How to make Solo Rebreather diving safer?

nigelh

This thread looked like it might have been interesting but it has been hijacked by the "Solo diving is suicidal" tendency.

Can we assume we're mad and discuss what makes mad solo diving safer please.
It's something I'm interested in.

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nigelh

Dave Sutton

"The safest way to dive solo is to refuse to dive with an idiot."

Another original pithy observation from The Little Diveshop of Horrors. Use freely and often.


A deadly serious analysis of everything around any particular dive is an essential part of solo diving. Gear, Diver, Environment, etc. 75% of my diving is solo. I tend to be VERY cautious and far less likely to cut a corner when solo... I penetrate shallower, set run times shorter, etc. I end up thinking it's safer, but that's just me. It reduces one set of variables, but opens others.

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"Changes in Lattitudes, Changes in Attitudes, Nothing remains quite the same".... www.nobubblediving.com

bletso

Now, someone top that little bit of wisdom!!!!!

Dale

nigelh

But isn't this just it?
If you're diving in a pair you always have the pressure that you don't want to 'spoil' the other guys dive?
Alone I can decide I'm not quite happy with some minor detail so I'll call it for the day early or, if I want, I can spend a silly amount of time with my nose in a hole wondering if this piece of old timber is significant and pass up the grand tour of the site.

Also I find that the only time I can sense the rebreather working, hearing the solenoid and knowing that I'm breathing shallow so step it up a bit is solo. All those bits of my head that usually worry about where the other guy is and what he is doing just relax and do a running commentary on what's happening.

I also find that my deco is far more conservative solo because nothing hurries me... Well... Provided I remembered to hitch up the p-valve.

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nigelh

diverreb

For me it depends on the type of diving I'm doing. For example when I'm in the Keys I don't mind doing buddy dives. For me, they tend to be more sightseeing/photography type dives and with clear water, it's relatively easy to keep an eye on one's buddy.

Diving here in MD, DE, or NJ it's a different story. The vis averages 15 - 20' or so and I'm usually looking for lobsters, scallops, or fish as I cruise the wrecks. With focus my on monitoring my own well being as well as being in a hunting mode, unless my "buddy" is willing to just follow me around, I prefer to dive solo...... for reasons Dave & Nigel pointed out.

I carry two sources of dil & O2, therefore pretty much only a catastrophic loop failure would render the Breather unusable. Proper maintenance, preventative maintenance & vigilant pre-dive checks minimizes this type of thing.

Changing cells on a rotating schedule (Swap one out every three or four months during the dive season and buy fresh ones one at a time on the same schedule) helps minimize the bad batch of cells issue and always keeps at least two of your cells six to seven months old or less.

Lastly, having a BOV & adequate bailout on all dives, as well as not having a stay on the loop at all costs mentality adds to the safety chain.

After reading the posts of problems divers have had it makes me a lot more aware of potential issues that can can go from what is initially perceived as annoyances to full blown serious issues. Therefore I dive with the attitude that if something doesn't feel quite right and I'm not 100%, the dive gets bagged & I'm on Bailout.

With all the above I feel that I'm limiting...... but not eliminating, the risks associated with Solo diving.

Richie

richie

i agree fully with dave and nigelh . as 98% of my diving is solo, its nice to take your time , going where i want to go , without worrying where your buddy is

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assumption is mother of all **** ups

Dave Sutton

Precisely. Do do exactly as I want, exactly when I want, and give up and come back exactly when I want. I jump in when I'm good and ready and if I feel like sleeping thru the second dive instead of diving, I sleep. Zero peer-pressure, and I am lots happier and likely lots safer. I've dived this way since 1974 and it's been fine.... now with my luck saying that, I'll drown tangled in a net next week.


Dave

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"Changes in Lattitudes, Changes in Attitudes, Nothing remains quite the same".... www.nobubblediving.com

bobby

I go about CCR solo diving exactly as I do OC solo diving. Every procedure is built around diving solo and solving my own issues. I do my own bubble checks with a mirror and carry the mirror with me. If I have a doubt I can check things on the dive. All of my gear is set up so I can access is and remove it if need be.

I plan my gas on CCR for having to go SCR on the unit. I also carry enough OC bail out to get myself out with plenty to spare. Every dive is performed the same regardless of diving solo or with a team mate. If I with a team mate then I plan on helping if needed and taking care of myself if there is a problem on my end.

I run more conservative PPO2's than most do and do a little more deco but I like being in the water so it is all good in the end.

Bobby

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No matter the amount of experience we can all learn and no matter the experience we can all teach.

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