Solo Diving when traveling

[happy-diver]

lots frown on it others just don't like it, some don't want it on their boat, and may tell you it's a rule

and everyone is scared of it even solo divers

So I'm on the boat having cleared it with the shop staff, but the owner who's leading the diving asks
who I would like to be buddied (what a childish term) with and as I am telling Dan that I was cleared
by the staff and Dan says ok, a ten second conversation, there was also an ignorant cacophony from
other divers during the same ten seconds consisting of, "They won't let you solo on this boat mate!"

AWKWARD!

Must have read it here

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[LI-er]

everyone is scared of it even solo divers

Solo divers are afraid of solo diving. Who knew?

 

[jadairiii]

I find I want to do it when traveling. The question I have is....

The first question should be, why, when going to a location you've never been to, you immediately want to plan to ditch the "group" and take off on our own?

I can only speak for myself, but when I travel to a new location, I always stick with the "group" for at least the first dive or 2, pick up the local knowledge, etc. Especially if you will be diving with the same dive operation. That also gives the operation a chance to judge your abilities too.

Couple of examples, I went to Jamaica, went out with the dive operation, for the first dive, took one look at the reef, put away my gear and snorkeled the rest of the time.

Went to Hawaii, first dives were off Oahu, it was ok, as I left the DM asked if I was coming back, I was honest and said, it was fun, but nothing different than S Florida, with that he took me aside and told me they were going to the North Shore later in the week, I should go. And I did, awesome diving and by the second dive they openly told me to take off on my own and see things they would not allow the group to see. By the second day that had me DM'ing one of the dives! It was great. Point is, had I just "taken off" on my own early on, I would have never had the later opportunities nor would I have built the trust with the operator.

As to your question, again, that goes back to location, will you even need any "solo" gear? Not if your diving a 30' reef for the whole week. And if it will be more advance, just call the operators you are considering and see what gear they offer. That is really the answer to your question.

 

[happy-diver]

lots frown on it others just don't like it, some don't want it on their boat, and may tell you it's a rule

and everyone is scared of it even solo divers

Solo divers are afraid of solo diving. Who knew?

 

[Frontpointer1000]

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.

 

[SoloMonkey]

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

 

[happy-diver]

That's a great idea but I only take the straps, one set of regs, and one of my joiner thingos

 

[JonnieB]

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]

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.