Solo in 20 ft dangerous?

[biz_nate]

The drills might not be like the real thing, but wether you panic in stressed situations or not, wether youre capable of improvizing and make sane decisions and how to stay calm and controlled are things that you dont have to learn in one particular enviroment, but things that can be transferred from one eviroment to the next if you posess the mentality to adapt to and resolve a situation under stress..

Very true. The drills give you perhaps some instinct, and definitely some preparation. It's keeping a cool head and making rational, educated decisions that will get you through an emergency. That can be learned with experience, but it needn't necessarily be experience with the emergency at hand.

 

[JGBrown]

I solo'd in a lake here to see what it was like, I really enjoyed it, first dive without a drysuit and hood etc.
However I just floated around at 5-6 ft and looked for interesting things to see in the mud, or watched my bubbles go to the surface.
I really loved it, my favorite dive so far.
I think 20ft would creep me out without a buddy since it would be so dark.

 

[jiveturkey]

You're obviously looking for someone to tell you it's ok or otherwise you wouldn't be asking the question, you'd just go and do it. But since you asked, I don't think you should be diving solo with "about 20 dives". Find a buddy and get more experience. Fine-tune your skills and practice what you learned in your OW classes.

 

[Cacia]

Whats your profile?

Do you trip or fall a lot?

do you forget things and get lost?

do you bounce checks and have you filed bancrupcy?

Put bluntly, if you screw a lot of things up, just say no.

Seriously, some people can do it and some people just should not.---even if it is just the simple need to be with others, a herd animal. You sound like your basic nature has solo aptitude.

I know I should not tech dive, for example. I can solo, I'll be fine. (different type of concentration: Liitle picture, Big picture) That's the really cool thing about it...getting to know yourself in increments.

Expect some friction, listen to what everybody has to say (cause sometimes they have a point)...move forward after carefully considering what they point out. Don't let the emotion galvinize you into a camp to the point that you cannot take in the advice. Stay open...diving solo is the ability to recognize, minute to minute what could make you die.
You already know. Just watch your back, you are the only one. Never underestimate your environment, learn to read the ocean the best you can, each and every dive.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

Think about it this way: If you had asked that question a little differently, "Snorkeling and diving down to 20 feet dangerous?", everybody would say, "No, why?"
As long as there are no entanglement hazards, I'd say 20 feet is perfectly safe, because a lot of the big issues with scuba don't exist at that depth (no DCS, no Out-of-air hazards etc.). Biggest concerns to me would be currents/getting lost at sea, entanglement, lung embolism. As long as you are aware of those, I'd say go for it.

 

[PlayaCountryBoy]

Put bluntly, if you screw a lot of things up, just say no.

I've done 100s of solo dives if you include diving down to tie onto a site or to check the conditons down below to give and accurate briefing for that particular site to my live-aboard guests. But overall, I agree with Catherine.

 

[OceanObsessed]

I hear this argument a lot. Particularly in the context of Instructors/DMs leading groups of students- in those situations, you're not only responsible for yourself, but those in your charge. While I can agree with that in part, it's still a good thing to have that extra tank and reg there with a friend when you need it. I'd much rather fin 15 ft to reach a delinquent buddy than do a 100 ft CESA in an OOA situation. And I think it'll be a comforting feeling to have that extra set of eyes when I think it's time to switch to my deco gas. More than one person has been killed by breathing the wrong gas at the wrong depth...

I agree there are times when it is advantageous to be with an incompetent buddy rather than no buddy at all. But the trick when diving solo is to not allow yourself to get into a situation like that. For me I would not do deco dives at 100+ feet.. in fact I don't care to do deco dives even with a buddy. When I dive solo the dives that I do are what I consider easy dives and I am still extra conservative.

 

[Walter]

If you wouldn't make a solo dive to 100 ft, don't make one to 20 ft.

 

[Tigerman]

If you wouldn't make a solo dive to 100 ft, don't make one to 20 ft.

Im leaning more towards "If I wouldnt do it solo, why the heck will I do it with a buddy I dont know?"

 

[Nitrox_scuba_diver]

I am fairly new to SCUBA and have logged about 20 dives. I have pretty good gear and feel comfortable in the water. I am the only one of my friends who owns his own equipment so I am up for diving more frequently than most of them. This means I have the chance to dive solo frequently. Many on this board feel solo diving is very dangerous. I don't feel this way on my solo dives. What say you? I'll set the stage.

I'm beach diving in 20-25 feet of water on Cape Cod in 73 degree water. I tell people on the beach and am towing a flag. I have a knife and know how to use a compass. The currents are minor and the people on the beach have access to a boat in 10 minutes.

I don't see this as being any more dangerous than driving a car or swimming in the same water. The things that will kill you are mostly related to physical failure (heart attack) or other people/cars/boats.

Anyone have an opinion on this either way? The way I see is it the risk of these dives positively reduces the risk I may face on deeper dives since I'll have lots more underwater experience next time I go deeper with a buddy.

Can I tell my Girlfriend to chill? The only thing she knows about diving is that you are supposed to have a buddy.

The problem with diving solo is there is no one to help you if you need it. You don't need a reg to drive your car. What if you cramp up, pass out from a bad fill, or Jaws samples your behind? :If you want to get in more diving take some classes such as Advanced, Rescue,Nitrox,Navigation etc. I didn't have a buddy my first year so I took a bunch of classes, dove with an instructor and another student all summer/fall.

As far as people on the beach having a a boat there in 10 min. you could be dead in less time than that. First those people would have to know something was wrong and then know how to help you. Don't know too many people that could dive 25' down to get you. Brain damage in 4 min. without air.