Solo Diving

[a64pilot]

Do people really still do 1/3's for solo OC? I am just wondering, since I know people who push it to the very limit. After going to a few of Edd's clinics I've gone to a 1/4's for OC diving, unless I am in a system I know like the palm of my hand. Just my 2 cents.

I'll go thirds, but only if I'm dragging a safety bottle along, one that I don't touch. I know that's not thirds really, but my way of thinking is if I ever use that safety bottle, I have really screwed up, so it's not in my gas planning at all. Scootering, I do 1/4, not counting the safety bottle.

[Captain Bil]

I almost always solo on my CCR, I don't like being held back on my dives. I don't do anything different, I believe in the whole self-sufficiency thing.

Ditto. I dive CCR cave solo quite regularly. I way overdo the bailout, but I get some great dives in that way.

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[w ripley]

I'm not sure I understand the reason for 3rds, halves, etc., when solo on CCR. I tend to carry my BO/stage bottle(s) and drop them where I will use 80% - 90% of that/those bottles to get out. I then work around the last bottle dropped, the distance from the last bottle being based on the BO I have on me. I'm a little different than most, in that I've got 2 steel 45s pumped on my canister (see the yellow tanks in my avatar) & 1 or 2 alum 40s sidemounted. There's also an AL40 at the cave sign with 100%. All bottles can be plugged into the RB.

I'm comfortable that I can get out safely with the BO I carry in. Most people think I'm nuts to take so much gas with me, but it's my comfort level that is the only thing that counts.

[Sludge]

I way overdo the bailout

That's the only way to solo in a cave. I breathe one-third of an AL80 in, and don't touch backgas. If I want a longer dive, I breathe one-fourth each of two AL80s.

[JamesK]

That's the only way to solo in a cave. I breathe one-third of an AL80 in, and don't touch backgas. If I want a longer dive, I breathe one-fourth each of two AL80s.

That's pretty much what I have done I the past. Backgas does not get touched and the dive is done on stages.

[CaveMD]

When I backmounted I usually did 1/2+200 on a stage without using back gas. In sidemount I just dive 1/3's with a 200-300 psi cushion unless it's gnarly wiggle type passage.

[jcook]

I'm not sure I understand the reason for 3rds, halves, etc., when solo on CCR.

Bill, I do halves in a cave I know well solo on my CCR for BO gas planning. Half to get me out and half for someone I may run into or if I get in more trouble after I bail. If it is a new cave, I will stick to 1/3's for bailout planning. 1/3 to get out, and 2/3's for emergencies. This is just my planning to make me comfortable. My instructor even told me I carry too much gas sometimes, but I just like having a bunch of gas and LP85's aren't any bigger than AL80's. I don't believe in just carrying enough gas to get me out from the maximum point of penetration, that would be like cave diving on OC with 1/2's.

[gianaameri]

For you rebreather folk out there, do you solo on your CCR and do you do anything different then when you dive with other CCR divers?

There is no reason (it would increase risk) to do anything different. I prefer a standard configuration for all diving (sidemount as the basic configuration with the rebreather as a removeable/ditcheable add-on tool/accessory on the back) irrespective if I am diving Solo, with other CCR Divers, or in a mixed "team/group."

[Bobby]

For you rebreather folk out there, do you solo on your CCR and do you do anything different then when you dive with other CCR divers?

Yes I solo dive CCR. It depends on who I am diving with and how they manage their BO. I tend to carry a good bit of gas with me anyway on the CCR but some of the divers I guide carry, IMO, minimal BO. I simply increase the amount I carry to feel comfortable in having enough gas to handle anything that might occur. The way I am set up I can carry any size cylinders side mounted and stages above and below them as well so it is easy.

[RN]

Do people really still do 1/3's for solo OC? I am just wondering, since I know people who push it to the very limit. After going to a few of Edd's clinics I've gone to a 1/4's for OC diving, unless I am in a system I know like the palm of my hand. Just my 2 cents.

I don't even dive 1/3s in a team. It's just not conservative enough. Unfortunately there are a lot of divers out there that do dive 1/3s. I've even heard of some doing DPV dives and diving 1/3s.