solo diving training vs tech training

[Celt]

You need a clear conscience for solo diving, especially long difficult ones far from any hope of rescue. There’s no team dive more difficult than the same dive done solo.

 

[happy-diver]

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

 

[admikar]

What happy-diver said.
Even though we are trained to dive as a team, stuff happens and teams get separated.
My every dive has a "what if SHTF if I get separated" planning section.

 

[Celt]

Don’t think an accidental separation from a buddy is a solo dive, at least it shouldn’t be as both divers should take measures to reconnect, be it meet back on the surface or one surface and keep track of the other divers exhaust if there is any, Either way someone knows exactly where you were when you separated. In a solo dive no one knows where you are, no one can help or raise any kind of alarm, no amount of training will teach you how to deal with that, you have to come to terms with that yourself.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Don’t think an accidental separation from a buddy is a solo dive, at least it shouldn’t be as both divers should take measures to reconnect, be it meet back on the surface or one surface and keep track of the other divers exhaust if there is any, Either way someone knows exactly where you were when you separated. In a solo dive no one knows where you are, no one can help or raise any kind of alarm, no amount of training will teach you how to deal with that, you have to come to terms with that yourself.

Not 100% accurate. That is one flavor of solo diving for sure. The most extreme kind actually but is not the industry definition. The widely accepted definition in the industry is diving without a buddy. It does not require that "now one knows where you are, no one can help or raise any kind of alarm."

For example, I regularly solo dive off of charter boats in South Florida. The boat knows when I went in, when I'm due back on the surface and roughly where to watch for my DSMB. But on the dive I am 100% solo. This is absolutely a solo dive.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Solo diving and technical diving are two different things. I have completed training for both and have engaged in both. At times they are combined (a solo technical dive), but they are distinct disciplines.

My technical training, up through trimix, taught me to plan and execute staged decompression dives using mixed gasses and up to 2 deco bottles. The context for the training as as part of a diving team, but there is a level of self-sufficiency that is required.

My solo training taught me how to plan and execute a recreational (within NDL) dive completely independently and in a 100% self-sufficient manner.

Many, but not all, of the skills are similar but are executed within different contexts.

Then there is divemaster which I have also completed. You are trained to guide, oversee and assist other divers both in a training and certified diving context. Divemaster too has skills that overlap with solo and technical diving, but many of the skills are unique.

I highly value the training I received in my solo, technical (AN/DP/Trimix) and divemaster courses. They all combine together nicely.

Now back to the OPs question, most operators want to see a solo card. Some will accept instructor or divemaster because in those contexts, you cannot really rely on the student or inexperienced diver for much assistance. Operators typically do not accept technical certifications in lieu of solo because, as has been said, almost all technical training is focused on team diving.

Personally, I always have all 3 available (solo, advanced nitrox/trimix, divemaster) to show operators. That combination allows me to do all of the diving I plan to do.

 

[Celt]

Not 100% accurate. That is one flavor of solo diving for sure. The most extreme kind actually but is not the industry definition. The widely accepted definition in the industry is diving without a buddy. It does not require that "now one knows where you are, no one can help or raise any kind of alarm."

For example, I regularly solo dive off of charter boats in South Florida. The boat knows when I went in, when I'm due back on the surface and roughly where to watch for my DSMB. But on the dive I am 100% solo. This is absolutely a solo dive.

It seems people have different opinions of solo, I did a bit of solo sailing and never really thought of myself as being solo if I was in the company of other boats even though I was alone on my boat, I look on solo diving the same. If I’m in the company of other divers I’m not solo

 

[inquis]

I've always found it ironic that one can teach the PADI Self Reliant specialty with a Tech certification (and logged dives & instructor ticket of course), but that same Tech cert would not satisfy an operator's requirement for an individual dive. (I know, insurance policies are what they are.)