Where did you solo dive today?

[pauldw]

Were you diving solo with redundant gear?

I hadn't brought my pony. Should have.

 

[rx7diver]

Were you diving solo with redundant gear?

Curious question. Not every recreational solo dive requires redundant gear. IMHO. I have several configurations that I dive solo. The configuration that I use for my shallow recreational solo dives has no redundancy. It is a very simple, minimalistic configuration. (Well, actually, I recently attached a second second stage. But, this is solely for any diver who approaches me needing to share air, since one can no longer assume that a random diver knows how to buddy breathe--especially using a double-hose regulator.)

The configuration I use for moderate-depth recreational solo dives uses a Y-valve and two complete regulators (and a more conservative gas plan).

Et cetera.

(Of course, I began solo diving somewhat before courses that "teach" solo- or self-reliant diving became available.)

rx7diver

 

[TMHeimer]

Do you dive dry, as well?

Never have. Up until Covid we drove to the FL panhandle (or AL or MS) for 3 months over winter. Wasn't worth it to invest in a drysuit and worry that I'd probably break the $300 zipper just for a comfortable dive or two in Nov. or April. So now I tough it out a few times wet over winter as I don't want to be dry (no pun intended) for 6 months.

 

[Gandalf-the-Diver]

$300 zipper

.... $650 zipper.

 

[Gandalf-the-Diver]

Curious question. Not every recreational solo dive requires redundant gear. IMHO. I have several configurations that I dive solo. The configuration that I use for my shallow recreational solo dives has no redundancy. It is a very simple, minimalistic configuration. (Well, actually, I recently attached a second second stage. But, this is solely for any diver who approaches me needing to share air, since one can no longer assume that a random diver knows how to buddy breathe--especially using a double-hose regulator.)

The configuration I use for moderate-depth recreational solo dives uses a Y-valve and two complete regulators (and a more conservative gas plan).

Et cetera.

(Of course, I began solo diving somewhat before courses that "teach" solo- or self-reliant diving became available.)

rx7diver

I have watched a diver go diving by himself, with no redundant air. I also watched him pop up on the surface with a failed hose. A pony tank does one no good, if it is in your trunk or dive locker. Diving by oneself, without the redundancies, is just that, diving by yourself, not Solo diving.

 

[happy-diver]

Is a diving by oneself yourself not solo diving diver somewhat of a lower stature

 

[PBcatfish]

Curious question. Not every recreational solo dive requires redundant gear. IMHO. I have several configurations that I dive solo. The configuration that I use for my shallow recreational solo dives has no redundancy. It is a very simple, minimalistic configuration. (Well, actually, I recently attached a second second stage. But, this is solely for any diver who approaches me needing to share air, since one can no longer assume that a random diver knows how to buddy breathe--especially using a double-hose regulator.)

The configuration I use for moderate-depth recreational solo dives uses a Y-valve and two complete regulators (and a more conservative gas plan).

Et cetera.

(Of course, I began solo diving somewhat before courses that "teach" solo- or self-reliant diving became available.)

rx7diver

The other day I dove solo with a pretty minimal rig. I had a steel 72 on a back pack with no BC, A regulator with an SPG, weights, mask, fins, & snorkel. I was in the water for about 45 minutes & accomplished my intended tasks, then swam back to the boat.

My first solo diving was back around the late 1970's, when plastic 2-liter soda bottles were still a fairly new thing in the US. I attached a hose to the top of one of those bottles, cut a 2" hole in the bottom, rigged a net around it in a way that held it upright & attached a rock to the net to make the rig neutral when the bottle was full of air. That was my first home made scuba rig. Well, actually, the hole in the bottom of the bottle was technically version 2. I was a young kid at the time. My parents had no idea what I was doing with that stuff. It probably would have been beneficial if I had a knowledge of lung expansion injuries back then, but I didn't. I just exhaled when I felt the need to. That was a true bare bones rig.

 

[rx7diver]

I have watched a diver go diving by himself, with no redundant air. I also watched him pop up on the surface with a failed hose.

I think I don't get your point. When I go solo diving in my shallow recreational simple, minimalistic solo configuration, I am deliberately planning to immediately return to the surface in the case of an equipment issue. I am counting on the surface being only a short vertical distance away.

rx7diver

 

[Gandalf-the-Diver]

I don't think I get your point. When I go solo diving in my shallow recreational simple, minimalistic solo configuration, I am deliberately planning to immediately return to the surface in the case of an equipment issue. I am counting on the surface being only a short vertical distance away.

rx7diver

The point is, that catastrophic gear failure is an un-planned event. So much easier to deal with one, if you are carrying the proper redundant equipment, even on shallow dives.

 

[rx7diver]

The point is, that catastrophic gear failure is an un-planned event. So much easier to deal with one, if you are carrying the proper redundant equipment, even on shallow dives.

The neat thing is that anyone can enjoy solo diving however he/she wishes (if a dive operator isn't involved). For anyone who wants to do this, solo diving in minimal gear can be so much fun. So liberating. Simple, without the encumbrances. Minimal drag. Sort of like extending a skindive/breath-hold dive.

And for others who think it is necessary to take a pony bottle along on a 30 ffw (say) recreational solo dive in benign conditions, well, they absolutely can.

rx7diver