Solo diving

[Cthippo]

Telling a new diver with only 9 dives to solo?

I haven't heard anyone telling him he should do it. The answers range from "no, it's a terrible idea" to "It's more dangerous, but you will probably survive". I have also seen a lot of input on how to make the decision as to when it is the right choice for someone.

 

[tursiops]

Depends, I think. How thorough was your OW and AOW training? How confident are you in your abilities? Will you be diving shallow enough (say, in the lagoon between the shore and a barrier reef--if there in fact is a barrier reef) that your wife will be skin-diving down to your depth--you know, swimming pool diving well depth?

rx7diver

I did my very first dive post OW solo, and every one but two since then. To each their own.

Telling a new diver with only 9 dives to solo?

I haven't heard anyone telling him he should do it. The answers range from "no, it's a terrible idea" to "It's more dangerous, but you will probably survive". I have also seen a lot of input on how to make the decision as to when it is the right choice for someone.

No, most said "bad idea." But two came pretty close to saying, it's OK, and one said "I did it, and I survived."
This is the Basic Forum. Anything other than "bad idea" shouldn't be in this forum.

 

[BWes]

Bad 'stuff' happens fast. Your dive buddy should be within 2 to 3 kick cycles of you at all times. Just my conservative rule. I have friends that have been on solo dives without problem. But, a very experienced good friend and mentor didn't come back. Don't do it.

 

[BWes]

Go to the resort/hotel/local dive shop and ask if there is a group you can go with. Or, take a private lesson from a local instructor. You can always learn more and the instructor will probably show you some interesting sights and critters of the area.

 

[scubadada]

Thanks. Kinda knew the answer. Just needed affirmation, I guess.

Yes, you knew the right answer at post #4.

 

[SlugLife]

No, most said "bad idea." But two came pretty close to saying, it's OK, and one said "I did it, and I survived."
This is the Basic Forum. Anything other than "bad idea" shouldn't be in this forum.

That's my read. As I mentioned in my other post, statistically speaking, (made up #) 98% chance everything will be ok, but that 2% should scare him.

Were you lucky or were you good?

Just because you had a successful outcome, it doesn't mean you were good, you could have been lucky. Analysing how you got there, and how many others also succeeded, can help us as a community make improvements.

www.thehumandiver.com

What I will say is that the OP can eventually solo-dive. We all (barring medical conditions) can solo-dive, cave-dive, wreck-dive, 500ft dive in icy waters, mixed-gasses, rebreathers, etc. But that's after....

• Getting the appropriate training
• Getting the appropriate equipment
• Getting the appropriate experience

Someone in OPs shoes might get in a few dozen unprepared solo dives, it all seems perfectly safe and easy, then happens and that's the end of his dive-career.

Also, as one of the crazies who hangs out in the Accidents and Incidents section, I like to cite the "3 strikes" rule. I've also called it the "snake-eyes rule." Essentially, most fatal or severe incidents are only severe because of 3+ things going wrong at the same time. For example (1) solo-diving without training or experience (2) solo-diving without redundant air. All you need is (3) a simple OOA incident (due to air-monitoring, or equipment failure), for it to turn fatal. (And yes, I've had an equipment failure while solo diving.)

Or to use the dice-analogy, if you roll all-1s your dead. So you want to have as many dice, or ways of handling any incident as possible. That may include redundancies, skills, training, experience, and equipment.

 

[tursiops]

That's my read. As I mentioned in my other post, statistically speaking, (made up #) 98% chance everything will be ok, but that 2% should scare him.

Were you lucky or were you good?

Just because you had a successful outcome, it doesn't mean you were good, you could have been lucky. Analysing how you got there, and how many others also succeeded, can help us as a community make improvements.

www.thehumandiver.com

What I will say is that the OP can eventually solo-dive. We all (barring medical conditions) can solo-dive, cave-dive, wreck-dive, 500ft dive in icy waters, mixed-gasses, rebreathers, etc. But that's after....

• Getting the appropriate training
• Getting the appropriate equipment
• Getting the appropriate experience

Someone in OPs shoes might get in a few dozen unprepared solo dives, it all seems perfectly safe and easy, then happens and that's the end of his dive-career.

Also, as one of the crazies who hangs out in the Accidents and Incidents section, I like to cite the "3 strikes" rule. I've also called it the "snake-eyes rule." Essentially, most fatal or severe incidents are only severe because of 3+ things going wrong at the same time. For example (1) solo-diving without training or experience (2) solo-diving without redundant air. All you need is (3) a simple OOA incident (due to air-monitoring, or equipment failure), for it to turn fatal. (And yes, I've had an equipment failure while solo diving.)

Or to use the dice-analogy, if you roll all-1s your dead. So you want to have as many dice, or ways of handling any incident as possible. That may include redundancies, skills, training, experience, and equipment.

I've always liked the old Steven Wright line: "My goal is to live forever. So far, so good." Past successes (or lack of failures) do not guarantee future successes.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

If you have to ask people on the internet for advice and permission to solo dive then you’re not ready.

At 9 dives, 99.9% of todays diving public would not ready.

Readiness is 90% psychological. People who venture into solo diving have earned enough self confidence to know they are ready.
They are the only ones who know where that line is.
Even taking a solo diving class doesn’t necessarily make someone ready.
I mostly solo dive and have never taken a class. I service all my own gear because I trust very few people to do it for me. I know how my stuff works and I know every nut/bolt/O-ring/seal/torque spec that went into that reg and I know how they work mechanically. I don’t ever worry about mechanical failures underwater. I also know that the surface is just up there within reach if I ever need that big unlimited air supply, and I know how to get to it safely without turning into a puffer fish. If I’m using just a single tank with no pony then my depth stays within easy reach of the surface. If I go deeper then a little more gear gets added and so on.
Once you figure this stuff out and know you can bail yourself out, then you might be ready. There is no one to save your ass if something goes wrong. Ask yourself about the things that can go wrong and then think about how you would handle those situations. Can’t think of any? Well then you need to do some more buddy or DM/boat diving so you can try and get more of those valuable learning moments.

 

[Fishdip]

So... The wife and I are going to Curacao in August. She snorkels, but doesn't dive. She posed an interesting scenario that I am not sure about and seeking opinions or advice.

There are some beaches in Curacao where I can rent equipment and shore dive. It will only be the two of us going. Her thought was. I can maybe get in a dive or two while she snorkels above. My concern is, if I do run into trouble, I am still the only one under water, but, at the same time, I really want to dive as much as I can. I have limited dive experience(9. All from boats), but am confident in my ability and don't panic easily, having already faced a regulator malfunction and remained calm throughout. My gut tells me it's a bad idea, but I don't want to overreact, either.

So the question is, is it a bad idea to go under alone with someone snorkeling above basically pacing me?

If you really want to dive call some local shops and ask if they have any one you can dive with.

 

[Eric802]

I need to dive Flower Gardens sometime, and also lack the solo-card. We might need to setup a sort of "buddy solo-dive arrangement"

I’m in. They won’t insta-buddy on a Fling trip?