thoughts before the dive

[hilti]

I know alot of the time before I dive as I "jump the fence" and decide to dive I'm thinking about what I'll do during the dive, and I was wondering what goes through the minds of other true (by true I mean that there are no other dive operations around, or where the dive is remote enough that there aren't any other people around either~ maybe it's the wrong word, but you'll hopefully understand what I mean) solo divers before they enter the water. Probably fifty percent of my dives are in new areas where I don't have any previous dives or information from other divers about what will be down there, and I will confess that initially I have some jitters that make me very cautious, keeping the bottom in view all the time (I don't descend blind on any solo dive)~ it takes a few minutes before I'm "back home" ~ basically during the first drill of checking that everything is where it should be and working properly~and comfortable with the surroundings. Does anyone else "pathfind", or dive new alien sites? What are your procedures? Jim

 

[Tigerman]

I start the preparations even before I leave home if Im planning on doing a solo dive..
Who do I notify that Im going?
When will I be home and what action is the person(s) that know Ive gone diving to do if I havent contacted them before the set time?
How do I get in touch with someone if i get up and find myself bent?
What do I expect to find during the dive?
What do I plan to DO during the dive?
What gear do I need and am I sure its all packed?
Am I mentally and physically prepared to dive today to begin with? Lets face it, I might be ready for a solo dive one day but not the next. Both your mental and physical condition have good days and bad days.. If Im feeling out of shape or unfocused, I dont dive..
Thats only a few of the things that I tend to go through before diving solo..
As to feeling a bit of the jitters before a dive Id say is a good thing. It makes you more aware of your surroundings and actions (as long as its not on its way to panicing you of course)..

 

[Timeliner]

Jump the fence... I like that.

Sometimes I have to jump a fence just to get where I want to dive.
There is a bunch of Barbed Wire in Texas ya know
I love to dive new spots by myself and to tell the truth since I really don't know what is going to be down there when I jump in I just try to make sure everything is correct before hand. Then I lock and load and pull the pin. After that I'm pretty much into survive and explore mode. Sometimes that means relax and enjoy. Sometimes that means freek and distroy ( distroy the fear that is ) Simple things can scare you sometimes when you are by yourself or even make you laugh. Maybe even both at the same time. Especially at night. I laugh a bunch sometimes when I'm alone
Usually the next day I'm still laughing inside and people wonder what the heck is going on with me .
It drives my Wife nuts

 

[dave4868]

I know alot of the time before I dive as I "jump the fence" and decide to dive I'm thinking about what I'll do during the dive, and I was wondering what goes through the minds of other true (by true I mean that there are no other dive operations around, or where the dive is remote enough that there aren't any other people around either~ maybe it's the wrong word, but you'll hopefully understand what I mean) solo divers before they enter the water. Probably fifty percent of my dives are in new areas where I don't have any previous dives or information from other divers about what will be down there, and I will confess that initially I have some jitters that make me very cautious, keeping the bottom in view all the time (I don't descend blind on any solo dive)~ it takes a few minutes before I'm "back home" ~ basically during the first drill of checking that everything is where it should be and working properly~and comfortable with the surroundings. Does anyone else "pathfind", or dive new alien sites? What are your procedures? Jim

Great question, Jim!

I have a bad habit of ignoring "worst case" scenarios when contemplating a riskier solo dive.

Instead, stupid thoughts keep coming to my mind about how great this dive will be or how disappointed I'll be if I chicken out, etc.

Luckily, common sense usually returns when I remind myself how many dive accidents are ridiculously unnecessary and that everybody will be saying, "What was he thinkin'?"

I guess it's fear of embarrassment that usually saves me from myself!

That's not to say I haven't found myself after a dive saying, "That really wasn't very smart!" :11: (Expletives deleted)

Anyway, prior to these more risky and 'truly' solo dives, I definitely take my time to think through the pro's and con's and try to be as objective as possible.

That might mean I'll sit at the dive site for a good long time observing conditions and contemplating the obstacles to self-rescue.

If I go ahead and start the dive and it becomes quite challenging and causes some "jitters", I'll take a break on the bottom for a couple minutes to look around, think, consider a safer dive plan or to consider aborting.

I'll tell you one thing, if all the "jitters" don't go completely away after taking that break, I change my dive plan to reduce the risk.

I know myself pretty well and my decision-making ability doesn't get along very well with "jitters", so I try not to mix the two.

Dave C

 

[nereas]

I normally do not solo at a site which is new. This is one of the several general rules of solo. Its in the book, and its in the course too.

Therefore I normally visualize the dive, based on the last time I dove the site.

I then make sure I have all the gear I need to address any contingency.

I also scrutinize the ocean and weather forecasts to make sure conditions will be ideal. Another rule of solo is to avoid less than ideal conditions.

Then I charge up both batteries (bat-trees, as A.G. calls them!), test the scooter, and away I go!