mtg:
As someone who has had the importance of your buddy (and being a buddy) pounded into my head. I wonder why people get into solo diving. Many of the stories I have heard about diver deaths have been when the diver went out alone, or went down without a buddy. Is it adrenaline? Necessity (are they grouchy?:light: )?
What say you?
People dive, do many different types of dives, select gear configurations, methods, etc. for many reasons. I would say the majority of those who really get into it, whatever it may be, and aside from any perceived safety or other advantage, do so because they feel an attraction towards it. They like It. They enjoy It. It, is many different things to many different people. In diving it could be solo, buddy, team, deep, wreck, shallow reef, you name it. It, could stimulate a natural attraction to adrenaline, calm, introspection, camaraderie, exploration, fun, and so forth. Along with endless combinations. Some of these apply to solo, some to buddy, some to both.
When the allure of it is strong enough, you can pound them all you want with reason, or nonsense, but it just doesn't really matter. Fortunately most are not in that category.
The majority of diver deaths are buddy associated. And so are the majority of dives done, and the way, method, most divers dive.
Given the immense misconceptions many divers have about fundamental dive methodologies such as Solo, Team and Buddy, I'll bet they didn't really pound, explain or demonstrate in a comprehensive manner the meaning of buddy diving. Many of the teachers don't know themselves, or if they do, they must keep it a secret to themselves.
dkktsunami:
If you are more than one breath away from your buddy you are solo diving.
I have yet to loose a Buddy while Solo diving, be more, or less than a breath away from a buddy, out of sight and so forth. Can't loose what you don't have. Can't do what is not there to be done.
Team divers know they can't afford to loose a team member without significant detriment to the team and its members. Ideally, they will know their responsibilities and how to approach and resolve team problems.
On the other hand, based on rather common practice, you can be more than one breath away, out of sight, without a notion of where your buddy is - and be Buddy diving just fine. At least it seems to be a widely accepted norm. Naturally, when problems develop, it's much preferable to pass on the blame to another dive method approach - Solo. This enables many to keep extolling the virtues of buddy diving, untarnished by reality. No need to fix what is not broken. Somewhere in this fog some will start to question whether any buddy, specially one who is not a team member, is or can be a useful aid.
The notion that the best of teammates is not inevitably an asset is the emergence of the notion of self sufficiency. Don't confuse this with an argument for solo diving. II's not. This is an argument for Self Sufficiency pertaining to safety regardless of dive method utilized.
Kim:
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.....
In regards to non-solo diving, instead of perceiving "alone" as a bad thing I rather perceive it as an ever present negative risk that can be properly prepared for and managed, in order to effectively deal with what can be an ever present and potentially catastrophic problem, much as gas system failure could be. Same as going deep underwater for a prolonged period of time with SCUBA is.
Regarding some or your others comments, I also saw experienced instructors and divers in favor of a Solo forum, not just them though, in the many threads discussing this matter. As for emulation, mindset and responsibility, I see that - as important and applicable to diving - period, whatever method or approach used.
If the pounding is irrational, one can pound away in the head all they want, a la just about everyone can safely buddy dive training agencies/many instructors mantra, but no-one can safely solo. For some reason, it just doesn't register with me. You think I may be defective? Maybe a loose screw or two? Someones nuts, that's for sure.
I am not suggesting anyone dive Solo, I'm not suggesting anyone dive at all. I'm suggesting they learn to recognize and differentiate the wheat from the shaft.
