Solo diving in Coz....

[ReefHound]

As far as I know PADI does not offer a solo diving certification.

It's called Self-Reliant Diver specialty.

 

[caruso]

It's called Self-Reliant Diver specialty.

Right. It's not a solo diving certification as per careful wording on the PADI site, and will not be accepted as such by Dive Ops- again to the best of my knowledge.

 

[NAUI Wowie]

Right. It's not a solo diving certification as per careful wording on the PADI site, and will not be accepted as such by Dive Ops- again to the best of my knowledge.

I think several other agencies have certifications for solo diving yes? I thought I saw it mentioned at least....

 

[caruso]

I think several other agencies have certifications for solo diving yes? I thought I saw it mentioned at least....

My solo diving certification is through SDI and it's accepted in most places.

 

[NAUI Wowie]

My solo diving certification is through SDI and it's accepted in most places.

nice, I may do that after my rescue now that my back is healed

 

[deepsea21]

Quite frankly and non argumentatively I will quote a famous actor who has since passed away and say "That is illogical".

I was trying to make multiple points but the primary point was being that OW divers "should" have already received all the training they need to dive solo and utilizing the buddy system is only "recommended". Now, with what many of us see today we have to wonder just what dive op certified these people... Perhaps watching training videos on a smart phone that are interrupted 50 times with ventures into one's various social media accounts followed by self tests that don't actually score someone but just tell them what the correct answer was and why doesn't work quite as well as spending two FULL weekends of hours in an old fashioned class room environment in a group setting with in-pool training. Oh well, times change I guess and in an era in which people are too lazy to go to a grocery store and have an anxiety attack if their smartphone loses coverage for more than a few minutes how can one expect them to sit in a class room at a dive op for 2 weekends of classes and training without being medicated?

So, if today an additional "solo certification" may make these people somewhat better divers because they didn't learn much from their initial certification, I can see it. I just don't want some dive op telling me after 17 years of diving and taking REAL dive classes that I can't dive solo if I don't have a buddy or to be forcefully buddy'd up with one these modern smartphone certified divers in order to dive. Heck, years ago I went out on a dive boat in the FL Keys that enforced the buddy system. The buddy I was assigned wanted to drop to the bottom under the anchored boat and squirt 3 cans of Easy Cheese into the water feeding the fish for an hour! I looked at her and gave her the "you OK" sign, she responded and off I went on my own... Later "Buddy".

Yes, I do exclusively dive the 3rd world and have been for years now because for what I personally like to see, the diving is better but to each their own. Furthermore, most dive ops in the 3rd world are not going to enforce this nonsense because $ talks and when one signs the General Waiver that everyone is required to sign be it there or in the US, in the 3rd world that wavier actually means something. In the US dive ops know that waiver is worthless in a US court of law.

 

[caruso]

I simply don't see what this "Solo certification" teaches someone that isn't taught in a standard OW course. The "Buddy System" is only recommended because it serves as a secondary back-up in the event a primary back-up/solution fails. OW certification already teaches solo diving, redundancy, etc.

The solo diving course teaches (among other things) about what redundant equipment a diver needs to carry, and how to self resolve issues such as entrapment or failure of a primary piece of gear. One example of many- A properly trained and equipped solo diver carries a pony bottle, knows how to carry and configure it, and how to switch to it- and this is definitely not taught in basic OW courses.

if something goes very wrong and a primary back-up fails one isn't going to hang around holding their breath trying to get their buddy's attention - they're starting their emergency ascent and they'll do it instinctively and immediately.

You don't know what another diver will do in that situation, you can't know. Some will head for the surface at a rapid but safe speed, others will shoot for the surface holding their breath and not deflating their BCD, and blow out their lungs as they ascend like a missle. If the buddy system is used properly, the diver in trouble (if not in a panic) certainly WILL go to their buddy if the only option is a 100' ascent to the surface on one breath.

as far as being forcefully placed with a "Buddy" one knows nothing about or has no idea of their skill level, that is a recipe for disaster.

True- but not the point. This is about why a solo diving course and certification is required by many or most Dive Ops and what the difference is between the OW course and the Solo diving course- not about the dangers of being hooked up with an instabuddy- the risks of which I completely agree with as you posted.

 

[caruso]

Furthermore, most dive ops in the 3rd world are not going to enforce this nonsense

You never know. For now, it appears you have nothing to worry about. As long as other Cozumel Dive Ops don't follow suit. I wonder why some are suddenly enforcing this policy if they have no liability concerns? Just don't ever try solo diving in SE Florida with any commercial charter without a Solo Certification because it ain't never gonna happen. No matter how much $ you throw on the table.

 

[NAUI Wowie]

I was trying to make multiple points but the primary point was being that OW divers "should" have already received all the training they need to dive solo and utilizing the buddy system is only "recommended". Now, with what many of us see today we have to wonder just what dive op certified these people... Perhaps watching training videos on a smart phone that are interrupted 50 times with ventures into one's various social media accounts followed by self tests that don't actually score someone but just tell them what the correct answer was and why doesn't work quite as well as spending two FULL weekends of hours in an old fashioned class room environment in a group setting with in-pool training. Oh well, times change I guess and in an era in which people are too lazy to go to a grocery store and have an anxiety attack if their smartphone loses coverage for more than a few minutes how can one expect them to sit in a class room at a dive op for 2 weekends of classes and training without being medicated?

So, if today an additional "solo certification" may make these people somewhat better divers because they didn't learn much from their initial certification, I can see it. I just don't want some dive op telling me after 17 years of diving and taking REAL dive classes that I can't dive solo if I don't have a buddy or to be forcefully buddy'd up with one these modern smartphone certified divers in order to dive. Heck, years ago I went out on a dive boat in the FL Keys that enforced the buddy system. The buddy I was assigned wanted to drop to the bottom under the anchored boat and squirt 3 cans of Easy Cheese into the water feeding the fish for an hour! I looked at her and gave her the "you OK" sign, she responded and off I went on my own... Later "Buddy".

Yes, I do exclusively dive the 3rd world and have been for years now because for what I personally like to see, the diving is better but to each their own. Furthermore, most dive ops in the 3rd world are not going to enforce this nonsense because $ talks and when one signs the General Waiver that everyone is required to sign be it there or in the US, in the 3rd world that wavier actually means something. In the US dive ops know that waiver is worthless in a US court of law.

I hear ya man, im pre internet pre cell phone pre pager. I read a book and underlined passages for my OW, none of that online study non stop distraction which doesnt help long term memorization like a real book.

 

[NAUI Wowie]

The solo diving course teaches (among other things) about what redundant equipment a diver needs to carry, and how to self resolve issues such as entrapment or failure of a primary piece of gear. One example of many- A properly trained and equipped solo diver carries a pony bottle, knows how to carry and configure it, and how to switch to it- and this is definitely not taught in basic OW courses.




You don't know what another diver will do in that situation, you can't know. Some will head for the surface at a rapid but safe speed, others will shoot for the surface holding their breath and not deflating their BCD, and blow out their lungs as they ascend like a missle. If the buddy system is used properly, the diver in trouble (if not in a panic) certainly WILL go to their buddy if the only option is a 100' ascent to the surface on one breath.



True- but not the point. This is about why a solo diving course and certification is required by many or most Dive Ops and what the difference is between the OW course and the Solo diving course- not about the dangers of being hooked up with an instabuddy- the risks of which I completely agree with as you posted.

Which is why I always sling a 19cf pony bottle. and have a 40cf for deep dives or wreck penetrations such as Coron P.I. wrecks.