Just adding into the discussion. I am you average open water certified diver with about 45 dives in. Something I've never heard said in discussions of this kind (didn't read every last post in this one) is the dangers of buddies.
I dive in Minnesota in lakes with often limited visibility. I have accepted that the buddy rule is true, but am beginning to have some contrary leanings. It seems to me that in limited visibility my buddy and I run more risks with staying together than if we just carefully dived solo.
When you turn left, right and all around and upside down and you know how this goes, and you don't find him there is always a controlled moment of panic. Where did he go? Is he in trouble? Do I go to the surface again and look for him? It certainly pushes you into a heightened state of awareness, and you tend to breath harder, and when such a dive is over you are often worn out by this hide and seek game.
It seems to me that if I did get into trouble, most of the time my buddy would be as useless as teets on a boar hog. With the vis we usually have he wouldn't find me until it would be too late. Relying on him as we are trained is a potential danger in itself. The discussions and magazine articles seem to assume clear water ocean conditions where a half way concientious diver will be staying with his buddy.
In talking to a dive shop owner who dives similar conditions she confided that she often dives alone for these reasons. I've never done it, and my wife has given me heck for even thinking of it, but it has its appeal. The thought of one complete dive where I wasn't spinning around looking for my buddy half the time would be a welcome relief.
I dive in Minnesota in lakes with often limited visibility. I have accepted that the buddy rule is true, but am beginning to have some contrary leanings. It seems to me that in limited visibility my buddy and I run more risks with staying together than if we just carefully dived solo.
When you turn left, right and all around and upside down and you know how this goes, and you don't find him there is always a controlled moment of panic. Where did he go? Is he in trouble? Do I go to the surface again and look for him? It certainly pushes you into a heightened state of awareness, and you tend to breath harder, and when such a dive is over you are often worn out by this hide and seek game.
It seems to me that if I did get into trouble, most of the time my buddy would be as useless as teets on a boar hog. With the vis we usually have he wouldn't find me until it would be too late. Relying on him as we are trained is a potential danger in itself. The discussions and magazine articles seem to assume clear water ocean conditions where a half way concientious diver will be staying with his buddy.
In talking to a dive shop owner who dives similar conditions she confided that she often dives alone for these reasons. I've never done it, and my wife has given me heck for even thinking of it, but it has its appeal. The thought of one complete dive where I wasn't spinning around looking for my buddy half the time would be a welcome relief.