Solo diving

[tarponchik]

That’s an extremely specific situation…at 9 dives he doesn’t have really ANY experience and I’m sure hasn’t dealt with any problems…you can’t really put a number on a diver and say “ok you’re ready to solo,” but 9 definitely isn’t it…..

Wow, ANY with capslock? I disagree. With 9 dives he has SOME experience.

 

[Robert H. Diver]

Wow, ANY with capslock? I disagree. With 9 dives he has SOME experience.

Ok…ANY REAL EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH PROBLEMS. Better?

 

[tarponchik]

Ok…ANY REAL EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH PROBLEMS. Better?

How many dives one needs to do to run into a problem? It took me 102 dives to finally get a leaky rental BC, but I did my 1st solo dive long before this. If I took my own gear to Hawaii back then, I'd have to wait for problems till my dive number 604 when my BC inflator valve blew while I was still on the surface.

 

[Robert H. Diver]

How many dives one needs to do to run into a problem? It took me 102 dives to finally get a leaky rental BC, but I did my 1st solo dive long before this. If I took my own gear to Hawaii back then, I'd have to wait for problems till my dive number 604 when my BC inflator valve blew while I was still on the surface.

So you’re saying this guy with 9 dives is ready to dive solo? He has the skills to solve a problem at depth? He knows that he should have a pony and knows how to use it? He has multiple cutting devices? A spare mask? Is that what you’re saying? Don’t bother replying because I do not care.

 

[tarponchik]

So you’re saying this guy with 9 dives is ready to dive solo? He has the skills to solve a problem at depth? He knows that he should have a pony and knows how to use it? He has multiple cutting devices? A spare mask? Is that what you’re saying? Don’t bother replying because I do not care.

At 30 ft you don't need a freaking pony, a spare mask or multiple cutting devices. You really should take your mom with you in case of accident when you dive solo.

 

[Boarderguy]

At 30 ft you don't need a freaking pony, a spare mask or multiple cutting devices. You really should take your mom with you in case of accident when you dive solo.

Always pony imo... you can drown just the same in 10ft as you can 120ft. A spare mask isn't needed. More air than planned for, yes. Cutting devices x2, yes. Have you ever bobbled your trilobite in 5mm gloves? I have and I just grabbed my knife to clear the mono line and then picked up the cutter afterwards. Warm water diving is night and day different than sub 50° snowy water PNW diving. My solo dives in Hawaii still had a pony and 2 cutting devices (trilobite and bfk) but I had far better dexterity and less concern for loss of 1. I don't change my kit for different rec dives, I change my tank. 119 + pony for sub 60 fsw. 100 + pony for shallower dives. Now that I'm adding a dry suit I may just shelve the 100s since I can stay warm and dive longer.

So you’re saying this guy with 9 dives is ready to dive solo?

At 9 dives this new diver should be looking at what he needs to be safe and a good buddy. A good buddy is fully self reliant. Being self reliant is the first step to being safe for solo. I don't think it's a great idea to go solo right now but I do think it's a perfect time for him to start gearing up for it.

 

[tarponchik]

Always pony imo... you can drown just the same in 10ft as you can 120ft. A spare mask isn't needed. More air than planned for, yes. Cutting devices x2, yes. Have you ever bobbled your trilobite in 5mm gloves? I have and I just grabbed my knife to clear the mono line and then picked up the cutter afterwards. Warm water diving is night and day different than sub 50° snowy water PNW diving. My solo dives in Hawaii still had a pony and 2 cutting devices (trilobite and bfk) but I had far better dexterity and less concern for loss of 1. I don't change my kit for different rec dives, I change my tank. 119 + pony for sub 60 fsw. 100 + pony for shallower dives. Now that I'm adding a dry suit I may just shelve the 100s since I can stay warm and dive longer.



At 9 dives this new diver should be looking at what he needs to be safe and a good buddy. A good buddy is fully self reliant. Being self reliant is the first step to being safe for solo. I don't think it's a great idea to go solo right now but I do think it's a perfect time for him to start gearing up for it.

5 mm gloves when diving in Curacao? You don't need no gloves in Curacao even in December BECAUSE IT IS TOO WARM (see? using capslock is contagious!).

 

[Boarderguy]

5 mm gloves when diving in Curacao? You don't need no gloves in Curacao even in December BECAUSE IT IS TOO WARM (see? using capslock is contagious!).

No but you need them up here . My explanation had both 5mm gloves and bare hands examples. Both get 2 cutting devices and neither require excessive caps.

 

[tarponchik]

In Curacao chances to get entangled are close to zero, this is not Florida. Locals use mostly nets or spearfish (though the latter may be illegal, I do not know). Anyways, I told the guy he'll be fine if he stays in the shallows, the rest is up to him.

 

[happy-diver]

Dive log day one
Anyway I grabbed my drunk mates tank and reg and jumped off the boat with a rope tied around me
He'd really be in it with my mother if he didn't bring me home
The rope thing was a bit crap so I decided to "borrow" his gear (well he was always drunk)
and go down here for a quick look before or around dive nine
and my mother didn't bat an eyelid as she was the one holding my head under in the bath for training
when I was a baby

Here is down here

I did take a buddy one time right hand side (that's how divers differentiate, the right is open ocean the
left a bay) twas a bit rough he panicked and ran back up faster than has ever been done before or after

I have been described as good-competent diver but as far as answering the op question, what question

as Ana always so succinctly puts it


Discussing solo in the basic section, now that's a really great invention yeah right so you basically can't