Another reminder of why i solo

[John C. Ratliff]

Dr. Bill,

I like your weight formula. It fit me pretty well for my freshwater diving.

Concerning the snorkel, when we were doing parascuba jumping in the USAF, many of us would put the snorkel under our knife straps on our leg, usually on the inside of the leg. That way, we had it if we needed the snorkel, but it was not an entanglement hazard during our jump.


Parascuba jump, Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 1968.

SeaRat

 

[Nemrod]

I always tell the people who ask to buddy with me that I am going to go fast and if they want to relax there is time for that once dead and if not then they will end up on a solo dive as well.

N

 

[WarrenZ]

As long as the diveplan is agreed to going on a marathon speed swim or a slow swim is no problem as long as the plan is worked out ahead of time. I wont swim marathons so if that is the only option I will do a solo dive.

 

[NAM001]

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.

This is more common that one thinks. I see it a lot with new divers. Some how think that seeing the most bottom go by is better than taking time to smell the nitrox and seeing what a bit of that bottom has to offer. I have always had a weak frog kick and I use trips to practice it, when an newby insta does this speed swim crap it takes away from my practice. I have to admit that the DIR folks position on "Whos air it is" really applies. These speed demons are wasting my backup air supply. This is also why i like to tell new divers not to rush into AOW and take time to get their skills down. Some how when you do take the time, much of your buddy skills start to fall into place. I also like SOLO diving even with others for the very reasons you are talking about. Unfortunately being a buddy takes work till you get it down, so many don't want to take the time to do it. Its a shame. IMO those that do tis kind of diving have put themselves in the center of the universe and have tasked all others to be their backup. For those that have read my posts when i reference my newby wiife know that i have told her there is only one emergency, and that is out of air or being eaten by jaws. As a buddy you need to take responsibility / acountablilty for insuring you can provide it correctly if needed. That means keeping close for the visibility you are in. I tell her to continually ask her self "If I lost my air could i signal and get the air i need, If not I am too far away from my buddy. One cant learn this in 2 weeks of going form snorkler to AOW.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

If I had to buddy with that diver, I probably would simply have hung onto his tank and let him do the kicking.

SeaRat

Yup, I have a pet name for divers like that ... Scooter ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[undrwater]

I feel much more comfortable diving solo. I'm always worried that I'm boring the hell out of any buddy I dive with.

 

[Stoo]

I've got a real short list of buddies I feel safe with, unfortunatly, over the years, most have dropped out of diving. Getting old is a PITA for more reasons than one.

I have a bit of the same situation, but I still have my core buds. I've been diving with one of them for about 36 years and we have thousands of dives together. My wife loves diving as well, and since she's 13 years younger than me, I figure I'll have her around a while.

But I probably do more solo dives than buddy dives most years. My main reason I want a buddy, is so that I have a model in my pics. I should just get a manakin in a wetsuit.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Most of my dive buddies are former students ... so I rarely have to worry about what kind of dive buddy I'm getting ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[markmud]

I always tell the people who ask to buddy with me that I am going to go slow and if they dont want to relax and hang out then they will end up on a solo dive as well.

Hi Warren,

I tell people the same thing. Some of my best dives have been right under the boat. By moving slowly, similar to still-hunting (when deer hunting), I see more and the critters react differently. Searching every nook and cranny has its beneficial side also.

I have been ditched by more than a few insta-buddies. It's OK though, as I always dive my solo rig.

I don't do marathons, u/w or otherwise!

markm

 

[PhatD1ver]

I've got a real short list of buddies I feel safe with, unfortunatly, over the years, most have dropped out of diving. Getting old is a PITA for more reasons than one.


Bob

Why Bob, whatever do you refer Yeah, I'm starting late, but I hope I can dive until I'm 80. That'll give me 25 years to remember, or forget as the case may be