Interesting discussion about the philisophical intersection of diving, freedom, self-preservation, common sense and others making rules about our behavior imposing their "wisdom" on our behalf when we know not what we do.
One reason this solo diver cert policy is wrong, IMHO, is that it is being imposed by an organization with a direct financial interest in the certification process.
I have a friend who is pushing 5000 dives, lives on Bonaire and has been doing solo fish id and lion fish hunting for years. She is not solo certified, but she dives conscientiously, safely and well within her knowledge limits and abilities. I have another friend in his 60's who has been diving since he was 13 and thinks nothing (wrong phraseology; actually very thoughtful and careful) of going to 250 ft on air by himself, but he is not certified in solo or tech diving. He knows how to do those things because he learned when doing them with others who already knew. Enforcing a solo diver cert for these folks is inappropriate, IMHO.
To me, the solo cert is much the same as AOW cert. Neither is necessary for safe diving, but can provide additional education helpful to the accomplishment of different types of diving. Those other types of diving can be learned by means alternative to a formal course. This should be allowed, IMHO. Most important, however, is that neither PADI nor NAUI nor any other dive organization should be able to set requirements for what diver can or cannot do. Guidance is one thing, an enforced rule is another. And frankly, I'd be more accepting of a local dive op setting requirements than a large business that is creating a new income stream for itself.
