MichaelMc
Working toward Cenotes
I voted buddy, but it depends. Good buddy, solo, and good small group have different interactions. Company vs complete freedom to do my thing. Some of each is good.
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My concern for a newbie diver going solo is that you won’t know you are in trouble until you are in trouble.I think that I would enjoy diving with somebody from time to time to share stories and talk about things seen underwater together, but I suffer from a yet to be diagnosed mental issue that always has me late for things. So rather than getting people annoyed at me by having them wait around, I tell them to make their plans without me and I will meet up with them when I can.......sadly you just can't do that with diving.
I'm pretty sure its an anxiety disorder of some sort (which is odd since I do public speaking all the time without issue), but whatever the reason I'm always late or just on time?
So with that said I just do my own thing, and get to it when I get to it.
I'm newly certified, but have already done a few shallow solo dives (as well as loads of pool dives with my LDS), so the confidence is certainly not lacking (though the experience may be).
Whilst I realize that there are risks to diving solo, so too are their risks to jumping out of an airplane (which I've done), so why is diving any different?
That's kind of a rhetorical question, but also a glimpse into how my mind works.
I won't do anything crazy like cave diving, deep depths, night diving or anything else that is a much higher risk than going on my own, because oddly enough I am teased about being Mr. Safety. Heck I wear ear protection mowing the lawn and snowplowing, so you'd think this would be a concern for me. LOL.......
I feel that the equipment (if new or maintained properly) will negate most problems, so it's mainly medical that I have to worry about. Yes I realize that if there is a moderate medical issue that a buddy "could" possibly help me, but I think we all agree that the chances are pretty slim with that.
Maybe over the course of the winter I can do something about my "mental issues", but if not, then its solo diving for me. LOL......