Where did you solo dive today?

[Frontpointer1000]

I was on Guam in 2001. If you get the chance you should check out Blue Hole. A boat dive to a heart shaped hole in the shelf that drops down to the sea floor a few hundred feet down. There is a passage at about 125ft from the hole to the open ocean. That was one of my favorites other than the spectacular night dives.

Agreed!

There’s something serene about the blue hole. I’ve done it now 5-6 times. I dive “the daily” boat usually twice a week and the dive sites are captain’s choice, based on guest requests. As the boat caters to both locals and tourists, blue hole is often requested.

I’ve dived the blue hole solo 2-3 times now. Once with BPW/pony and a couple times with sisemount configuration.

It’s beautiful. Last time saw a nice 12 ft black tipped reef shark right at the exit.

 

[Boarderguy]

I don't remember the boat we took, it's been too long lol. It was real nice having surface air on a boom at 15 ft though. Drop into the hole and laugh at all the reef sticks being used, shoot out the passage and dink around on the shelf until you're at 500 and then go to the boom for 10 minutes or so.

 

[Frontpointer1000]

I don't remember the boat we took, it's been too long lol. It was real nice having surface air on a boom at 15 ft though. Drop into the hole and laugh at all the reef sticks being used, shoot out the passage and dink around on the shelf until you're at 500 and then go to the boom for 10 minutes or so.

Lol
The reef sticks!
That’s such a thing here.

 

[TMHeimer]

Today was my first "summer" dive. That is, driving somewhere for an hour and doing two dives wet in 42F water (22 mins. each). In April was my last "winter dive"-- one dive for 25 mins. driving 4 blocks in 39F water diving wet. Notice the difference....
I dived good old Paddy's Head, NS (near Peggy's Cove). This is where I did my first checkout dive in 2005 ("dive #1), my 300th dive in 2012, and hopefully my 1,000th in 2023.

 

[Gandalf-the-Diver]

Today was my first "summer" dive. That is, driving somewhere for an hour and doing two dives wet in 42F water (22 mins. each). In April was my last "winter dive"-- one dive for 25 mins. driving 4 blocks in 39F water diving wet. Notice the difference....
I dived good old Paddy's Head, NS (near Peggy's Cove). This is where I did my first checkout dive in 2005 ("dive #1), my 300th dive in 2012, and hopefully my 1,000th in 2023.

Do you dive dry, as well?

 

[Frontpointer1000]

Yesterday was a banner day for me. I did three dives:

#1. “Crevice” outside of Apra Harbor in Guam. Solo sidemount, boat-accessed. 131 feet, 63 minutes. Slight deco obligation. Alum 80s (air). Saw a leaf fish and later some nudibranchs “wrestling”.

For the naysayers: I’ve planned this dive four different ways: on air, nitrox, then with 60% and 80% as deco gases. So it wasn’t just a blind deco dive. Just sayin.

#2. “Veckies Reef” drift to “Spanish Steps” just outside of Apra Harbor. Again boat-accessed. Solo side mount. Same alum 80s (air). 52 ft 60 mins. Very peaceful. 3 lion fish in a large rock hole and one nudibranch: Phyllidia sp.

#3. (This is where the money was) “Piti Channel” solo shore dive using SG BPW. Alum 80 (air) plus 19 cf pony (40% nitrox). This was an exploratory dive as I have never dived this area before. I read up on it, and talked to a few locals to get the good beta. They were not wrong. I dove it just after low slack tide so current was coming in not out-and was easily manageable anyway, just a little frustrating when you’re sitting on some nudis. The piti channel is a deeper channel going through a shallow protected area with a reef beyond. I’ve dived this same protected area about 1/2 mile north 5-6 times. The channel breaks through the reef. Not only does the channel lead out to sea, but it also brings water in to the local piti power plant. Near this access point is a road and 4-5 100-150 foot tunnels under the road. Very shallow but with the current (slight) there’s great underwater life.
12 ft 85 minutes. Still had half a tank but no time left. The water was warm! 85-90 degrees depending on location. I saw 17 nudibranchs!!! 5 different species. Including one of my favorites: Halgarda tesellata (which I’ve seen in the flesh only once before). And an octopus that I just parked on, ten feet away and watched for ten minutes until he slowly popped out of his hole and swam in the open for a few minutes. Absolute treasure!

 

[Gandalf-the-Diver]

May 15th, Ogden Point Breakwater, Victoria BC, Vancouver Island. Joined in with my LDS drop in dive, but I chose to dive solo. I jumped in at the 1st corner, in the shallows. I was searching for GPOs and heard of a den in 20' of water. I found the den, but nobody was home. I had a very gentle drift, flowing outward and I was able to ride this current to the 2nd corner. The gradual decrease as I got closer to the corner, for told a current coming the other way at the corner. I then reversed direction and ended up surfacing next to the "middle" stairs. Vis was great for the site; when I was in water shallower than 45'. Vis was 30'-40'. Below 45' to my deepest of 66' vis was closer to 15' A couple of GPO dens were found, but in each case, nobody was home. Total dive time was 56 min and the temp was 8C. Avg depth was 39'. 3500 psi to start, 100cu hp Faber, 700 psi at ending. 30cu Cataline pony, 3000 psi, start and finish. A wonderful morning for a dive.

 

[1fspeed]

The local flooded iron mine I like to dive, Lake Ore-be-Gone (name is a bit of a pun on the fictional town of Lake Wobegon) was iced over until maybe 10 days ago. Water was 45°F, visibility 5-10ft. The bass and bluegills I see in the summer were no where to be found. The crayfish however were everywhere and seemed to be enjoying the fish free waters. 50min, 25ft max.

 

[pauldw]

My first dives after OW were solo, because I didn’t know any divers where I was going, and staying around 20’ and close to shore I didn’t think much would go wrong. Just had to mind my tank pressure. Turns out that bred bad habits. Dove Hood Canal last month. Despite normally diving much shallower, that day I explored and found myself around 60-70 feet. Figured I might as well tag 100’ and then get shallower. Dark, cold, alone…what could go wrong? Beside learning I really burn through air that deep, what went wrong is that since I’d never had to worry about deco before, I forgot to worry about it this time, and came within two minutes of being in a really stupid situation. I have to say, the buddy system makes more sense to me, now. I do want to go back to that area some day, though.

 

[Gandalf-the-Diver]

My first dives after OW were solo, because I didn’t know any divers where I was going, and staying around 20’ and close to shore I didn’t think much would go wrong. Just had to mind my tank pressure. Turns out that bred bad habits. Dove Hood Canal last month. despite normally diving much shallower, that day I explored and found myself around 60-70 feet. Figured I might as well tag 100’ and then get shallower. Dark, cold, alone…what could go wrong? Beside learning I really burn through air that deep, what went wrong is that since I’d never had to worry about deco before, I forgot to worry about it this time, and came within two minutes of being in a really stupid situation. I have to say, the buddy system makes more sense to me, now. I do want to go back to that area some day, though.

Were you diving solo with redundant gear?