solo diving training vs tech training

[grantmac]

Can't think of a single tech dive where you don't have at least two sources of bottom gas, likely one or two additional gasses as well.

 

[bradlw]

wow, interesting to see my old thread resurrected!

I've been back on this board lately, back at it with my whole plan. I'd stepped away for a bit due to some outside circumstances.
We are in progress with the online book learnin', and have a pool date scheduled with an OW instructor next month. As I had figured I'd do back then, I am doing the refresher while the rest of my family does the OW cert.

Anyway, this discussion about tech vs solo is a bit interesting to me. Back when I was very active and proficient...even before I got into the tech diving stuff, I pretty much always treaded every dive as a solo dive. It dawned on my that pretty much every time I tried to get a buddy's attention...to show them something interesting or whatever.... it was nearly impossible to get their attention. It dawned on my that if my air suddenly ended, I'd better have a redundant source. That's when I started diving with a pony, and treating it like a solo dive. I'll bet that I was doing a lot of what is taught in a solo course....but no doubt there are some things taught that I might not have considered.

Anyway, I get the recent points about tech being something different. Yeah sure, it's a different thing...but what I was probably getting at when I brought it up before was that the tech training built calm and confidence..... no-mask drills, switching sources, doffing and donning everything at depth, redundant equipment, etc... All things that it seems would bridge very well to a solo mentality.

 

[EFX]

Can't think of a single tech dive where you don't have at least two sources of bottom gas, likely one or two additional gasses as well.

True. But, you're making the assumption that all tech divers will be making tech dives all the time. The situation I was thinking about was the tech diver who dives a recreational dive from a boat who has not brought along the required alternate gases.

 

[inquis]

True. But, you're making the assumption that all tech divers will be making tech dives all the time. The situation I was thinking about was the tech diver who dives a recreational dive from a boat who has not brought along the required alternate gases.

But one can say the same thing about the solo-certified diver. They both would be silly to make that dive without the proper equipment.

 

[Celt]

If you’re properly trained and experienced you’re behaviour won’t change whether it’s a tech, solo or rec dive, you’re going to plan every dive with the same mindset.

 

[ToneNQ]

...snip.......but what I was probably getting at when I brought it up before was that the tech training built calm and confidence..... no-mask drills, switching sources, doffing and donning everything at depth, redundant equipment, etc... All things that it seems would bridge very well to a solo mentality.

Agreed, but I'll add that I think Solo is an interesting step from Rec Sport over to Tech. The 100 dive requirement would impede some, but for experience sport divers it'd have many similarities to Intro to Tech but with a cert card that gives genuine value.

I did Solo after a few tech courses, the instructor had a great time tormenting me but its hard to overwhelm someone carrying full tech redundancy and only two tanks to manage. I was diving SM with a long hose, its a very easy configuration to manage.

 

[Wibble]

Except for the diving alone bit, basic divers should already have ingrained all that is taught on a solo course

Every dive is a solo dive whether or not diving with other people, team** or otherwise. Up to "me" to ensure my kit is configured & working correctly, and up to "me" to resolve problems during the dive.

This solo mentality isn't learned on a "course"; you bring it to the solo "workshop" where you are assessed in your ability to think and act for yourself without others telling you what to do or helping you to fix your kit underwater.


** OK, for the pedants doing really deep (100m+) shared bailout... you've now doubled or tripled your chance of failures as a failure of one person has now seriously affected your dive as you now have severely reduced or no bailout should your unit fail.

 

[happy-diver]

Solo is where there is no one within miles, with no one to help, and no one to know
The feeling of having to take charge of being in control with one chance is palpable

Despite the titles, categorizations, qualifications, all the rest is diving not solo diving


Divers at a start point swimming off in different directions to dive behind a different rock to then return is not solo


I don't call it anything as that would imply there is someone else there I just go do it

 

[34109411]

Solo is where there is no one within miles, with no one to help, and no one to know
The feeling of having to take charge of being in control with one chance is palpable

Despite the titles, categorizations, qualifications, all the rest is diving not solo diving


Divers at a start point swimming off in different directions to dive behind a different rock to then return is not solo


I don't call it anything as that would imply there is someone else there I just go do it

i agree with you never understand people
claiming they are solo diving on charter along with 20 other people in the water.

 

[rx7diver]

... One problem is that the ... diver may not have an auxiliary gas source and therefore shouldn't dive solo. ...

Of course, not everyone subscribes to this!

A backup, independent air supply is NOT required for a diver to dive solo. Solo diving using minimal gear is truly liberating!

rx7diver