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Solo Diving when traveling
- Thread starter Paul Desmarais
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Frontpointer1000
Contributor
I agree, there is a magic in solo diving. I’ve found the willingness to accept solo diving is dive-op dependent. This usually depends on culture and history of the local diving area, thus done places are more willing and supportive than others.
For example what I’ve seen in Bonaire is plenty of people diving alone, without access to redundant gas, extra mask or other redundant gear—that’s usually from shore. On a boat if you have redundant gear they don’t seem to care.
I was diving SM and they specifically said while on the boat everyone needs to have a buddy except the SM guy. I’m sure if someone was diving solo with truly redundant gear they would not have cared.
When diving in Guam, even though I was an experienced solo diver with all redundant gear, I was required to show a solo cert before the boat dive-ops would let me dive solo.
So I just took the solo course for the cert card specifically to mitigate that problem.
Interestingly, after I started diving side mount, no one asked for my solo cert, although I dive solo about 70% of the time off the boat.
In Terms of traveling with a pony, I’ve always taken it as a carry on. In open the tank and keep it covered for tsa. I have a problem with tsa about 50% of the time, but a manager always clears it up. When boarding, I almost always encounter a flight attendant that won’t let me on with the open tank. They get a bunch of people talking about it and finally it gets cleared up.
On the diving end, you have to get a VIP to get it filled. One dive op wouldn’t do inspections except when their tech had it scheduled, which in one particular case wasn’t for ten days from when I dropped off the tank so I just bought a new tank for that trip while on island. Then I had two ponies for the rest of that trip.
For example what I’ve seen in Bonaire is plenty of people diving alone, without access to redundant gas, extra mask or other redundant gear—that’s usually from shore. On a boat if you have redundant gear they don’t seem to care.
I was diving SM and they specifically said while on the boat everyone needs to have a buddy except the SM guy. I’m sure if someone was diving solo with truly redundant gear they would not have cared.
When diving in Guam, even though I was an experienced solo diver with all redundant gear, I was required to show a solo cert before the boat dive-ops would let me dive solo.
So I just took the solo course for the cert card specifically to mitigate that problem.
Interestingly, after I started diving side mount, no one asked for my solo cert, although I dive solo about 70% of the time off the boat.
In Terms of traveling with a pony, I’ve always taken it as a carry on. In open the tank and keep it covered for tsa. I have a problem with tsa about 50% of the time, but a manager always clears it up. When boarding, I almost always encounter a flight attendant that won’t let me on with the open tank. They get a bunch of people talking about it and finally it gets cleared up.
On the diving end, you have to get a VIP to get it filled. One dive op wouldn’t do inspections except when their tech had it scheduled, which in one particular case wasn’t for ten days from when I dropped off the tank so I just bought a new tank for that trip while on island. Then I had two ponies for the rest of that trip.
SoloMonkey
Registered
rather than ponies, why not just rent 2 x cylinders of identical capacity and a set of AP Valves Flexi-Pylons. It takes 4 x cam bands, and a pair of separate regulators but it gets you a "Twindy" enough to put any overbearing dive guide off asking you.
This approach worked well in Bonaire and Curacao for me, as well as Madeira and the Canaries islands
This approach worked well in Bonaire and Curacao for me, as well as Madeira and the Canaries islands
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That's a great idea but I only take the straps, one set of regs, and one of my joiner thingos
JonnieB
Contributor
In SE Asia, Solo diving generally isn't a thing in my experience. It can be done (it's mostly what I do), but it is very country and resort/boat/shop specific and you really have to be a "known" diver to do it. There is also the fact that most shops won't rent tanks because there’s no money in it for either the shop or their guides so why bother. Also, if anything goes wrong, the shop will get a lot of blowback from the authorities. I believe in many areas, it's forbidden by law or regulations for safety reasons and to provide employment for local guides. I know for a fact Scuba Junkie doesn't allow solo diving at any of their resorts in Malaysia and Indonesia. If you have the contacts, certs, and equipment it can be done from shore in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, however.
Bookworm11
Contributor
I am a diver who travels alone, BUT I AM NOT A SOLO DIVER! And I doubt I will ever be. I just don't like the thought of not having a buddy with me. I don't even like the thought of diving at a resort at the resort reef. I've always dove with a dive guide. As I travel alone, I usually get the guide. I've been lucky enough to have quite a number of dives where it's just me and the guide. I am up to 160 dives now, which is pretty good in 3 years. I've dove in Cozumel, Playa Del Carmel (11 cenotes), Belize, Dahab, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Nusa Penida, and Amed. I've off to Raja Ampat for my first liveaboard on the Velocean and then another 10 days at a land resort after that. I am Nitrox and Advance Open Water certified, and I've been down to 115 feet. I started diving at 64, and I am totally averse to risk. I've got all my own gear, too.
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