Solo diving in overhead environments

[Dive-aholic]

It's just a general rule not to go into deco solo.

I have always had a buddy with me whenever I have been deco diving so it has never been an issue for me.

And I have never been on a solo dive where I needed to go into deco, either.

That's a load of BS! I've never heard of that "general rule". I know lots of divers that go into deco solo. It's actually a pretty common practice. If you think you need a buddy to deco with, then that's fine. But don't spout off it's a general rule. It may be your general rule, but not everybody's.

 

[texdiveguy]

It's just a general rule not to go into deco solo.

Never read that book.

Allot of deco diving is done solo, as in planned solo deco dives.

Were did you come up with this bit of wrong information??

 

[nereas]

That's a load of BS! I've never heard of that "general rule". I know lots of divers that go into deco solo. It's actually a pretty common practice. If you think you need a buddy to deco with, then that's fine. But don't spout off it's a general rule. It may be your general rule, but not everybody's.

I appears that you have never heard of the general rule.

 

[Tigerman]

I dont do solo dives in overheads or with deco obligations, but thats primarilly because I dont have either cave or deco training.
Even if I did, im not sure if I would, but thats something I cant really answer as I dont have all the knowledge of those aspects. However I do suspect that I would be extremely careful with if I would do it at all.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

I have been to 138' at the beginning of a 60 minute multi level dive using an AL100, but my Suunto did not require an extended SS. I have done extended range scooter dives from shore to 120-ish depths, with 100 - 130 cf and ended up with SS times on the Suunto up to 7 or 8 minutes. There is a popular shallow shore/boat site on Maui that has a very narrow lava tube over 100 yards in length that I have done a couple times.

In all those cases I would not have done the dive to that extreme if I had a buddy.

 

[ianr33]

Never read that book.

Allot of deco diving is done solo, as in planned solo deco dives.

Were did you come up with this bit of wrong information??

Times 2.

Nereas,what are you smoking?

 

[scubadada]

To be fair to ridiculed Nereas, SDI, the only certifying agency for solo diving I'm aware of, recommends against decompression, penetration, and pinnacle diving (pp 19-20, SDI Solo Diving Manual, 2007). This could certainly be interpreted as a form of general rule. SDI's sister agency, TDI, is one of the more active training organizations for technical diving including decompression and overhead evironments.

And then there's what many of us do within our training, experience, equipment, and comfort level.

Good diving, Craig

 

[sskasser]

Most of my dives are cave dives. Most of my dives are solo. Most of my dives involve planned deco. Yep, the three intersect on a regular basis. I dive sidemount, and dive conservatively. If I'm planning a nasty tight penetration in a new area, a buddy is going to be a detriment in most cases. One of us isn't going to see a damn thing anyway. Other times, I enjoy diving with a good buddy. I also enjoy diving with "newbies" and enjoy their enthusiasm. Nothing can compare to the "zen" of being off the beaten path, in a cave, all alone, enjoying the sound of my own bubbles....very peaceful.

 

[Meng_Tze]

Most of my dives are cave dives. Most of my dives are solo. Most of my dives involve planned deco. Yep, the three intersect on a regular basis. I dive sidemount, and dive conservatively. If I'm planning a nasty tight penetration in a new area, a buddy is going to be a detriment in most cases. One of us isn't going to see a damn thing anyway. Other times, I enjoy diving with a good buddy. I also enjoy diving with "newbies" and enjoy their enthusiasm. Nothing can compare to the "zen" of being off the beaten path, in a cave, all alone, enjoying the sound of my own bubbles....very peaceful.

Me too. Not sidemount, but solo, deco and caves is what I do mostly. And all is planned BTW.

 

[nereas]

Times 2.

Nereas,what are you smoking?

I hope they taught you that tech-deco divers should never smoke.

Where is wah wah land? Do they smoke a lot there?