of an equipment failure in shallow water....

I'm actually more likely to carry a pony on deeper buddy dives...

Best wishes.

 

[redacted]

I do a fair amount of shallow (<20ft) solo diving and for that my redundant gas plan is the surface. When I plan solo dives over 30 ft I usually carry a 13CF pony.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

That's great and it looks like this training has served you well - especially for a guy that doesn't seem to believe in training.

What an odd thing to say to a dive instructor ...

I never said or implied that I don't believe in training ... what I don't believe in is hawking certifications. Sure, if a class provides you the knowledge and skills to do the dives you want to do more safely, by all means go for it. If you're doing it so you can get access, that's the wrong reason.

FWIW - I own a drawer full of c-cards ... and yet some of the most valuable things I have learned about diving came from workshops that didn't involve a c-card, from practice sessions with mentors who had years more experience than me, and from just going diving.

There's lots of ways to learn ...

P.S. Its nice to see that you have a fan section

I've been around here long enough to have established a bit of credibility ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[craracer]

So for everyone that has responded so far: do you or do you not have a redundant air source when you solo dive. Thanks for your answers.

Yes. Double 95's and I sling a 40. In fact, I carry redundancy with all of my gear (except drysuit and myself....unless you count the voices in my head as being a second person).

 

[adventure dude]

Rarely.

My solo dives are typically high viz, warmish water, mostly <60'. The highest risk is entry and exit in on a rockly lava coastline with surge.... I feel somewhat less "agile" with my AL30 slung to my harness when scrambling/climbing over/up/down slippery lava... so I have to weigh the increased risk of a slip and fall due to the extra weight, versus a very low risk of an equipment failure in shallow water....

I'm actually more likely to carry a pony on deeper buddy dives...

Best wishes.

Thanks for the info. Well thought out.

 

[adventure dude]

I do a fair amount of shallow (<20ft) solo diving and for that my redundant gas plan is the surface. When I plan solo dives over 30 ft I usually carry a 13CF pony.

Thanks. Well thought out.

 

[adventure dude]

Yes. Double 95's and I sling a 40. In fact, I carry redundancy with all of my gear (except drysuit and myself....unless you count the voices in my head as being a second person).

Thanks.

 

[adventure dude]

I dive with an attached pony when doing shallow (above 100 ft) dives, and two bottles if deeper (one with 50% in it).

Use a mulitgas computer and plan the dive so neither the bottle is necessary to safely complete the dive.

Thanks for sharing your procedures.

 

[adventure dude]

I never said or implied that I don't believe in training ...

In fact, that's exactly what you said. Bob, please help me out here. You said,

"Training often doesn't provide sufficient knowledge"

and

"Training doesn't really address that much, because most training classes feed their students full of platitudes like "Plan your dive and dive your plan" ... or "End the dive with 500 psi" ... without ever providing the knowledge of how to actually DO it. "

In fact, I have to say I was surprised when you told me you are an instructor. So which is it???

And I do think your "Go Bob" cheerleading section is kind of cool

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

In fact, that's exactly what you said. Bob, please help me out here. You said,

"Training often doesn't provide sufficient knowledge"

and

"Training doesn't really address that much, because most training classes feed their students full of platitudes like "Plan your dive and dive your plan" ... or "End the dive with 500 psi" ... without ever providing the knowledge of how to actually DO it. "

I don't believe in poor training ... I see examples of poorly trained divers with certifications every day. I'll reserve judgment on someone's abilities until I see them dive.

Glad I could help.

The rest of your post isn't worth responding to ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)