I'm in the over 400 dives category, and I have no problem with someone who wants to dive solo, under certain conditions. If you're experienced and comfortable, familiar with the area and comfortable in the diving conditions, and you take adequate precautions, I can't see any problem. I don't understand why someone would say solo diving is "more safe", but I won't argue the point.
I do think that new divers, especially, should dive with a more experienced partner at least for a while, whether that means a dive master or an experienced friend. Let's face it...a newly OW certified diver does not belong out in the ocean alone. Yes, there are people who have always dived solo and never had an incident. There are also smokers who have gone through a 2 packs a day for 30 years and not gotten cancer. That doesn't mean there aren't increased risks associated with either activity.
But, are the risks minimal, and acceptable? Personally, I've done plenty of solo diving, mostly working dives. True, there are often (though not always) other divers in the water, but depending on the location and job, you can go an entire dive (sometimes an entire day) without actually seeing each other.
I will say, though, that when diving for enjoyment only, I much prefer to have a buddy with me. Not because I'm concerned about solo diving, but because it is, to me at least, much more fun and enjoyable to share the experience. Of course, I've never had to deal with the "Divemaster assigned freak of nature"...I rarely go on dives under the direction of a divemaster, and I dive with people I know and trust.
So, I guess my opinion would be I'd rather dive with friends, but don't mind going solo, and don't have a problem with someone else doing it if they feel euipped to handle it.
