Why would you get a Solo Cert?
- Thread starter markmud
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SeaHorse81
Contributor
I got my SDI Solo Cert last fall; the dives for the course were my last dives of the season, so I haven't had a chance to practice any of the new ideas yet.
I believe it will change my diving in terms of keeping me more mindful and self-reliant, even though I don't anticipate many actual solo dives. This was my purpose in taking the course. It's nice to know I could "legally" dive solo if I chose, but I mostly wanted/got more ideas for how to keep myself safe in the water, regardless of where I'm diving and who I'm with.
It's not a status symbol to me, and it wasn't intended to be one. Anybody who writes a check and can learn/demonstrate a few skills gets the card; that doesn't infer status to me. Diving practices do.
I don't know if I'll ever dive solo (other than once or twice, just because), but I'm really glad I took the course.
OP
markmud
Self Reliant Diver--On All Dives.
Hey mathauck0814,
I am getting a solo cert for the reason you gave above. I have dived solo on organized boats before, but I have had to prove myself by diving a few days with a DM. After that, the crews were really cool. I am hoping a solo cert will eliminate or shorten the confidence building cycle (ie: boat crew gaining confidence in me).
Also, I don't see myself tech diving because of my mental make-up. However, learning about tech protocols is always cool. With this solo class, I may be able to pick-the-brain of someone much more experienced and trained then me. Maybe!
I will not apply for a solo cert from an agency who is clinging to thier orthodoxy by calliing the cert: "self-reliant diver," or equivalent. Solo is Solo. Words mean things. I believe there are no instructors in the Sacramento area who can help me get a solo cert; there are SDI instructors in SoCal. I must travel. Locally, all instructors seem to be PADI affiliated.
markm
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Bob DBF
Contributor
Try Advanced Diving Technologies in Antioch, down by Concord. I got as far as finding the closest instructor, but the economy has curtailed my travels and the So Cal boats I've been on don't care about me solo so I never called for particulars. We are Advanced Diving Technologies
Let me know how it goes.
Bob
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I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.
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Bob DBF
Contributor
None have ever even asked me for a C-card and only once for Nitrox.
Bob
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I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.
r4e
Contributor
Why would you get a solo certification?
I wanted to make sure I have covered all the, possibly unknown, risks of diving solo.
The course also confirmed I had the right mindset for solo diving. I knew it, but, wanted a second opinion. Technically speaking, if you have sufficient training in technical diving, you might not learn that many new things. On the other hand, the course combines the essentials for risk management and survival.
For boat dives, you get additional freedom in most cases, or, you get the freedom earlier without needing to spend half of the week convincing one or more DMs you are able to dive.
Will it change your diving?
Since my solo sertification, about 1/3 of my dives have been solo. This has definitely added flexibility to dive when I want. I have gradually extended my comfort zone of solo diving and think I have got a lot more content to diving in general.
Surprisingly, I have learned to appreciate (technical) team diving more than earlier. Improved self-sufficiency has allowed me to observe my deficiencies in team-diving. I am now happy to give a silent helping hand in line placement or to improve team awareness and communication skills.
The remaining 1/6 of my dives are traditional buddy dives in easy conditions. In such a situation I have more than once forgotten myself in my own thoughts during the dive. Damn.
Will it be status symbol?
Not a status symbol. But, fun anyhow. However, I discuss it only with experienced rec divers, and hardly at all with tec divers.
Which organization will you get your cert from (if you are getting one, that is)?
I got my cert from SDI. Book was okay, especially if you seriously stop to think of all the implications. Also my instructor gave valuable tips outside of the normal technical realm.If I would now be selecting an organization, I would seriously look at IANTD as well.
On the top of my list is the FFESM PSA, a cave diver solo course;-)
I wanted to make sure I have covered all the, possibly unknown, risks of diving solo.
The course also confirmed I had the right mindset for solo diving. I knew it, but, wanted a second opinion. Technically speaking, if you have sufficient training in technical diving, you might not learn that many new things. On the other hand, the course combines the essentials for risk management and survival.
For boat dives, you get additional freedom in most cases, or, you get the freedom earlier without needing to spend half of the week convincing one or more DMs you are able to dive.
Will it change your diving?
Since my solo sertification, about 1/3 of my dives have been solo. This has definitely added flexibility to dive when I want. I have gradually extended my comfort zone of solo diving and think I have got a lot more content to diving in general.
Surprisingly, I have learned to appreciate (technical) team diving more than earlier. Improved self-sufficiency has allowed me to observe my deficiencies in team-diving. I am now happy to give a silent helping hand in line placement or to improve team awareness and communication skills.
The remaining 1/6 of my dives are traditional buddy dives in easy conditions. In such a situation I have more than once forgotten myself in my own thoughts during the dive. Damn.
Will it be status symbol?
Not a status symbol. But, fun anyhow. However, I discuss it only with experienced rec divers, and hardly at all with tec divers.
Which organization will you get your cert from (if you are getting one, that is)?
I got my cert from SDI. Book was okay, especially if you seriously stop to think of all the implications. Also my instructor gave valuable tips outside of the normal technical realm.If I would now be selecting an organization, I would seriously look at IANTD as well.
On the top of my list is the FFESM PSA, a cave diver solo course;-)
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Is getting a Solo Cert in the cards?
Yes. Actually, the card has been obtained, just a couple of months ago. I did the course as an add-on to my TDI Advanced Nitrox/Decompression Procedures course. Though I didn't "learn" anything new from the actual books that wasn't covered in the AN/DP course. However, I did learn a lot about what can go wrong when my instructor started throwing problems at me until I couldn't physically deal with them all. Gave me a real idea of how much task loading I can handle.
The main reason I got the card was because it was only two more dives on a Tech course and the course was done at reasonable price. I also added it on partly because it is nice to have during the few times that it is needed, to remove liability from dive boats and private quarries, or to get out of a bad buddy dive in said scenario's.
Will it change your diving?
Not really, I started solo diving at dive #40. I was mentored by a old tech instructor that put a lot of emphasis on being self sufficient in the water. I always found myself wanting to dive, and being around people that were to non-commital to dive, after making myself available whenever anyone was available to dive. Then it was because there were no divers around when I was living with my parents. This didn't prevent me from diving with buddies when they were available, but I did enjoy the solitude a lot, as a result, I keep on doing it. There is something that is very liberating and zen about being alone in the water with only the sea and your thoughts to guide you.
Will it be status symbol?
I think its a status symbol in the same way that I think the night I survived drinking 27 beer without S**ting my pants, vomiting or dying is a status symbol among my frat buddies. It happened. There are people that think it is an impressive achievement. However, when you look at the bigger picture, it is not really a big deal.
Which organization will you get your cert from (if you are getting one, that is)?
I got mine from SDI. There were many reasons for doing this, the major one being that SDI is the only one teaching the course where I am. Also, I am an SDI instructor, and hope to teach it some day, in order to help pass on the things I have learned to those that want to learn it.
Yes. Actually, the card has been obtained, just a couple of months ago. I did the course as an add-on to my TDI Advanced Nitrox/Decompression Procedures course. Though I didn't "learn" anything new from the actual books that wasn't covered in the AN/DP course. However, I did learn a lot about what can go wrong when my instructor started throwing problems at me until I couldn't physically deal with them all. Gave me a real idea of how much task loading I can handle.
The main reason I got the card was because it was only two more dives on a Tech course and the course was done at reasonable price. I also added it on partly because it is nice to have during the few times that it is needed, to remove liability from dive boats and private quarries, or to get out of a bad buddy dive in said scenario's.
Will it change your diving?
Not really, I started solo diving at dive #40. I was mentored by a old tech instructor that put a lot of emphasis on being self sufficient in the water. I always found myself wanting to dive, and being around people that were to non-commital to dive, after making myself available whenever anyone was available to dive. Then it was because there were no divers around when I was living with my parents. This didn't prevent me from diving with buddies when they were available, but I did enjoy the solitude a lot, as a result, I keep on doing it. There is something that is very liberating and zen about being alone in the water with only the sea and your thoughts to guide you.
Will it be status symbol?
I think its a status symbol in the same way that I think the night I survived drinking 27 beer without S**ting my pants, vomiting or dying is a status symbol among my frat buddies. It happened. There are people that think it is an impressive achievement. However, when you look at the bigger picture, it is not really a big deal.
Which organization will you get your cert from (if you are getting one, that is)?
I got mine from SDI. There were many reasons for doing this, the major one being that SDI is the only one teaching the course where I am. Also, I am an SDI instructor, and hope to teach it some day, in order to help pass on the things I have learned to those that want to learn it.
PSAI doesn't have a solo diving course. Some "self-reliant" distinctive specialties have been issued, but these do not authorize solo diving. The instructor who taught the class in question is a friend of mine who just crossed over to PSAI, but he is also a PADI instructor and taught the new PADI solo class. "Mat" and I PMed about the course and he hasn't received the physical C-card yet so he just had the wrong alphabet soup on the spoon.
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