Why I should Not be Solo Diving?

[Puffer Fish]

You just don't think you are. You are.

Well said...but it is kind of nice to be surrounded by all the extra air they bring with them... How about just considering them to be backup air sources?

 

[ShallowDiverDave]

I have already asked this, and it wasnt answered. Since a couple of folks have brought up how dangerous fishing (and other) lines are, I'm curious about a certain solution. Why not get out of the BC, provided that you can, while continuously holding onto all the weight of course? I only say this because a number of you have mentioned and I agree that behind your head, near the first stage/tank is the problem area for catching on lines. So why not do this to get a better view, so that YOU can better resolve the problem?

 

[Puffer Fish]

Catherine says:

"Nemrod and Captain could possibly be safety icons. Think about the effect on the scuba industry pocket book if it got out that the safest divers in the world were, in fact, solo divers with the least formal training."
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Uh, excuse me, I have Red Cross WSI (Water Safety Instructor), NAUI Scuba Diver, NAUI Advanced Scuba Diver, YMCA Scuba Diver, NAUI Assistant Instructor and I completed the NAUI Instructor course except that I broke my leg in a cycling accident during a Bud Light Triathlon and could not perform the test phase. I had medical complications and on top of that was in the middle of a careeer change with a real need to begin the semester for my Teaching MS in a different city which required a long and horrid move--long and short---I never got back to it. Another movie I like, Quiglly Down Under, I never said I did not have formal training, I just don't have much use for it (as it exists today). N

Relax....pretend you have no training.... makes a much better image..

I assume you broke that leg solo cycling... Some people never learn...

I would bet the statistics for real solo diving are fairly safe...or they would be plastered all over the place. Although if you die for a heart attack, and are solo diving, it tends to get bigger headlines...With a team... no so much.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Sure why not? Solo diving doesn't negatively impact the Unified Dive Team . . .obviously, because there is no team to speak of in solo diving.

But within DIR Philosophy --just like any major Scuba Certifying Agency-- solo diving is simply not a recommended practice and should be discouraged. . .

Are there many DIR divers who do, even though it is outside the DIR philosophy?

 

[Puffer Fish]

I have already asked this, and not had it answered. Since a couple of folks have brought up how dangerous fishing (and other) lines are, I'm curious about a certain solution. Why not get out of the BC, provided that you can, while continuously holding onto all the weight of course? I only say this because a number of you have mentioned and I agree that behind your head, near the first stage/tank is the problem area for catching on lines. So why not do this to get a better view, so that YOU can better resolve the problem?

Well, if you are going to solo dive, using an integrated weight BC is most likely not a good idea, and if you are wearing weights, it is no big deal... But one would strongly recommend that your gear setup for solo be rather different than what most people would use.

 

[Puffer Fish]

Are there many DIR divers who do, even though it is outside the DIR philosophy?

Dennis, you are getting very close to heresy here.

 

[ShallowDiverDave]

Well, if you are going to solo dive, using an integrated weight BC is most likely not a good idea, and if you are wearing weights, it is no big deal... But one would strongly recommend that your gear setup for solo be rather different than what most people would use.

By "holding on to your weights", I meant hanging on to your entire BC (weight integrated or not) in order to stay relatively buoyant. The solution I'm proposing shouldn't matter whether the weights are integrated or not. The point is to turn your body around and "become your buddy" because in this situation (the bad one as I'm hearing) the problem is behind you.

 

[Nemrod]

Yep, broke my leg, I had just installed a new type of "Look" clip on on my bike instead of the toe clips (cage). With a toe clip you remove your foot from the pedal by lifting up and back but with the new Look clip ons you had to twist and pull up. I sorta forgot that and a car ran through the corner flagman (being a jackarse) and forced me agaisnt a curb and when I tried to get my foot out to catch myself I could not and I fell over against the curb and broke my leg. I could probably have sued the jackarse but I am not into that sorta thing. Heck, did not scratch my Pinerrelo and that what counted. I tried to get back on the bike but it quickly became apparent there was a structural issue. Triathlons are fun, in the Houston Bud Light I was lined up for the swim and the beach was adjacent to a construction area. The swim, just short of a mile, started with a run down the beach and into the ocean. I started running when they waved the flag and suddenly found a huge nail sticking trough my foot and a three foot long chunk of 2X4 stuck to my left foot. This was a problem, it might really slow my swimming down! I stopped and a guy stopped beside me and he helped me pry it from my foot and then with a wave he was gone, I hopped and skipped into the ocean leaving a trail of blood. The whole swim I had visions of Jaws coming up behind me on my blood trail--so I swam my fastest 1.5K ever at a blistering pace catching up with the Pros that are started ahead of the age groupers. Well, I guess the salt water stopped the bleeding enough that I finished the event with blood soaked bike shoes and blood soaked Nike going squish, squish, squish, 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run, fun. N

 

[Puffer Fish]

By holding on to your weights, I meant hanging on to your entire BC (weight integrated or not) in order to stay relatively buoyant. The solution I'm proposing shouldn't matter whether the weights are integrated or not. The point is turn your body around and "become your buddy".

Depends on what you are wearing and how you are tied up. In a 7mm with hood, gloves and boots, you need to try that to see just how hard that is to do, unless you are really deep.

Because of the effect of being so buoyant, when you get out of the BC, you will be floating up, and if the line is in the wrong position....not good.

With a weight belt - no big deal.

But diving with a weight belt is only one of a lot of equipment changes you should make.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Dennis, you are getting very close to heresy here.

Innocent question Puff. I'm curious about how they feel about it and whether it is OK for them. One of the reasons I took Advanced Nitrox and Deco was to give me better skills for solo.