New joiner here. I solo at shallow depths and shore dives, with the express purpose of finding good subjects to take pictures of. Usually do that during the changing of tides when creatures come and go. Was fortunate to come across things like giant barracuda's and schools of squid that just decide to hang around the area and not move away. You could get really close to them...
What is your motivation to solo dive?
- Thread starter Litefoot
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I regard every dive I do as a solo dive. Many of these are solo dives among friends (or strangers), some are solo dives in the same river / lake / ocean as friends (or strangers), some are solo dives as part of a forced encounter with an instabuddy on a boat with stupid rules, and many are solo dives all by myself.
Why? Well, first and foremost, I am the only one I trust to be invested enough in the preservation of my life and health to be in charge of safeguarding my life and health. Secondly, even when diving with others, there is no guarantee that separation will not occur. I like to be ready for that. Third, since "any diver can thumb the dive at any time for any reason", if my buddy(ies) bail early, before the dive, or on the boat, my dive can still happen. Next, since I'm always kitted for solo diving, when I do actually dive truly solo, I'm 100% familiar with all my kit because nothing is different. Finally (and I hate to say that, because there are probably several more reasons), even if I am diving in a team of 3 (optimal team size IMHO) with 2 other highly skilled and attentive divers, I like to remain self sufficient and not rely on the others to "save" me (and I appreciate when they do the same). This allows the other 2 divers to continue to monitor me and each other for safety, navigation, etc. while I deal with any technical issues myself. Then after the crisis is ended, we can calmly communicate about what happened, what to do next, and proceed accordingly.
MannyDib2
Registered
I've been diving on and off for 20 years with over 300 dives and I've found that buddies are the most likely piece of "equipment" to fail.
Often I'm the one looking out for the buddy, while the buddy is off lobstering, spearfishing, taking photos, fish-counting (yes, for REEF), disappearing into the bowels of a wreck, etc.
I'm also usually playing buddy-roulette on diveboats, so I consider every dive a solo dive. If I'm lucky enough to get a good buddy, which is happily often, then its a plus, but I'd rather not have to count on that.
Often I'm the one looking out for the buddy, while the buddy is off lobstering, spearfishing, taking photos, fish-counting (yes, for REEF), disappearing into the bowels of a wreck, etc.
I'm also usually playing buddy-roulette on diveboats, so I consider every dive a solo dive. If I'm lucky enough to get a good buddy, which is happily often, then its a plus, but I'd rather not have to count on that.
Waterwulf
Contributor
I solo dive because I got tired of the questions and comments about my gear. I'm pushing seventy years old and have been diving since I was ten. I'm vintage and although my gear isn't old, it is old fashioned. I still use a horse collar BC, my tanks have J Valves and backpacks on them and I wear a RBFK on my calf. (That's R for Really) The tourniquet on my harness, a holdover from the "old days", usually freaks a few of the tourists out. It's just easier.
MannyDib2
Registered
Dave Whitlow
Registered
Why Solo?
As I drifted into deeper diving, in 2010. I completed TDI normoxic trimix diver (60m) and wanted to practice playing with stages, swapping masks, and other boring **** that would be dull for a buddy. I did the SDI Solo Diver as the local lake available would then be happy for me to dive alone.
Whilst my open circuit trimix days were short (I soon adopted a CCR) I quickly concluded there are so many advantages to diving alone that, unless it is quite deep, I prefer solo diving.
As I drifted into deeper diving, in 2010. I completed TDI normoxic trimix diver (60m) and wanted to practice playing with stages, swapping masks, and other boring **** that would be dull for a buddy. I did the SDI Solo Diver as the local lake available would then be happy for me to dive alone.
Whilst my open circuit trimix days were short (I soon adopted a CCR) I quickly concluded there are so many advantages to diving alone that, unless it is quite deep, I prefer solo diving.
Paul Desmarais
Registered
I got certified to solo dive because it was hard to find a buddy for local dives, and I like to dilly-dally when I dive. I don't feel the need to go deep or move on to the next thing, or try to see everything on one dive. I like to just hang out and watch things, especially macros stuff. My profile photo of an octopus at Blue Heron Bridge shot during a night dive in Florida, I hung out to watch it for close to twenty minutes. Dive buddies are generally chomping at the bit after about three minutes.
vc06
Contributor
I mostly just solo for convenience.
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