gstx:
I'm trying to decide between the Explorer Turks & Caicos trip or the St Kitt trip but will do one or the other late August or early September.
I would love to hear what you think of the Explorer operation when you get back. I'd also like to hear what you think of the SDI class.
Do you take a pony or spare air when you travel alone?
I did three liveaboard trips solo. On two, I had the cabin to myself - sweet. Since liveaboard cabins are SMALL, everyone hangs out in the common areas or on the sundeck. All meals are common. So you do not feel that you are alone - as opposed to staying at a resort solo. I think a liveaboard is the only way to go if traveling alone for my personality.
The first trip, my buddy was the only other solo diver. He used up his air in about 30 minutes, so I simply finished the dive solo. The second trip I was buddies with a woman who was also traveling solo. Our dive styles, air consumption, etc. meshed perfectly. She would wander when I was working on a photo, then i would catch up so she would not always have to "come back" to me.
The third trip, I chose to dive solo the whole trip (except for two dives when I was asked to be a buddy when the diver's regular buddy was not feeling well). I was equipped with safety sausage, dive alert, whistel, foldable flag, signal mirror, spare light. I did not have a pony or spare air, and I think that is a mistake.
I will be on a liveaboard again this November. I will take a 13 cf pony bottle this time. Since when I dive solo I do not exceed 75 ft, the 13 cf will allow me to ascend and do a 3 minute stop in the case of an emergency.
