OK, another SCUBA related question

OK, to help get things going in 2006, here's another SCUBA related question.
Being new to SCUBA myself, I'm curious as to the opinion of our more
"seasoned" individuals here (professional or otherwise).

Among the different diving agencies I've discovered (PADI, NAUI, etc.), there
is SDI/TDI. They've peaked my interest because they offer a "Solo Diver" course
and rating, the only agency I know of that does (this, of course, being soooooooo
against the PADI philosophy of always having a dive "buddy"). For the record,
since I'm still learning, of course I'll have either an instructor, divemaster, or
dive buddy with me at all times. Nonetheless, the thought of being able to go
"solo" at some point in my diving life is intriguing.

With most "skills" type things I've mastered in life, I've always seemed to do
it best when I've had time to practice and perfect techniques I've learned from my
instructor on my own, thereby relieving any "performance anxiety" I might have
with the instructor present. I felt that way a little when getting my "Niveau 1*" cert.
in Tahiti last year (eqv. of PADI "Open Water"), wanting desperately to have some
practice time to myself, which obviously, I couldn't have. Similarly, upon picking up
a PADI "Peak Performance Buoyancy" diver specialty rating in October, I had similar
desires.

So when I learned that SDI/TDI offers this "Solo Diver" rating, and that the facility I
go to at home for training recognizes and permits these divers (they require them to
wear a transponder at all times and are supervised by the lookout employees), I was
curious as to why it would be offered at all and whether or not anyone would seek
it, the concept being such a pariah with PADI et al. As it turns out, the rating does
me no good in resolving any "performance anxiety" issues, since to qualify for it one
must have:
1) "Advanced Open Water" or equivalent;
2) Been diving for over 1 year;
3) Accumulate 100 logged dives or more.

By the time I do all of the above, I should *already* have resolved my anxiety
issues or something is truly wrong. (BTW, the "anxiety" is not as bad as I'm
making it sound..... I'm just being my "perfectionist" self and wanting to be as
good and seamless as my instructors make it look. I know that will take time).

Anyway, what's the feeling here on going "solo," given the appropriate experience,
training, and conditions?

Thanks, and safe diving to all in 2006.

____________________________________________
Regards,

Arnold

"mag3" <zmpmag3-plongee@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:dk4gr1h27rv4u866b22q8leg4tefhm4rii@4ax.com...
>
> Anyway, what's the feeling here on going "solo," given the appropriate
> experience,
> training, and conditions?

I dive solo most of the time.

There are also many dives I would -never- solo.

It's a personal decision, and assuming you have even a room temperature
IQ, you can read up on, and probably receive even more information than, any
course you can take.

Either you're ready to solo dive or you aren't, no ones' decision but your
own, and the card means nothing.

I.e., the class won't hurt, but, if you're not ready to solo -without- the
class, you're not ready, period.

It will not "enable" you to solo, so to speak.

It's sole benefit (besides fattening an instructors' wallet) is that some
places/boats -might- let you solo dive.

Most of those that do, in my experience, don't so much ask for a card as
they just "don't ask, don't tell".

Solo diving is common all over Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina.

I do -not- carry a RAS (look it up , or modify my gear in any way,
primarily because I service my own gear and trust it implicitly.

Many will argue that point (I don't think it's a bad idea).

The only suggestion I offer is that you dive in shallow, clear water
several times to get used to it.

My favorite dives inland are night AOW training dives, where I swim around
completely in the dark and scare the crap out of the students.

As an added point, myself and others here also feel that -having- a buddy,
in some situations, is possibly more dangerous than going solo.

If you've ever been paired with a random idiot on a cattleboat, you'll
understand.

Something else- the revelation that I was -already- a solo diver was
something I learned here.

If you and your mates aren't -perfect- buddy divers, you've already been
soloing.

Best put yourself in the state of mind that goes with it.

Bjórrúnar skaltu Popeye <Popeye@Finalprotectivefire.com> rista


> I dive solo most of the time.

That's because you know you can't trust many people who might dive
with you.

I've been diving solo for over 10 years. All of the guys that I went diving
with were underwater hunters just like myself. Whenever you are hunting fish
your "buddies" are doing the same, therfore it's basicaly solo.
From that time on I very rarely dive with anyone else and I am perfectly
happy doing it that way. By the way
I am PADI certified. After all the certification is just a ticket to buy
gear and get your tanks filled.

Good luck
"mag3" <zmpmag3-plongee@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:dk4gr1h27rv4u866b22q8leg4tefhm4rii@4ax.com...
> OK, to help get things going in 2006, here's another SCUBA related
> question.
> Being new to SCUBA myself, I'm curious as to the opinion of our more
> "seasoned" individuals here (professional or otherwise).
>
> Among the different diving agencies I've discovered (PADI, NAUI, etc.),
> there
> is SDI/TDI. They've peaked my interest because they offer a "Solo Diver"
> course
> and rating, the only agency I know of that does (this, of course, being
> soooooooo
> against the PADI philosophy of always having a dive "buddy"). For the
> record,
> since I'm still learning, of course I'll have either an instructor,
> divemaster, or
> dive buddy with me at all times. Nonetheless, the thought of being able to
> go
> "solo" at some point in my diving life is intriguing.
>
> With most "skills" type things I've mastered in life, I've always seemed
> to do
> it best when I've had time to practice and perfect techniques I've learned
> from my
> instructor on my own, thereby relieving any "performance anxiety" I might
> have
> with the instructor present. I felt that way a little when getting my
> "Niveau 1*" cert.
> in Tahiti last year (eqv. of PADI "Open Water"), wanting desperately to
> have some
> practice time to myself, which obviously, I couldn't have. Similarly, upon
> picking up
> a PADI "Peak Performance Buoyancy" diver specialty rating in October, I
> had similar
> desires.
>
> So when I learned that SDI/TDI offers this "Solo Diver" rating, and that
> the facility I
> go to at home for training recognizes and permits these divers (they
> require them to
> wear a transponder at all times and are supervised by the lookout
> employees), I was
> curious as to why it would be offered at all and whether or not anyone
> would seek
> it, the concept being such a pariah with PADI et al. As it turns out, the
> rating does
> me no good in resolving any "performance anxiety" issues, since to qualify
> for it one
> must have:
> 1) "Advanced Open Water" or equivalent;
> 2) Been diving for over 1 year;
> 3) Accumulate 100 logged dives or more.
>
> By the time I do all of the above, I should *already* have resolved my
> anxiety
> issues or something is truly wrong. (BTW, the "anxiety" is not as bad as
> I'm
> making it sound..... I'm just being my "perfectionist" self and wanting to
> be as
> good and seamless as my instructors make it look. I know that will take
> time).
>
> Anyway, what's the feeling here on going "solo," given the appropriate
> experience,
> training, and conditions?
>
> Thanks, and safe diving to all in 2006.
>
> ____________________________________________
> Regards,
>
> Arnold

mag3 wrote:
> OK, to help get things going in 2006, here's another SCUBA related question.
> Being new to SCUBA myself, I'm curious as to the opinion of our more
> "seasoned" individuals here (professional or otherwise).
>
> Among the different diving agencies I've discovered (PADI, NAUI, etc.), there
> is SDI/TDI. They've peaked my interest because they offer a "Solo Diver" course
> and rating, the only agency I know of that does (this, of course, being soooooooo
> against the PADI philosophy of always having a dive "buddy"). For the record,
> since I'm still learning, of course I'll have either an instructor, divemaster, or
> dive buddy with me at all times. Nonetheless, the thought of being able to go
> "solo" at some point in my diving life is intriguing.
>

If you need a Class to dive solo then you're not ready to dive solo!

On Sun, 1 Jan 2006 17:49:36 -0500, "Popeye" <Popeye@Finalprotectivefire.com> wrote:

> It's a personal decision, and assuming you have even a room temperature
>IQ, you can read up on, and probably receive even more information than, any
>course you can take.
>
> Either you're ready to solo dive or you aren't, no ones' decision but your
>own, and the card means nothing.
>
> I.e., the class won't hurt, but, if you're not ready to solo -without- the
>class, you're not ready, period.

Understood. When did you (and what made you) realize you were "ready?"

> It's sole benefit (besides fattening an instructors' wallet) is that some
>places/boats -might- let you solo dive.
>
> Most of those that do, in my experience, don't so much ask for a card as
>they just "don't ask, don't tell".

Not the quary spring I go to. They card you to the hilt. Liability concerns.
Which makes me wonder then why they accept solo divers at all.


> My favorite dives inland are night AOW training dives, where I swim around
>completely in the dark and scare the crap out of the students.

<Student's shock/terror face> GASP!!! Remind me not to take any training
dives with you!!!!


> As an added point, myself and others here also feel that -having- a buddy,
>in some situations, is possibly more dangerous than going solo.
>
> If you've ever been paired with a random idiot on a cattleboat, you'll
>understand.

I do, even not having been paired as such. As my mom's instructor told her
(she is also PADI certified), "The most dangerous thing to you underwater
is not the sharks, corals, or other animals...... It's another human being!"

> Best put yourself in the state of mind that goes with it.

Will do. Thanks much. Just out of curiosity, how do you "log" solo
dives, or do you not bother?



____________________________________________
Regards,

Arnold

"Hostlbuddha" <nisarel@postmaster.co.ku> wrote in message
news:Xns973E980D8E2EAnisarelpostmastercou@66.150.1 05.47...
> Bjórrúnar skaltu Popeye <Popeye@Finalprotectivefire.com> rista
>
>
>> I dive solo most of the time.
>
> That's because you know you can't trust many people who might dive
> with you.

Actually even spastic, apoplectic fools like you don't worry me.

Bjórrúnar skaltu Popeye <Popeye@Finalprotectivefire.com> rista

> "Hostlbuddha" <nisarel@postmaster.co.ku> wrote in message
>> Bjórrúnar skaltu Popeye <Popeye@Finalprotectivefire.com>
>> rista
>>
>>> "Hostlbuddha" <nisarel@postmaster.co.ku> wrote in message
>>
>>>> Bjórrúnar skaltu Popeye <Popeye@Finalprotectivefire.com>
>>>> rista
>>>>
>>>>> I dive solo most of the time.
>>>>
>>>> That's because you know you can't trust many people who
>>>> might dive with you.
>>>
>>> Actually even spastic, apoplectic fools like me don't
>>> worry you.
>>
>> We know you're frightened, Douggy.
>>
>> That's why you just sputter and spew from the newsgroup.
>>
>> You claimed that you knew my name and address.
>>
>> Yet you won't come up and visit.
>>
>> You're just a frightened fat fuckwit.
>
> The same noise always comes from those too afraid to
> identify themselves.

That's such a nasty thing to say about your buddies, Fatboy.

We know you're all bluff and bluster, Douggy.

"Hostlbuddha" <nisarel@postmaster.co.ku> wrote in message
news:Xns973EB4B035B9Cnisarelpostmastercou@66.150.1 05.47...
>> The same noise always comes from those too afraid to
>> identify themselves.
>
> That's such a nasty thing to say about your buddies, Fatboy.
>
> We know you're all bluff and bluster, Douggy.

The problem with you not having a spine is that there isn't anything
separate your mouth and your asshole.

The shit just spews out whatever hole it finds.

On Sun, 1 Jan 2006 20:11:51 -0500, "Popeye" <Popeye@Finalprotectivefire.com> wrote:

>
> Take this advice- spend the Solo cert money on a regulator maintenance
>course.

Such as the PADI "Equipment Specialist" specialty rating course, or something
a bit more technical/professional (eg. DSAT course)?

> I took one weeks after being certified, and when you have a complete
>understanding of how your gear lets you breathe underwater, you'll find that
>builds a great deal of confidence.

Actually, that's one aspect with which I'm already quite confident (as opposed
to some I know who are afraid to go near the water for fear that it "won't work").
As long as I ensure the equipment is serviced and working (tested) beforehand,
I'm good to go. But point well taken nonetheless. Never hurts to know the finer
points. Since I just purchased all new equipment for myself (my first
regulator/computer etc.), I'll have it checked at the dive shop before its first
use. I have a few mask issues to resolve (keeps leaking) but that I think is a
matter of picking the right mask for my head/face and then wearing it right
(strap at proper tension etc.).

Where I need confidence/practice is in neutral buoyancy maintenance, efficiency
in the water (finning/movements) and subsequentially, air tank efficiency (using
less air). And that comes with more dives/experience and being in better shape
physically.

>>> Most of those that do, in my experience, don't so much ask for a card as
>>>they just "don't ask, don't tell".
>>
>> Not the quary spring I go to. They card you to the hilt. Liability
>> concerns.
>> Which makes me wonder then why they accept solo divers at all.
>
> To sell solo certs.

Sorry, I was talking about the quarry facility itself, which I don't think offers
training directly. They simply host all the dive shops around them which have
their own training programs, but they also take certified independent divers
(buddied or not) as well. Those diving solo there must have the SDI/TDI cert,
and use the transponder (which, of course, they're happy to rent to you).

>>> My favorite dives inland are night AOW training dives, where I swim
>>> around
>>>completely in the dark and scare the crap out of the students.
>>
>> <Student's shock/terror face> GASP!!! Remind me not to take any training
>> dives with you!!!!
>
> There is nothing as cool as diving in the pitch black.

For now, I'll take your word for it. That's going to be a longer term confidence
goal for me.

> Everyone I teach to do it seems to have a proximity sense for stuff, plus
>you keep one hand in front of you.
>
> Hell, try it in the pool, with the lights off, you'll love it.

OK, that I can try.

>
> I would suggest you log your first couple hundred dives, tho, for further
>certification stuff.

Absolutely. Thanks again.

____________________________________________
Regards,

Arnold