Thinking back, what caused you to go solo?

[lowviz]

I have been enjoying the 'bad attitudes' solo thread and it got me to thinking about how I got so solidly into solo diving.

I don't want to start another poll but I would like random input from my kind who have come to feel most comfortable alone.

I was on a New Jersey boat with my son (who was getting a bit too adventurous underwater) and the captain stuck his finger in my face and told me to 'stay within my range'. I've told the story before but it bears repeating.

'Only you know your range, it changes from day to day, stay within it!' I followed that advice. But years later I found it to be the very essence of solo diving.

How about you, what tipped the balance to the dark side?

 

[RockiesFan]

Lack of a dive buddy, pure and simple.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Focus on photography.

 

[MichaelMc]

Scheduling freedom. I'm finishing up grad school two hours from Monterey yet dove there only infrequently as seas and calendars did not always match with others. I wanted to enjoy Monterey as much as I could before possibly leaving the area.

A benefit I realized is I think there are more fish around when I'm the only diver in the area.

 

[lowviz]

Scheduling freedom.

Yes!

 

[Blasto]

Nothing specific, there just came a time in my diving when I felt very comfortable doing it alone, not including particularly challenging dives that call for a team. Scheduling freedom, in other words.

I still recognize there are some extra risks in solo diving - if I have a LOC incident, there's no one right nearby to respond. So I pay more attention to any warning signs, anything that could degrade my condition, dive planning, and equipment.

 

[rhwestfall]

Knowing that there really wasn't someone there for me.....

 

[gbirch]

There is no “Dark Side”. There is a spectrum of risk and it all depends on your tolerance and approach to risk

 

[Johnoly]

..., what tipped the balance to the dark side?

So many rushed the fish and chased/spooked them away. Being solo always gets the best shots & results.

 

[letterboy]

Knowing that there really wasn't someone there for me.....

This is the solo divers forum, not single divers forum...

I don't like people underwater any more then above water.