Solo Diving

[Sludge]

When I solo dive it is main line only and only in cave systems I am very familiar with.

That's very much like my situation, except maybe one very familiar jump.

[stairman]

I dont have a problem solo diving with the proper equipment at hand. That would be IMO a sidemount configuration with 2 spg's. No pesky isolator which is a weak point in the backmount setup. 2 masks, 2 computers, 4 lights, 2 safety reels, another buddy bottle and reg, not to even be used unless its an emergency. 2 knives and a wing inflator hose on each tank for wing and drysuit or 1 for each bladder on a dual wing. Still no redundant brain but with steady nerves and a totally relaxed heartrate, I say why not.

[benjamin]

I've always had the mind set that every dive I've ever made was solo, even when training. I wouldn't encourage solo cave diving to anyone who wasn't solid in their skills past full cave. I would encourage someone to be open to constructive criticism from their instructor and team members. Building experience with a team also helps you see things with them that might need attention, every dive is a learning experience. I enjoy solo diving and I enjoy diving with my buddy. Seems like there's a time and place for it all. I was putting away my gear one afternoon when I overheard a student flipping out on his instructor when he wouldn't pass him. The instructor told him he needed to spend some more time working on his skills then he got in his truck and drove off. The student looked over at me and yelled what the f***! I told him that guy just saved your life, do what he says. [Some of the best cave divers and instructors in the world are on this forum. I'm grateful for each and every one of you.]

[Meister481]

Asking for your thoughts. Do think it is OK to solo dive using the rule of thirds and carrying a Pony with a capacity of at least 1/3rd of your gas supply. In this case if you had a catastrophe failure at your deepest penetration you would still have enough gas to get out.
I'm not talking about exploration diving here just trying to get experience towards Full Cave. If you feel thats acceptable were can you make the dives? I know the state parks prohibit Solo diving. If you think Solo diving is not acceptable I would like to hear from you also.

If you're not full cave trained, you'd be diving above you training level. Instead of seeking proper training you are looking for instruction or guidance on here.

I cannot recommend you attempt solo diving until you are fully trained as a cave diver. There is a buddy section on here and utilizing it will allow you to dive with others more safely. There's no reason to push your training, please don't. Plenty of people looking for buddies out there.

[floridabob]

There are no issues that cannot be planned and handled either solo or team diving. The issue is experience that comes from diving. If you are attempting to get experience by solo diving then that is a potential problem. And the gas you need for an Oh Sh*t Exit may not be there in either a team exit or a solo exit if all you plan is a third in reserve based on a penetration during ideal conditions. Plenty to read about that on here.

+1 for trolling for buddies...seems to me that people looking to dive at an entry level (limited penetration/back gas only) are fairly plentiful. All you need to do is show up at a site on the right day or post a "buddy wanted" thread somewhere.

By the way, I solo dive regularly and enjoy it...and have no pre-disposition against it. FWIW

Have fun.

[Dsix36]

A previous post stated that solo diving can create bad habits prior to proper training. This very true and I speak from experience. I was very used to diving solo and not paying much attention to my buddy/buddies during a dive. When I started to do some deeper tech dives with some new buddies, well lets just say I got an earful a couple of times after I disappeared during a dive. Fortunately these guys didn't give up on me and they ended up teaching me a lot of the importantance of buddies and being a proper buddy myself.

Later on in life when I did my cave training this new found buddy skill proved to be invaluable and an actual necessity for the class. I still solo dive frequently and am comfortable doing so, but if I have a buddy with me then things have to go back to being a buddy rather than solo.

[RN]

Not being full cave trained, I'd also recommend against it. A large part of what I'm evaluating my full cave students on is situational and team awareness. You are likely to lose the team awareness if you do a lot of solo dives.

As for gas management, 1/3s is not enough when solo diving. I do a lot of solo dives, for various reasons. I never dive 1/3s when solo diving, even when I bring a buddy bottle. You would likely know 1/3s is not enough if you had more cave diving experience.

[Rich]

If you think solo diving in the overhead is dangerous, it is and you shouldn't do it.....

I find a lot of people will ask questions about something to try and justify their reason(s) to do it, please refer back to my previous statement.

Safe diving,

Rich

P.S. Just read some previous posts and if you're not Full cave certified this is a silly question, you don't know what you don't know...

[B-Bob]

I want to thank each and everyone of you for your very informative replys. I truley expected to get beat up pretty bad but your responses have seem to come from true experince and a conceren for the well being of a fellow diver.
To ease your fears I'm not new to diving only to Cave diving. If you go back and look at all the Post you will see the experience level of the responders is quite high. This is great for us needing your guidance. However, you have had years to cultivate a ring of Buddies to dive with and forget how difficult it is for the ones under full cave find a competent person to fill that roll. Several have mentioned finding buddies on this form. You try it, I have and so for have only gotten one response and it has'nt produced yet.( although it is looking like it might).
Point being it's not that easy. I was even willing to pay a Instructor just to get me in the water but the cost was considerably high. I had to rethink that one.
I know solo is not the ideal way to get Dives but I have many solo open water/wreck dives. All with proper back up gear and I also know I've been with some Buddies who put me in more danger than being Solo.
If any of you get a wild hair and want to dive with a Intro Guy let me know. Especially during the week. ( High Springs/ Luraville area)

[pink arrows]

Bob, I haven't met a single cave diver who isn't willing to dive down to any level once in a while. There was just a thread within the past few weeks (I think it was titled Intro Divers) with tons of cavern and intro level divers (and full cave divers) who would be great to contact.

I know a few people who "dive solo because they can't find a buddy". Find each other already! Lol. It isn't worth getting killed over, especially when you can easily meet buddies on here, at dive sites, or hanging out at one of the shops.