Dive Trips as a Solo Diver

[MrKiltYou]

I did a quick search to see if there was any recent discussion regarding dive trips as a solo diver and didn't see any in regards to my questions. I am sure the answers to these questions will become apparent during my girlfriend and I's trip to Thailand next month.

When doing dive trips (day trip or live aboard) does the organizing company match up match up solo divers or add a solo diver to a small group so that they don't end up making that big mistake of diving alone?

If they do; do they typically match up people of near equal experience? I am just starting out as a diver (finished my OW a couple weeks ago) and would hate to ruin a more experienced divers dive because I am slowing them down or having trouble.

Feel free to add other information that I might have forgot to ask about travel solo diving.

-Don

 

[tursiops]

You should refer to a "single diver" rather than a solo diver, which means diving alone.

When I lead a trip I try and pair divers of similar skills/experience/chemistry together. This is not always the case. You should make your needs known to the operator and perhaps try and dive with the dive guide as your buddy. Until you are more experienced, I'd try and avoid diving as a group of three.

 

[tkaelin]

In general, (can't speak for Thai diving) it runs the gamut and there are no hard and fast rules. Some will just buddy you up without your input, others ask that you find a buddy, others say you can follow a DM in the water if you prefer. You should find out before you get on the boat if it makes a difference for you (it does for me). As a general rule I prefer the option of following the DM rather than being randomly assigned to an unknown diver of unknown skills. I have on rare occasion declined the offer/instruction to pair/group with an unknown diver of unknown skills (but based upon observations both before getting on the boat and on) decided against the pairing. One time I was with my 15 year old son and the captain just walked by and said this guy needs a buddy and is diving with you. The "buddy" I had observed chain smoking and coughing on the dock, bleary eyed, out of shape sickly looking who had no idea how to put his gear together. He was also making nervous chatter about not being in the water in a while. I politely told the Capt outside of earshot of anyone else that I needed to devote full attention to my son and could not therefore buddy up with another. I just got a shrug and he was assigned to others. On other occasions I have had great experiences being buddied with strangers but again after having some opportunity to observe and assess.

 

[drbill]

I've traveled a fair bit internationally as a single diver. I've been paired up with a buddy wherever I've gone with very few exceptions (and in those the operator knew me and allowed me to dive within sight of the group). At home I almost always dive solo, but when I'm diving a new area I almost always prefer a buddy (with some exceptions for a few insta-buddies, but relatively few).

On one trip I was told by management that I would be permitted to dive solo. Apparently the DM on the liveaboard didn't get the message and insisted I dive with a buddy. There were fun folks on board so I didn't mind... until on one night dive I was the only one who wanted to dive, and the DM made it very obvious she didn't want to dive. She later got fired as there were too many complaints lodged against her by other divers both on our trip and not.

 

[MrKiltYou]

You should refer to a "single diver" rather than a solo diver, which means diving alone.

That makes sense. Thank you for the tip.

Until you are more experienced, I'd try and avoid diving as a group of three.

Why would that be?

 

[MrKiltYou]

In general, (can't speak for Thai diving) it runs the gamut and there are no hard and fast rules. Some will just buddy you up without your input, others ask that you find a buddy, others say you can follow a DM in the water if you prefer. You should find out before you get on the boat if it makes a difference for you (it does for me). As a general rule I prefer the option of following the DM rather than being randomly assigned to an unknown diver of unknown skills. I have on rare occasion declined the offer/instruction to pair/group with an unknown diver of unknown skills (but based upon observations both before getting on the boat and on) decided against the pairing. One time I was with my 15 year old son and the captain just walked by and said this guy needs a buddy and is diving with you. The "buddy" I had observed chain smoking and coughing on the dock, bleary eyed, out of shape sickly looking who had no idea how to put his gear together. He was also making nervous chatter about not being in the water in a while. I politely told the Capt outside of earshot of anyone else that I needed to devote full attention to my son and could not therefore buddy up with another. I just got a shrug and he was assigned to others. On other occasions I have had great experiences being buddied with strangers but again after having some opportunity to observe and assess.

Thank you for the information. Luckily is will be both my girlfriend and I diving in Thailand so I don't need to worry about getting paired up with someone their. Though it is good to know they my try to add someone to us. Both being inexperienced divers I would most likely try to prevent that.

 

[MrKiltYou]

I've traveled a fair bit internationally as a single diver. I've been paired up with a buddy wherever I've gone with very few exceptions (and in those the operator knew me and allowed me to dive within sight of the group). At home I almost always dive solo, but when I'm diving a new area I almost always prefer a buddy (with some exceptions for a few insta-buddies, but relatively few).

That is good to know. I want to add diving to my travel but most of my travel is for work and so I will not be traveling with a buddy.

 

[tursiops]

It is hard enough to keep an eye on one buddy. It is twice as hard with two.

 

[mi000ke]

I always contact operators ahead of time to find out if they will take singles and what the arrangements will be. The several times I've dived as a single with different operators in the Caribbean they have always said just follow the DM. I prefer that as I'm still a relative novice and don't want to rely on a stranger about whom I know nothing and who knows nothing about me.

 

[WarrenZ]

I have always showed up and made due the only time this was a problem was in Catalina one December I think I was the only diver on the whole island I ended up diving casino point several times since they were not going to take the boat out for only one diver.