Training for Solo diving?

[divemaster_jim]

I never said that, but I do believe no amount of training can get a diver to the point he's a competent solo diver. That either comes from experience or it doesn't come at all.

Again I disagree, experience AND training go hand in hand, I got my open water cert. first then did more dives, not the other way around.

 

[pir8]

Training classes are designed to give you a head start on what ever the subject is. By themselves they are not going to make you an expert on anything. As I have said many times before "You Learn To Dive By Diving"

 

[divemaster_jim]

Nicely put pir8.

 

[Walter]

Again I disagree, experience AND training go hand in hand, I got my open water cert. first then did more dives, not the other way around.

Well, it's obvious you disagree. In my opinion, a class will not prepare anyone for solo diving. It may give someone the false impression that they are prepared to dive solo. That's not a good idea. I also believe having the class encourages folks to try diving solo. I don't think we should be encouraging anyone to dive solo. Those who are going to do it, are going to do it. One of the basic concepts of diving solo is, you're on your own. If you want to be on your own, you should be on your own. Maybe some aren't really cut out to be on their own, but want to pretend they are. Perhaps a class would suit their needs. Solo diving is not anything like getting an OW cert. Comparing an OW class with a solo class is silly.

 

[pir8]

Ya Gotta Start Somewhere, also the class can tend to convince some that they really don't want to solo.

 

[divemaster_jim]

Well, it's obvious you disagree. In my opinion, a class will not prepare anyone for solo diving. It may give someone the false impression that they are prepared to dive solo. That's not a good idea. I also believe having the class encourages folks to try diving solo. I don't think we should be encouraging anyone to dive solo. Those who are going to do it, are going to do it. One of the basic concepts of diving solo is, you're on your own. If you want to be on your own, you should be on your own. Maybe some aren't really cut out to be on their own, but want to pretend they are. Perhaps a class would suit their needs. Solo diving is not anything like getting an OW cert. Comparing an OW class with a solo class is silly.

If I understood your logic then I could be diving without a cert of any kind, All I'd have to do is buy the gear and go and get my experience that way. If you had seen what pir8 posted, He said it was a headstart in the type of diving you'd want to do, AND i've not even metioned "encouragement" to anyone here, you my friend opened that one, I'm advocating training and experience, most folks I know who dive solo have other certs. in different areas i.e. nitrox, wreck, deep, deco procedures, things like that, more than a simple open water cert.

your saying that experience alone is the deciding factor if one does solo or not,

 

[captain]

If I understood your logic then I could be diving without a cert of any kind, All I'd have to do is buy the gear and go and get my experience that way. QUOTE]

Just the way I started 40+ years ago. I dived for many years before I became certified and my first dives were solo so it can be done. The main question is are you the type of person who can do it.

 

[JessH]

I took MORE courses. Found out I needed MORE equipment and bought it.
Then started diving solo. Alone. At times and places i don't care to post.

The courses I feel are a must. Rescue, Equipment Specialist, Emergency Responder, Open Water , Advance Open water, and Nitrox. I have them all and am a Master Diver also. There is a couple of other things , Read EVERY single post in the Accident and Incident forum. Have a plan, ABORT if something is not right.

Great suggestions. While the usefulness of a solo course is debateable I think all of these classes you listed will help to make you a better diver and help you develop the skills to dive safely, even solo.

~Jess

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Just the way I started 40+ years ago. I dived for many years before I became certified and my first dives were solo so it can be done. The main question is are you the type of person who can do it.

About 8 years ago, my buddy decided to get certified. We got an instructor to come out on his boat, he and I did a 180 ft short deco dive and then he went on the 60 ft check out dive with the instructor. He never did any pool training.... He just needed the cert so that he could dive with his wife at a resort on vacation...

 

[TomP]

If I understood your logic then I could be diving without a cert of any kind, All I'd have to do is buy the gear and go and get my experience that way. If you had seen what pir8 posted, He said it was a headstart in the type of diving you'd want to do, AND i've not even metioned "encouragement" to anyone here, you my friend opened that one, I'm advocating training and experience, most folks I know who dive solo have other certs. in different areas i.e. nitrox, wreck, deep, deco procedures, things like that, more than a simple open water cert.

your saying that experience alone is the deciding factor if one does solo or not,

Ironically this is pretty much how I learned to dive back in the early 70's. A quick lesson from my friends father in another friends 4 foot pool. A quick read of 'Let's go diving' and 'The New Science of Skin and SCUBA diving' and I was practically an instructor. Just keep it under 60 feet for 60 minutes, don't hold your breath, when it gets hard to breathe its time to go, but don't pass your bubbles on the way up. What could be simpler.
Yup, did it all on my own. Well, if you don't count my friends father or the authors of the books. I even learned a thing or two from my instructor when I finally got certified in 77.