Another reminder of why i solo

[sportxlh]

Jimbomb: That sucks! While I've had mostly decent insta-boat buddy pairings when I've not been allowed to dive solo, I've had a number of situations like yours. One in which a guy blew through a 100 CF tank in 17 minutes on a 70 foot dive!!! And that was after he acted all cocky and arrogant on the boat like he was God's gift to TDI. I mostly dive solo to avoid the sort of mess you detail: plus it's much easier to lobster and take pictures when one is solo.

I do have to respect the fact that you tried to look out for the well being of you buddy. I've had some insta-buddies that also wanted to rush around like an Olympic swimming race and I just let them swim off, since I am a 'take your sweet time' type of diver; even when I'm looking for bugs.

 

[iamrushman]

you didn't mention where you were diving...did this take place in your area of new york ?

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

On the first dive, I would have just shrugged my shoulders and enjoy the rest of the dive solo. When I get topside, "Sorry, I couldn't keep up and lost you."

 

[drbill]

I have dived solo almost exclusively since 1962 or 1963. Yesterday I had a reminder of why I should follow my old discipline and attach my pony bottle to my main tank when I do. I've gotten out of that habit since I had hernia surgery two years ago. Bad Dr. Bill. It was not anywhere near life threatening, but serves as an example.

I had sighted a very rare whitetail gregory (damsel) on my first dive yesterday. Decided to recharge my video light batteries and do a second dive. This one was no deeper than 36 fsw and lasted 76 min. I left the point at which I'd been filming the fish with what should have been plenty of gas in my tank to get back to the dive park stairs. Either my SPG needle was stuck or I needed to clean my mask because I ran out of air about 2/3rds of the way there.

Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but I've been diving my 3/2mm wetsuit (with little buoyancy) while keeping all 38# of lead on my belt to keep stable on the bottom. There's also a slow leak in my BCD dump valve. So here I am way overweighted and unable to refill my BCD as I swim to the exit. I ended up in very shallow water and could bob to the surface for air as I swam back. Both legs cramped up to add insult to injury. Had I mounted my pony, no problem. Had I been with another diver, probably no problem. Was my life in any danger? No, not at 10 fsw and I could have ditched my weight belt but didn't want to have to retrieve it.

Of course I'd rather strap on my pony bottle than accept an insta buddy (although I enjoy diving with my occasional dive buddies when they are available).

 

[jbomb001]

you didn't mention where you were diving...did this take place in your area of new york ?

Yes all my dives are local for me as I do not have the time nor the funds to travel at present.

Sent from my galaxy S5 Active.

---------- Post added August 3rd, 2015 at 05:22 PM ----------

Glad you made it back safely drbill. And I hear ya on the hernia. I have one that is in need of a patch job myself but it's not bad enough for me to get it fixed as of yet. Perhaps this winter...

Sent from my galaxy S5 Active.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I have dived solo almost exclusively since 1962 or 1963. Yesterday I had a reminder of why I should follow my old discipline and attach my pony bottle to my main tank when I do. I've gotten out of that habit since I had hernia surgery two years ago. Bad Dr. Bill. It was not anywhere near life threatening, but serves as an example.

I had sighted a very rare whitetail gregory (damsel) on my first dive yesterday. Decided to recharge my video light batteries and do a second dive. This one was no deeper than 36 fsw and lasted 76 min. I left the point at which I'd been filming the fish with what should have been plenty of gas in my tank to get back to the dive park stairs. Either my SPG needle was stuck or I needed to clean my mask because I ran out of air about 2/3rds of the way there.

Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but I've been diving my 3/2mm wetsuit (with little buoyancy) while keeping all 38# of lead on my belt to keep stable on the bottom. There's also a slow leak in my BCD dump valve. So here I am way overweighted and unable to refill my BCD as I swim to the exit. I ended up in very shallow water and could bob to the surface for air as I swam back. Had I mounted my pony, no problem. Had I been with another diver, probably no problem. Was my life in any danger? No, not at 10 fsw and I could have ditched my weight belt but didn't want to have to retrieve it.

Of course I'd rather strap on my pony bottle than accept an insta buddy (although I enjoy diving with my occasional dive buddies when they are available).

What the heck are you talking about? Why not orally inflate the BC and use a snorkel? Those would be MY choices before going to a pony anyway. Not to mention, I am fat but I don't need 40 lbs of lead to be stable on the bottom in a 3mm suit. Can't imagine that degree of overweighting is even beneficial.

I'm currently banned from the accident and incident forum due to a "flippant response" .. so if they move the discussion to that forum - I won't be able to comment.

 

[uncfnp]

Thought about it but decided I could not. I am also a public safety diver and firefighter and have a personal moral obligation to not leave a partner behind. Although on the 2nd dive it was very tempting ..

Sent from my galaxy S5 Active.

I look at it a little differently. You had a mutual agreement, a verbal contract, as buddies. It is a partnership with mutual obligation. He broke that contract. I would have made a reasonable effort to maintain buddy contact but if his behavior was extreme, as his seems to have been, I would no longer feel any obligation to continue the attempt, especially after the giving notice.

 

[Nemrod]

Well, I was going to ask why Dr. Bill is weighted to plaster himself to the bottom but on the other hand, he has thousands more dives than me and there must surely be something I am missing and not wanting to seem stupid or chance asking a stupid question amongst you sharks, though better of it. Just saying .

N

 

[jbomb001]

What the heck are you talking about? Why not orally inflate the BC and use a snorkel? Those would be MY choices before going to a pony anyway. Not to mention, I am fat but I don't need 40 lbs of lead to be stable on the bottom in a 3mm suit. Can't imagine that degree of overweighting is even beneficial.

I'm currently banned from the accident and incident forum due to a "flippant response" .. so if they move the discussion to that forum - I won't be able to comment.

Personally I'd a gone with less lead and taken my pony if he feels 40 lbs is what he need then that's his call I would advise 35 lead and my 19 cf bottle to make up the difference. But personal choices are at the very core of why we all dive solo in my opinion. We make our choices and live or die by them. He's lived by his for many years I hope he and the rest of us have many more as well. It's when I or we make a choice to dive with a buddy and they do not take the choice seriously, that is when I develop an attitude.

Sent from my galaxy S5 Active.

 

[Nemrod]

What the heck are you talking about? Why not orally inflate the BC and use a snorkel? Those would be MY choices before going to a pony anyway. Not to mention, I am fat but I don't need 40 lbs of lead to be stable on the bottom in a 3mm suit. Can't imagine that degree of overweighting is even beneficial.

I'm currently banned from the accident and incident forum due to a "flippant response" .. so if they move the discussion to that forum - I won't be able to comment.

Well, you certainly have more status than me, I was only able to get banished from two Key's Nancy Boy ops and you have done managed to get banned from an entire forum! I am jealous.

N