What Gear should every solo diver have?

[IrishAngel]

It's great you want to buddy with your blind friend.. I suggest increasing your own dive experience. Not only with classes.. but increasing your dives. If it were me.. I would research into diving with disabiliites and take training with my friend so you had experience together in a controlled environment with an instructor. Also, it's best not to dive with just the two of you. After certification, diving with a group or a club for Divers with Diabilities would be ideal.. a quick google turned up..

Pacific Northwest Scuba Challenge Association, 14286 72nd Avenue, Surrey, British ColumbIa V3W 2R1 Canada; (604) 525-7149 (Ron Stead)

Your question shows an understanding of the responsibilty of diving with a disabled person.. I wish you both many safe & happy underwater hours. Safe Diving !!

 

[TLS]

6 cu ft spare air, knife, Rescue Me safety sausage, extra fin and mask strap.

 

[Diver Dennis]

I have to agree with the "more experience" answers. You have to have enough dives to give you the confidence to look after yourself before taking on a blind buddy. I think it's great he will be diving but a more experienced partner for a while would be the best plan for you guys.

 

[pir8]

Does you Blind Buddy have a certification, the agency that certified him will say what requirements there are for him to dive and who may dive with him. I would reccomend that you take the HSA Buddy course if you want to take your friend diving.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

I wear two wet suits, two BC's, 2 weight belts, 4 fins, 2 swim trunks, if I am diving doubles, I drag along another set, two pairs of contact lens, two pony bottles, you get the idea.

Do you wear them in layers or side by each?

 

[Tigerman]

Just a note as to a blind diver not knowing if youre in trouble..
Keep in mind that blind people are (unless recently becoming blind) used to using their ears instead of their eyes.
I would assume a blind diver would be capable of realizing youre in trouble (hed hear if your freeflowing or out of air, for example) altho he might have problems helping you..
I do support the thought of considering yourself a solo diver as far as relying on the buddy goes tho.

 

[do it easy]

I second the HSA buddy course- and get a friend to take it with you so that you can have two buddies. The second buddy is to assist you, in case your blind friend can't.

Other than that, I when I dive with blind divers, I don't take anything extra than when I dive with sighted divers.

 

[captain]

I don't feel this thread really belongs in the solo forum and should be moved to the "divers with disabilities" section.