Solo diving

[Fotoz4FX]

If I wander off I can assure you... it was preordained by the pre-dive agreement. I don't buddy dive alone - it's against team concept and should we get separated, my buddy damned well BETTER be on the surface in a minute or so looking to get back together according to good diving practices.

BTW... I've LOGGED over 3000... I'm still here and so are ALL of my buddies

... I guess we must have been doing something right.

Nuff Said

 

[pilot fish]

A bit off topic for this thread, but I'd love to discuss this one a bit further. PiFi the victim? Interesting.

You might be the ONLY one to find that interesting. As flattered as I am...........:shakehead

 

[pilot fish]

First it is a matter of attitude and comfort. Then some additional gear considerations may come into play, depending on conditions. For some reason, I read your use of the word "alone" as a bad thing. You will never enjoy a solo dive until "alone" is a good thing. For example, I believe I was alone on one or two dives in Cozumel. And I don't just mean without a buddy. I mean the only dive on the island in the water (at 1am and again at 4 am).

Alone on a deep dive, FOR ME, is not a good thing. Alone on a shallow dive, 40ft or so, is something different. I'm a sharer anyway. If I see a 12 ft eagel ray I want to have someone near me to marvel at it.

 

[pilot fish]

This is very true. However, it's probably a good thing that 'alone' IS perceived as a bad thing by most divers. Let's face it - solo diving isn't for everyone at all so I think we should all be careful how we portray it. I remember when the Solo forum on this board was under discussion. It was clear that a number of very experienced divers and instructors actually thought it was a bad idea to have. It takes a certain mindset and personal responsibility. It's not something that everyone should just be trying to emulate because a bunch of people seemed to give the impression it was OK on a message board.....

To me it seems that solo diving is ok while nothing goes wrong, but when it gets serious, and you have a problem, it is quite another thing. My feeling is, if all goes well, fine, but if you have a problem all those advocates of solo diving might wish they had a bud close by.

 

[pilot fish]

Good point, Kim. Solo diving isn't for everyone by any stretch of the imagination. As has been stated before, it is a personal decision that each diver has to make for him/herself. I've done some solo dives in my side yard & quite enjoy them- especially when the visability is poorer because my only concerns when I am alone are the enjoyment of MY dive & MY safety on the dive.

A few weeks ago I was on a dive with a group of people & my designated buddy on the dive was... shall we say being less than attentive? I had the feeling that this person would not have ever known if I had wandered off or had a problem. Needless to say, I was not happy because I felt essentially alone when I had not made a decision to dive alone. So, on the second dive, I entered the water with a different mindset entirely- that of treating the dive as a solo dive. I was quite comfortable & enjoyed the dive immensely. I know my personal comfort limits for the type of solo diving that I do & stay within those boundaries. Should I decide to expand my limits, I would definitely think the decison through & carry the gear that I deem necessary to minimize my risk.

Would it have been a good idea to speak to them after the first dive and ask "what's up?" How deep were you?