Instructor for SDI Solo Diver

[BoltSnap]

If you dive weight integrated, do know that you will likely be doing several doff and dons. We did one or two on the bottom, and one or two while swimming including swimming with the rig off and held. I did my first set weight integrated, there was cool water so I had on a wetsuit and of course behaved like a hot air balloon. But, mine were as good as the instructors, I am usually pretty polished at doff and dons. For the next dive I switched to a weight belt which made it all much more fun (or less fun dependent upon the vantage point).

Also, for those who are prone to dive their long hose rigs, let me again mention, you will be do doff and dons and I was rigged for my first dives with a double hose and no octopus/second and a slung pony. On my later dives I switched to my Titan LX, removed the long hose and plugged it and of course still my slung pony running a MkV (clone) with button gauge and XS Scuba puck second.


N

Nemrod,

I may have misunderstood you but I got the understanding from you that you modified your typical setup to make it easier for you during this course, but doesn't this modification defeats the point of you taking the course? Shouldn't you have used the same equipment setup that you normally use so that you get this specialized training on instead of using an easier setup that won't be the setup you will be using when you go back to your own diving after the end of the course? Me thinking that I would want to be trained on my regular setup as I'll be using it not an easier setup that is more convenient during the training but would have no relationship to what I'll actually be using later?

 

[Nemrod]

Nemrod,

I may have misunderstood you but I got the understanding from you that you modified your typical setup to make it easier for you during this course, but doesn't this modification defeats the point of you taking the course? Shouldn't you have used the same equipment setup that you normally use so that you get this specialized training on instead of using an easier setup that won't be the setup you will be using when you go back to your own diving after the end of the course? Me thinking that I would want to be trained on my regular setup as I'll be using it not an easier setup that is more convenient during the training but would have no relationship to what I'll actually be using later?

Yeah, well, I understand your good point but thing is that I have no "typical" set up. My rig, in each of the training dives, was compliant in all manner with all of the requirements of the solo course and not different from what I might dive at any given time.

I switch back and forth between solo and buddy, double hose and single hose, long hose and short hose and in some cases no hose. Doubles, singles, wet, dry or whatever I have on, weight integrated or weight belt. I use the equipment that suits the dive and my needs of the moment and generally as little of it as possible. My diving style and equipment are very eclectic.

So during my solo course I did as I usually do, switch my gear around to suit my mission.

N