Solo Diving: It's time to set the record straight

[MXGratefulDiver]

Bob, I would appreciate the courtesy of not putting words in my mouth. Thank you.

I quoted your article ... I believe you put those words in your mouth.

Not at all. Awareness and self-discipline are critically important skills taught in solo diving.

How? Nice words ... tell us how you do it.

Bob, I'm always open to discussing differing opinions and ideas on diving and dive training. Yes, lets. What just became obviously apparent is that you don't know anything about this class. You don't know the standards, procedures, course outline, haven't seen the course material or even know what material is taught.

I told you early on I'm a self-taught solo diver. But in fact, I am familiar with the course content ... I've read the material.

Yet, you have been passing sage advice about it.

Actually I haven't offered any advice about the class ... my comments were directed toward your article, and your assertion that it should be required for solo diving.

You been bashing it and even demeaning it but you really don't know any of the details about it.

I haven't bashed or demeaned the class at all ... I've said that while it'll provide some service for newer divers, I doubt that more experienced divers will find any benefit from it.

The bulk of my comments are directed to your article, and your assumptions ... not the class.

Bob, obviously you have a lot of experience and help a lot of people and that's great. I'm sure you've got a lot of great stuff to teach people. But in this case, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

Fair enough ... the folks who frequent this forum are smart enough to draw their own conclusions.

You're passing judgment on a course that you clearly don't know.

Nope ... I'm passing judgment on your article. I don't agree with much of the assumptions you've made ... both in the article or in your follow-up comments here.

Equally as clear is that you haven't read DANs Annual Report or studied their Statistics on Diving Fatalities. But you're also passing judgment on the facts contained therein.

Actually I have ... I just don't intrepret them as you did. Comments like this one ...

THE most important reason to have a diving buddy, however, is evident when you read DAN’s (Divers Alert Network) Annual Report which includes statistics and commentary on diving fatalities. If you haven’t done this and want to have an informed opinion on this subject, you need to read it. What you will find is that most of the accident commentaries begin with something like this, “The body was found or recovered at …..” You see, it is very, very rare for a diver to die in a diving accident when their buddy is with them. Conversely, the vast majority of people who die in diving accidents are alone – without a buddy.

... give the strong impression that you are interpreting statistics to suit your argument, rather than giving any thought to what they really mean. What, exactly, does buddy separation have to do solo diving? They aren't the same thing, you know ... solo diving is something you PLAN FOR, not something you REACT TO.

Anybody can use "statistics" to support a false argument ... all they have to do is take the statistics out of context ... as you did with the above statements.

Again, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

OK ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[redacted]

You bet. First, as mentioned by a number of people on this board, there needs to be a mindset of self awareness and self reliance and the things that this means. Next is pre dive planning with that mindset. This will include the choice of redundant air supply which depends on the dive and objectives. A number of others have made this point as well - Shallow dives, deep dives or technical dives all have different requirements and planning concerns for the redundant air supply including but not limited to things like gas management. The choice made is also contingent on what you have trained with, practiced with and the equipment config that you use. Let me know if that answered the question. Thanks.

It does not answer my question.

In what situations would a spare air be an appropriate redundant gas supply for planned solo diving? In what situations would a spare air be the prefer redundant gas supply?

I believe you may be the first diver on scuba board who has claimed that a spare air is an appropriate redundant gas source for solo diving.

 

[BobbyT22]

The problem here is that the certification is trying to meet two different needs and groups of people. The needs of divers and the needs of operators. Divers don't need a card or a course to dive solo. Probably a good idea to understand the additional risks you are taking on and do what you can to mitigate them but a solo course isn't going to teach you anything you can't learn in any number of advanced dive courses. The ability to self rescue and plan a dive.

IMHO the course is all about the operators needs. Am I OK to risk my livelihood by allowing this diver to violate the "standards" of the industry. Some operators will make this call based on reviewing the divers experience level, a check out dive or gut feel. Others will require a certification. Certification is how most do it at the entry level i.e. you can't dive without a cert card, extending it to solo diving just makes sense.

If what you are doing is trying to meet the certification requirements of operators then you have a problem as you will have two completely different groups of divers that will want to get certified.

Those with significant experience - they need a course that is a glorified check out dive. A certification that says a qualified instructer has evaluated the skills, mind set and experience of this diver and they are qualified to dive solo.

Then you have another group that want to solo dive, but lack the skills, mind set and or experience to solo dive. They need a completely different course.

The first group of divers will not be interested in taking a course that meets the needs of the second group, and a course that meets the needs of the first group will not be sufficient to meet the needs of the second group.

I think the problem is a course that proports to be for the second group AND at the end of the course gives you a certification that is really for the first group. Hard to imagine a course that would take you from the second group to the first an a one or two dive course.

IMHO this is the source of the arguement I have been reading.

I have only taken one of the courses and it met my needs perfectly. It was a couple of checkout dives and a discussion about dive planning. I can't say I learned anything particular other than it forced me to deal with a number of unexpected situations, practice dealing with entanglement, deploying my pony and surfacing from depth using it. Hard to practice unexpected situation on your own, and crazy to practice getting yourself wound up with kelp or line. So all in all a good course for even an experienced diver. At the end I got a card that I have used several times on liveaboards to allow me to dive solo. In no way did it teach me the skills required to be a solo diver.

IMHO this course is all about operators liability. If you get more than that and learn or get to practice some self rescue skills, that is a bonus. Any thought that this course is going to take an diver without the necessary skills and mind set to dive solo safely and turn them into a safe solo diver is just not realistic.

We are in violent agreement. Eerie how great minds think alike.

 

[adventure dude]

It does not answer my question.

In what situations would a spare air be an appropriate redundant gas supply for planned solo diving? In what situations would a spare air be the prefer redundant gas supply?

I believe you may be the first diver on scuba board who has claimed that a spare air is an appropriate redundant gas source for solo diving.

Thanks for clarifying. I don't own a Spare Air today but have dove with and used one in the past. The Spare Air 3000 is a 3 cu ft cylinder with a working pressure of 3000psi. It offers 57 surface* breaths based on 1.6 liters per breath. What I have found through training, practice and use is that, for me, this is a very comfortable option when diving in the 50-60 foot range. This gives me approximately 20 breaths to get to the surface. Through repetitive use and training, I've found that this works well - for me. Spare Air also makes a 1700 model which offers only about half the volume. For me, that's not enough when including in a safety factor so I prefer not to use it. I hope that answers your question.

 

[adventure dude]

That's fine Bob. I'm going to agree to disagree and wish you all the best.

 

[redacted]

Thanks for clarifying. I don't own a Spare Air today but have dove with and used one in the past. The Spare Air 3000 is a 3 cu ft cylinder with a working pressure of 3000psi. It offers 57 surface* breaths based on 1.6 liters per breath. What I have found through training, practice and use is that, for me, this is a very comfortable option when diving in the 50-60 foot range. This gives me approximately 20 breaths to get to the surface. Through repetitive use and training, I've found that this works well - for me. Spare Air also makes a 1700 model which offers only about half the volume. For me, that's not enough when including in a safety factor so I prefer not to use it. I hope that answers your question.

The SDI solo course that I took stressed the idea that your redundant air source should be planned to allow a normal, safe ascent to the surface. Seems to that 3 cu ft of air is a bit short to get you through a 5 minute ascent from 60 feet.

The boats that I dive on that permit solo diving for certified, properly equipped divers do not accept a spare air as an adequate redundant air source.

BTW, I do have a couple of spare airs. I was disappointed in their reliability and performance but still feel they are better than no air unless they contribute to bad diving practices. But, for solo diving, they did not seem to offer proper redundancy for any dive deeper than about 20 ft. Mine now get used occasionally for pool cleaning.

 

[halocline]

In response to the question about spare air use in solo diving:

You bet. First, as mentioned by a number of people on this board, there needs to be a mindset of self awareness and self reliance and the things that this means. Next is pre dive planning with that mindset. This will include the choice of redundant air supply which depends on the dive and objectives. A number of others have made this point as well - Shallow dives, deep dives or technical dives all have different requirements and planning concerns for the redundant air supply including but not limited to things like gas management. The choice made is also contingent on what you have trained with, practiced with and the equipment config that you use. Let me know if that answered the question. Thanks.

This is typical of your statements on this thread and in your article; lots of general sort-of-pep-talk language with absolutely no meaningful or practical answer to the question.

The moment you equivocated spare air with other, actually useful alternate air sources, any shred of credibility about your understanding of solo diving disappeared. It's nice that you feel compelled to address the issue of solo diving on this forum, but maybe you should do a little more research before publishing articles about this topic.

And BTW, most technical overhead training, especially cavern/cave training, is almost the exact opposite of solo diving. In fact, it's highly coordinated team diving.

 

[halocline]

The Spare Air 3000 is a 3 cu ft cylinder with a working pressure of 3000psi. It offers 57 surface* breaths based on 1.6 liters per breath. What I have found through training, practice and use is that, for me, this is a very comfortable option when diving in the 50-60 foot range.

Why the asterisk? Did you copy that statement from somewhere?

Please answer this question: In normal OW diving in the 50-60 foot range, would you consider 100 PSI to be an appropriate amount of reserve in an AL80 for surfacing? Because that's about what a spare air holds, and if it's not a safe reserve in non-emergency buddy diving, what could possibly make it an appropriate tool for emergency use in a solo situation?

Are you sure you're "setting the record straight" on solo diving?

 

[eponym]

The Spare Air 3000 is a 3 cu ft cylinder with a working pressure of 3000psi. It offers 57 surface* breaths based on 1.6 liters per breath.

Why the asterisk? Did you copy that statement from somewhere?

It's part of the text on the Spare Air website.

Note: "57 breaths at 1.6 litres per breath" works out to 91.2 litres which is about three and a quarter cubic feet.

I've been reading this thread with fascination since it started. I don't dive solo as much as I did when I contributed to this forum's first sticky, but I will get in solo to check conditions at our local sites before deciding on checkout dive location. I'm currently facing a decision whether to allow solo diving when I'm the host/safety diver at shop-sponsored shore dive events.

The thread seems about played out, but since the OP asked for comments and insights . . .

Comments: How much time while stressed (or worse) at 66 feet will 3 cubic feet give you to sort out your problems? Not addressed to anyone in particular. I know the answer for my own case.

Insights: Manifolded doubles is my first choice,then a slung AL80, then a mounted pony bottle. At least I can check its pressure and test breathe it before getting in.

-Bryan

 

[redacted]

I'm currently facing a decision whether to allow solo diving when I'm the host/safety diver at shop-sponsored shore dive events.

I'm curious. How (by what authority) do you prohibit someone from shore diving?