Buddy vs solo

[phillip1]

I was thinking about this today, is the buddy concept really that much safer?
I may be wrong but it appears to me that in all accidents were a team of one or more were involved the fact that there was a buddy or buddies made no difference in the outcome.

I think that any diver who is comfortable diving solo would have far more experience than divers who would not dive solo and thus be better prepared to deal with trouble on they're own, rather than rely on a buddy to bail them out.

I'm my opinion any life support system that could have a catastrophic failure and make you dependent on a buddy to get out alive is fundamentally flawed.
I think that if you dive a redundant system and are 100% self reliant you will be far safer than a system in which a buddy is a key safety component.

don't get me wrong I understand that a buddy can help you out with problems, I am just saying that a frame of mind were you feel safer because you have a buddy there is in my opinion not a good frame of mind in cave diving, what if you get separated etc..

I just think (i may be wrong) that great majority of accidents happened on a buddy team and it made no difference to have a buddy.

I think that the buddy system depends on the quality of your buddies and that solo diving depends on you, I feel more comfortable counting on myself rather than relying on my buddies.

I think you should be able to count on your buddy in a pinch, but not to dive and depend on your buddy, that is not a good frame of mind in my opinion.

If I am totally wrong gimme a break, I have been in a brace, in pain for a few weeks after acl surgery, driving myself mad watching YouTube cave diving videos, dying to get back in the water.

[LiteHedded]

to each his own.
I don't think, however, that the majority of us who regularly dive with buddies are 'dependent' on a buddy.

[jj1987]

to each his own.
I don't think, however, that the majority of us who regularly dive with buddies are 'dependent' on a buddy.

Agreed. I think those of us who choose to not dive solo have made an educated decision based off of accident analysis. The cheap shot about self sufficiency is a way to belittle those who dive with a buddy without giving any supporting evidence.

Recent deaths seem to be trained cave divers who are making mental errors (or medical related) that perhaps could be prevented by the assistance of another brain in the mix. That being said, if you're going to take a buddy along, ensure it's one that really can back you up.

But the cool thing about adulthood is you get to make your own decisions.

[Tegg]

I think it all boils down to the dive.

Some dives I have found that a buddy might not be a good thing. Others, having a buddy is essential.

Plan the dive well, and you will know which method is best for the dive.

[phillip1]

Definitely, I agree.
I was wondering if the buddy system ingrains a false sense of security in some people who feel safer by the mere presence of a buddy.
In reality in a cave or anywhere for that mater you should be prepared to handle any emergency situation on your own and not rely on anyone but yourself.

At first you gain experience by diving with a buddy, but to always dive with a buddy all the time on every dive?

[LiteHedded]

Definitely, I agree.
I was wondering if the buddy system ingrains a false sense of security in some people who feel safer by the mere presence of a buddy.
In reality in a cave or anywhere for that mater you should be prepared to handle any emergency situation on your own and not rely on anyone but yourself.

At first you gain experience by diving with a buddy, but to always dive with a buddy all the time on every dive?

i agree with that completely.

[Puttzer]

I was thinking about this today, is the buddy concept really that much safer?
I may be wrong but it appears to me that in all accidents were a team of one or more were involved the fact that there was a buddy or buddies made no difference in the outcome.

.............

I think every time I see this line of thought / question, it seems to turn ugly.
Surely we have all seen the postings.

Why not first just define your use of the word safer?
Then the question may be passe.

[phillip1]

Don't get me wrong I dive on a regular basis with buddies, it is a lot of fun to be with a friend or friends on dives, discover new caves together etc.. But we do not feel safer just because we are together on perticular dive.
i don't know much about accident analysis but all the accidents I have read about involving solo divers had the same outcome as the ones involving buddy teams, the buddy appeared to make no difference.

[phillip1]

I don't mean for this to get " ugly" I was just wondering.
I meant that some people might feel more safe/comfortable with a buddy but for no other reason than the actual presence of the buddy, this in my opinion is being dependent for your comfort and perceived safety and in my view is why the buddy system is flawed.

[jj1987]

I don't mean for this to get " ugly" I was just wondering.
I meant that some people might feel more safe/comfortable with a buddy but for no other reason than the actual presence of the buddy, this in my opinion is being dependent for your comfort and perceived safety and in my view is why the buddy system is flawed.

Remember when you were arguing with Andrew over gas math? You bring tons of gas...maybe the presense of extra gas makes you feel more comfortable for no other reason than the actual presence of the gas.

It's flawed logic, but since these are stupid arguments, we can flip them on each other real quick.