A ScubaBoard Staff Message...
Solo Diver training program.
- Thread starter SeaFlea
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What I learned most from my solo diving class is how to get myself out of a situation that I couldn't get myself out of, ie how to ascend in case I had a heart attack or fell unconscious.
Its all risk management. There are some risks I am not comfortable taking that others are, people manage risk differently. I really don't know what is taught in a solo diving course that isn't taught in a good open water and advanced course. You should always be self sufficient but execute the dive as a team (if buddy diving).
EDIT: sure, solo diving courses place emphasis on self sufficiency but its not wholly different, in my opinion.
Whatever course you take will depend on the instructor.
Its all risk management. There are some risks I am not comfortable taking that others are, people manage risk differently. I really don't know what is taught in a solo diving course that isn't taught in a good open water and advanced course. You should always be self sufficient but execute the dive as a team (if buddy diving).
EDIT: sure, solo diving courses place emphasis on self sufficiency but its not wholly different, in my opinion.
Whatever course you take will depend on the instructor.
The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
How on earth do you ascend when you are unconscious?
Obviously you need to re-take the solo diver course.
I'm kidding...The point I was trying to make was that many diving accidents are caused by pre-existing conditions or poor judgement that leaves you incapable of rendering self-help. Its a risk I choose to avoid, most of the time.
That being said, there are times I take the added risk of solo diving but mitigate it with redundant bladders, tanks, and have people on the surface. There are times that I am diving where it would certainly be more dangerous to dive with person X than solo, ie when I'm taking a break from teaching and diving on one of the regular boats.
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This is predominantly a result of where and how you choose to dive. Folks who "herd" dive off of cattle boats tend not to learn buddy skills because they're not really diving with a buddy. Sure, in theory you have one ... but in practice you're just following some dive guide and not really paying much attention to anyone else.
It doesn't have to be that way. But in order to buddy dive properly, both divers need to be committed to the concept that it's not "my" dive ... it's "our" dive ... and act accordingly. I find this is a more prevalent mindset in areas where divers are predominantly planning and executing their dives on their own ... without the assistance of a boat crew or dive guide. In those cases, you are not "loosely bound" solo diving unless you specifically choose to.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
A ScubaBoard Staff Message...
My thoughts were not whether your Buddy is a good one or one that "could give a rats ass", but rather are they really necessary at all? Sure we dive in groups, we meet new folks, conversate, enjoy the dive experience together but when it comes to actions in a emergency senerio, we are our own Buddy, Right?
If we are of the mind set, "OK if my air flow stops I'm going to try to get to the nearest diver and get his/her octo and try to remain calm", instead of, "If my airflow stops I'm going to get my spare air source and try to signal someone" are we being reckless towards ourself and who ever happens to be closest to us?
Thoughts?
Good Dives.
If we are of the mind set, "OK if my air flow stops I'm going to try to get to the nearest diver and get his/her octo and try to remain calm", instead of, "If my airflow stops I'm going to get my spare air source and try to signal someone" are we being reckless towards ourself and who ever happens to be closest to us?
Thoughts?
Good Dives.
The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
I will answer this with an unequivocal Yes or No!
It all depends on your experience, your attitude and your training.
Consider this scenario. You've got your Spare Air and are diving on a wreck. You have inadvertently become entangled in several yards of monofiliment and your air has just run out as you have spent the last of it trying to get free. Unfortunately, you just might need more than a cubic foot or two of air to resolve this situation.
In fact, you could have another 80 cubic feet and still end up dead! Could proper training help here? Indeed. It might be all you need. Could having a buddy help here? That would probably be the BEST solution... unless of course they got entangled with you and you both died (it's happened).
The hallmark of a bad buddy? They lack the ability to track more than one thing at a time. This usually means that they ignore their buddy.
The hallmark of a bad diver? They lack the ability to track more than one thing at a time. Being a bad buddy is not an automatic indication to become a solo diver. Fix your deficiencies FIRST, and then make a decision about being a solo diver.
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... because this bears emphasis.
Too many people get into solo diving before they have solid skills. Whatever your reasons for wanting to solo dive, it's not a remedy for inadequate buddy skills or situational awareness.
In fact, the ability to maintain an awareness of what's going on around you while you're task loaded is a necessary skill for anyone who wants to be a competent solo diver ... and that skill needs to be developed before you decide to go off on your own.
Knowing how to get yourself out of a bad situation is good ... knowing how to not get yourself into one in the first place is better. You can only do that if you can keep track of what's going on around you while you're focusing on why you're down there ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Codiak
Contributor
Sea Flea,
I dive with redundant a air source among other things all the time and while comfortable diving solo, still prefer to have an extra set of eyes, hands and fins around. However, as NetDoc has pointed out there are far more issues then just OOA to be considered when diving alone. Take the course, join the solo forum and decide for yourself what's best for you.
I dive with redundant a air source among other things all the time and while comfortable diving solo, still prefer to have an extra set of eyes, hands and fins around. However, as NetDoc has pointed out there are far more issues then just OOA to be considered when diving alone. Take the course, join the solo forum and decide for yourself what's best for you.
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