Solo dive cert

**MgicTwnger** · 09-11-2007, 09:27 PM

There is a local instructor who teaches a class in solo diving. I am unsure of the certifying agency. The question I want to throw out is: is it worth it?

Being tech oriented myself, I dive with redundant gear already: doubles with an isolation manifold, two regs, two computers, spare mask, and so forth. I'm not sure what I could get from the class or who would recognize it besides the quarry it is taught at.

Huggyd · 09-17-2007, 05:57 AM

I didn't know such a thing was even around, always dive in pairs or more.

**glynneco** · 09-17-2007, 12:11 PM

Yeah, the rub is very few operators will accept it. They prefer the legal cover of the buddy system. The reality is if you are very experienced and diving with "some buddies" you might make the argument you're better off by diving solo! I have noticed though that a lot of operators who have dealt with experienced divers will readily go along with same ocean buddy rules. Practically I see no advantage. As an additional C-Card though it looks to be a good conversation/argument strarter though!

**MgicTwnger** · 09-17-2007, 06:42 PM

Yeah, that's what I figured, its pretty much useless. I follow the philosophy that you should not solo dive, but should be prepared/equipped to solve any problems without help from another diver. Involving someone else chances injuring the other guy, and probably will not help you anyway. Getting help from another diver should be the last choice but could be the only choice.

**glynneco** · 09-17-2007, 11:53 PM

Yeah, I think you summed it up nicely

climmer7 · 03-25-2009, 01:38 AM

It's always been my understanding that most deep wreck tech divers preferred to dive solo. They sometimes dive in pairs to help each other recover artifacts and such, but generally avoid relying on the "buddy system".

Vegas · 04-04-2009, 07:55 PM

I can add one technical diver's input on this...

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The terminology was different in tech training, to reflect the different role a fellow diver plays on the dive. My fellow student was not referred to as my buddy, but instead was my "team mate".
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ALOT of things are different in tech though, and some of the challenge for divers with even decades of recreational diving experience (as my team mate during training has been a recreational dive instructor for probably almost as long as I've been breathing), is UN-learning some things to learn the new.
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And though we're taught independence, self-reliance, redundant-everything, and ALWAYS have a plan B, plan C, and a plan D that does not require another diver to execute...we were also taught team-work, and diving with another (appropriately trained and outfitted) diver can provide one major thing that can be supplied no other way ..... a "redundant brain". But, yes, a tech diver IS trained to "be your own buddy".
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I do some dives that I wouldn't dream of doing without my most trusted team mate.

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Yet, I also do many "independant dives" now, where there are other divers around in the water, but we generally are paying minimal attention to each other 'till we're all back on the boat, or hanging out on the deco line together.
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I ONLY do these dives, however, in Full Tech Gear, with a specific plan, and dive that plan.
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I did alot of my (non-wreck-penetrating) dives this way in Truk Lagoon. ...and often those dives ended with me being last in the water (hooray for a low SAC rate! <grin>) doing my last couple of deco stops alone (sometimes in the dark, as the others started dinner!)
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When I am in recreational gear, I only do recreational dives: No deco, appropriate limits, and with a buddy.