Solo Kit setup: the required, redundant, optional, and hell-no items

[Subcooled]

With winter and few options for hitting the water right now I'm reviewing my kit for my independent diving to see what I might want to add and what I might want to leave behind. This applies to both in-water kit and support kit I leave onboard the boat, or in my truck.

My independent diving parameters are pretty tame, 45-foot max dive and bottom depths, mostly shore based though I do sometimes use a boat. May do up to three consecutive dives per trip but more likely two or less.

Kind of curious what you folks consider to be essential items and what items you can do without. Also curious which items you absolutely want more than one of.

And, as usual, I'm very much interested in your reasoning behind your decisions

I want two independent sources of air on shallow solo dives. I dive in cold water and I do not want to abort dives when a regulator decides to free-flow. Another reason is that I might forget to monitor my air - this has happened at least once (yes, I do make mistakes). You might not need an alternate air source, though. An emergency ascent from 45 feet is easy. I've done it from 60, after running out of air because some stupid mistake, and that was even with a short safety stop.

I also want at least two methods of resurfacing. These methods could include a drysuit, a BCD/wing, weights to drop, optimal weighting (positive buoyancy with empty tanks), a rope tender, a lift bag, crawl to shore...

I want two or three cutting devices. Entangled under water alone is a lonely place. Been there, and I love my line cutter, my serrated dive knife and, occasionally, a twig cutter

Always carry a cutting device

 

[Wallowa]

Wow! Lots of divergent opinions on what constitutes a safe diving rig for solo diving. Old school here. Self-sufficient to me means dealing with issue without relying on extra gear to bail me out; I can drop gear and 'go home' in extremes...I don't dive overhead anymore and usually never exceed 100 ffw/fsw.....eliminated any 'redundant' air source [pony/split regs/octo/etc]....diving 7mm FJ wet suit, XDeep NX wing or horsecollar [when diving double hose] with droppable weight belt...SPG [and in addition sometimes J valve], Peregrine computer, knife and compass...good to go!

Not espousing that anyone subscribe to how I dive.....all this above is just FYI.....especially as solo divers we need to do what best suits our needs...cheers.

[Oh, forgot....from diving decades in white shark waters I also carry a 3.5ft surgical tubing tourniquet; could also serve if cut by boat prop...]

 

[Subcooled]

Wow! Lots of divergent opinions on what constitutes a safe diving rig for solo diving. Old school here. Self-sufficient to me means dealing with issue without relying on extra gear to bail me out; I can drop gear and 'go home' in extremes...I don't dive overhead anymore and usually never exceed 100 ffw/fsw.....eliminated any 'redundant' air source [pony/split regs/octo/etc]....diving 7mm FJ wet suit, XDeep NX wing or horsecollar [when diving double hose] with droppable weight belt...SPG [and in addition sometimes J valve], Peregrine computer, knife and compass...good to go!

Not espousing that anyone subscribe to how I dive.....all this above is just FYI.....especially as solo divers we need to do what best suits our needs...cheers.

[Oh, forgot....from diving decades in white shark waters I also carry a 3.5ft surgical tubing tourniquet; could also serve if cut by boat prop...]

Well,
1) you will need to breathe
2) you will need to return to shore before you run out of breathing gas

These things are quite important.

 

[Wallowa]

Well,
1) you will need to breathe
2) you will need to return to shore before you run out of breathing gas

These things are quite important.

Not certain what you are referring to? Could you elaborate?

If you are listing what constitute a safe solo diving rig/gear I concur with #1, everyone needs to breath, but I do not agree with #2...yes you need to return to a boat or land but you can do that at the surface, and though not popular any more, the use of a snorkel greatly facilitates that...breathing gas = surface air. Heck, we should be prepared and capable of surfacing safely even if we 'run out of breathing gas' at depth.....emergency swimming ascents should be a skill set and especially for solo divers.....buoyant emergency ascents are in extreme, but droppable weights and sufficient BCD/wing capacity should also assure that....all options.

 

[happy-diver]

Nah mate surface swimming, "Hey I think I might surface now and get some sun!" is a fail

 

[Wallowa]

Nah mate surface swimming, "Hey I think I might surface now and get some sun!" is a fail

HD,

Can never tell if you actual mean what you say...tongue in cheek? Provokes thought at least....surface swims here are often necessary and just as often in tossing seas/wind ...which with a snorkel makes them not only doable but with a lot less windage and energy drain...also most of us started as freedivers and still freedive, so use of a snorkel is second nature...

99%+ of dives are shore dives...either through surf or off rocks....but our kelp forests make it all worth the effort...

You may be referring to a swimming emergency ascent or an emergency buoyant ascent...in that case something definitely screwed the pooch....most probably 'diver error'...but reaching the surface would be a win not a fail in my book...

 

[happy-diver]

Did you know that all that diving gear we carry is not designed for the surface and when we push it along
half in half out we end up all exerted using more air on the dive than had we just immediately submerged

Everything I say is open to your interpretation, as the only person to convince yourself of its validity is you

 

[Wallowa]

Did you know that all that diving gear we carry is not designed for the surface and when we push it along
half in half out we end up all exerted using more air on the dive than had we just immediately submerged

Everything I say is open to your interpretation, as the only person to convince yourself of its validity is you

Understood..... and agree.

The hydrostatic drag at the water/air surface interface creates more resistance but that is exactly why a snorkel is needed and used....without a snorkel for a surface swim you are pushing a lot of water as you swim and also you are subject to any wind which also increases drag...speaking for "gear design" ......sidemounts [dangling bottles], extra regs and long hoses create a lot more drag.... why they are touted as 'streamline' escapes me...

Look, UW egress is best in terms of energy but if a surface swim is required swimming with upper body and head out of water takes a lot more effort than head down and horizontal when swimming with a snorkel...

Do concur....to each their own.....

 

[Subcooled]

Not certain what you are referring to? Could you elaborate?

If you are listing what constitute a safe solo diving rig/gear I concur with #1, everyone needs to breath, but I do not agree with #2...yes you need to return to a boat or land but you can do that at the surface, and though not popular any more, the use of a snorkel greatly facilitates that...breathing gas = surface air. Heck, we should be prepared and capable of surfacing safely even if we 'run out of breathing gas' at depth.....emergency swimming ascents should be a skill set and especially for solo divers.....buoyant emergency ascents are in extreme, but droppable weights and sufficient BCD/wing capacity should also assure that....all options.

I meant that while a lot of equipment may be worn/carried by divers, and a lot can be jettisoned too, two facts remain:

1. One will need a way to resurface (pick you favorite way, preferably two)
2. and before that, there must be a way to breathe underwater.

To reach the shore was bad wording, sorry.

If there is a real entanglement hazard, then one must carry enough cutting devices. If the hazard does not exist, cutting devices are not critical. And so on.

This can be used as a guide to minimizing equipment: Can I resurface alive in every conceivable situation? Yes or no? If not, what do I need to add? I have used this myself trying to minimize gear.

 

[Wallowa]

I meant that while a lot of equipment may be worn/carried by divers, and a lot can be jettisoned too, two facts remain:

1. One will need a way to resurface (pick you favorite way, preferably two)
2. and before that, there must be a way to breathe underwater.

To reach the shore was bad wording, sorry.

If there is a real entanglement hazard, then one must carry enough cutting devices. If the hazard does not exist, cutting devices are not critical. And so on.

This can be used as a guide to minimizing equipment: Can I resurface alive in every conceivable situation? Yes or no? If not, what do I need to add? I have used this myself trying to minimize gear.

I like that mind set...always have alternative plans to safely get back to surface, to shore or boat...doing a "what if" is crucial.....

Yes, on cutting tool is an essential.....line/rope entablement is real; kelp can be broken/snapped while wire leaders/cable is a whole another issue and a tough one to solve UW....