DaleC
Contributor
Hard to tell if that's a thumbs up or thumbs down...
Solo diving... thumbs up, thumbs down?
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NJScubaSteve
Registered
It takes a bit of adrenaline to dive off the coast of NJ. For that matter, I think it takes a bit of adrenaline just to live in NJ ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
The real adrenaline rush is surviving the drive to the dive boat.
About 1/3 of my dives have been solo. I do know a few adrenaline junkies and solitude freaks (I'm one of them). I like not having to constantly look for/communicate with a buddy. Even worse, trying to keep two buddies to stay together. I don't use any different gear or dive different profiles when solo. If I don't feel safe when solo diving I would not feel any safer with a buddy. I've had some incredible experiences while solo that I would have missed had I waited for a buddy. Last month I had the great pleasure of diving the UB88 YouTube - UB88 for the first time. My planned buddy bailed for another wreck dive, so I am probably the only one to dive the sub solo. It was very peaceful not having to worry about a buddy, despite the depth and poor vis.
I do most of the time starting way back in 1961. I have thousands of solo dives under my weight belt. Why? Often no buddy when I wanted to dive. Over the past decade it has been because I don't want to be distracted from my filming.
Any buddy, even one far more skilled than I, adds a psychological burden to my dive. I feel I need to frequently check on them. That distracts me from my focus on finding and filming subjects.
My best buddies are ones who dive same ocean, same day and are also imaging. They also never let their fins or gloves enter my viewfinder. Maybe I'll give up video when I finally meet that mermaid I can't live without (but I'm not holding my breath until I do... wouldn't be prudent).
Any buddy, even one far more skilled than I, adds a psychological burden to my dive. I feel I need to frequently check on them. That distracts me from my focus on finding and filming subjects.
My best buddies are ones who dive same ocean, same day and are also imaging. They also never let their fins or gloves enter my viewfinder. Maybe I'll give up video when I finally meet that mermaid I can't live without (but I'm not holding my breath until I do... wouldn't be prudent).
MikeSK
Guest
I prefer solo simply because I don't know the insta-buddys qualifications. I can ask obviously...but if they only have OW, i won't be thier buddy. Not my job to babysit when I'm on vacation.
the exception of course is my daughter, and hopefully one day, my GF.
IMO..EVERY traveling diver should be at a minimum AOW certified. My daughter is only OW right now, but as soon as we can afford new gear to get back into it, she'll be getting at least AOW. I just gotta get her somewhere better to dive than the florida springs, or the channel islands.
the exception of course is my daughter, and hopefully one day, my GF.
IMO..EVERY traveling diver should be at a minimum AOW certified. My daughter is only OW right now, but as soon as we can afford new gear to get back into it, she'll be getting at least AOW. I just gotta get her somewhere better to dive than the florida springs, or the channel islands.
AfterDark
Contributor
I solo therefore I am.
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Aside from the usual canard that instructor dives are always solo (a statement that is largely true) I have a significant number of solo dives. I make certain I am properly equipped and trained for such activities.
pnw_diver
Contributor
I do, but prefer not to for both safety and social reasons.
A good buddy is an asset and a pleasure to dive with. A bad buddy is a liability - a buddy that lacks the skills and awareness to do a buddy rescue is not someone I want to dive with. I'm safer diving alone than with someone who lacks the necessary skills. When I *do* get paired up with an insta-buddy, I stick with them and do my part, but assume that I'm on my own if I get in trouble and plan accordingly. It should go without saying that I'm going to be there for him should he need help - provided he doesn't take off.
When I do dive solo, it's at a familiar site, in favorable conditions with a very conservative profile in terms of depth and bottom time. I don't dive beyond the limit where I can do a CESA, and I also dive with redundant equipment so one should not be necessary. I understand and accept the additional risks.
There's another case where I'll dive solo. I have a difficult time getting other divers to sign on to a dive when I'm going to the local lake to work on skills. Probably 2/3 of my dives over the last three months have been this sort of dive, and although there is usually not much to see, sometimes I'm surprised. Still, I can't seem to get anyone interested in going along.
A good buddy is an asset and a pleasure to dive with. A bad buddy is a liability - a buddy that lacks the skills and awareness to do a buddy rescue is not someone I want to dive with. I'm safer diving alone than with someone who lacks the necessary skills. When I *do* get paired up with an insta-buddy, I stick with them and do my part, but assume that I'm on my own if I get in trouble and plan accordingly. It should go without saying that I'm going to be there for him should he need help - provided he doesn't take off.
When I do dive solo, it's at a familiar site, in favorable conditions with a very conservative profile in terms of depth and bottom time. I don't dive beyond the limit where I can do a CESA, and I also dive with redundant equipment so one should not be necessary. I understand and accept the additional risks.
There's another case where I'll dive solo. I have a difficult time getting other divers to sign on to a dive when I'm going to the local lake to work on skills. Probably 2/3 of my dives over the last three months have been this sort of dive, and although there is usually not much to see, sometimes I'm surprised. Still, I can't seem to get anyone interested in going along.
merims michael
Registered
if you are prepared< and respect your limits< and dive with a pony bottle< most of the time I feel safer because I don't have to baby sit.
Ana
.
I don't know about ALL the responses but I didn't read "excuses" or "justifications" I sure don't have an "excuse" I stopped having them long time ago. There is a difference between excuses and reasons. Doing something because "it's what I do" can be both, just like the wife, the cold water and all the other reasons given.
Different people have different comfort zones, is a good thing to be where you want to be.
Hopefully your second death will be like the first one, hence you'll have the chance of a third one. Most of the people only get one death.
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