Solo rebreather diving - a summary

cedricverdier · 17th June 2006, 03:42

Hi all,

After having published the article: How to make Solo Rebreather Diving safer?
http://www.rebreatherworld.com/rebre...html#post52309

I received a lot of PMs and emails. it looks like people don't like to openly discuss about their opinion in a forum, when it comes to solo diving. I guess some bad experiences in the past.

So here is a summary of all the posts (from Rebreather World and other forums), PMs and emails I got. A lot of ideas. If anybody has more ideas, feel free. The more the better before I update my article.

How to be safer as a solo rebreather diver?

General:

Avoid potential entanglement and entrapment situations.
Avoid task loading (so no video unless conditions are perfect, no line laying, etc).
Run the dive well inside CNS limits possibly dropping the set point on deeper dives (also gives more time to react to solenoid issues should they occur).
At the surface have someone to double check equipment and dive plan.
Take more time in depth range 6-10 m to make final check on Rebreather, bail out and very carefully "listen to the body feelings". After 2-4 min, if all checks ok go deeper.
Or get someone to check the unit on the way down, usually standard bubble check at 6m and check at the bottom.
If something doesn't seem right, go to OC.

Equipment:

Carry enough OC bailout. Usually 150% of what calculated.
Bail out rebreather: not to be trusted it in all situations yet.
Always carry a mirror/CD to check own gear if need be.
Have 2 cutting devices at least, accessible with both hands, 2 red bags as well as the standard yellow, and backup lights.

Boat dive:

Get some sort of plate with the name. Each diver can leave it at the rope when he arrives at the wreck, and take it with him up when he leaves.
Deploy lift bag/SMB.

Overhead environment

Be concerned about physical injury, collapses, pinches in closing doors or falling rocks, cramps, entanglement.
For complex dives either in ways of cave navigation, wreck penetration or deco and gas schedules, plan for brain fart

How to make sure that someone will start looking for a missing solo diver in a reasonable time frame?

Shore dive:

Have a web cam that points out on the path shore divers take.

Cave or shore dive:

Have a bubble watcher, give them a reasonable schedule for the dive and limit the dive to the planned time
If no bubble watcher, leave a written, dated and timed plan with someone or on the car. Have someone expecting a phone call at the end of the dive.

Boat dive:

Have a max dive time after which the surface team move to rescue mode.
All divers can agree to be back at the shot by a precise time. Failure to meet up or a strobe left on the line would force a search.
Always have one crew member in a dry suit ready to splash
Take tagged clips to attach to the bottom of the line after descent, then to be removed when on the way to the surface. If someone doesn't make the line by the max time allowed per the plan, divers can start the search rather than delaying until after ascent and then realizing that someone is late.
If the wrong colour SMB surfaces, then the surface support splashing to see what is going on.

How to increase the chance for the missing diver to be quickly spotted and rescued by the other divers?

Have white equipment. White is the best seen underwater. White stages. A white slate (outside at the tie-off point on a guideline (wreck or cave).
Have a strobe attached to the back of the unit.
Lay a line on the wreck and tag the line to minimize the search area.
Rescue team should use a scooter for optimal coverage.
Everyone has to be trained to rescue a rebreather diver (basic knowledge about procedures and rebreathers and first aid).

Cheers

Mixaddict · 17th June 2006, 17:15

Cedric,

Interesting comments. Thanks for your efforts.

MixAddict

**Gill Envy** · 18th June 2006, 22:17

Cedric, thanks so much for championing open communication about something that is so controvertial...anything that can help improve diving skills is worth talking about, and in this case, as has been pointed out, we should always be diving with a "solo diver's" level of awareness, so these points are potentially helpful to us all.

pbsouthwood · 19th June 2006, 11:50

Hi Cedric,
An interesting posting.
I have a few questions.
If you have all these backup facilities, why would you be diving solo in the first place?
Many of your suggestions are practical and well considered, but if you are going to have someone on standby to do a rescue attempt, would it not be more practical to just dive together in the first place. I dive solo quite frequently, though seldom on rebreather, and often because conditions are right and I need to go do the survey, and no-one is available on short notice that I am willing to dive with, so I let someone know when I expect to be out of the water and make a phone call to confirm I am out. I always assume if I get into trouble I must get myself out and plan accordingly.
Cheers,
Peter

cedricverdier · 19th June 2006, 13:44

Quote: (Originally Posted by pbsouthwood)

Hi Cedric,
An interesting posting.
I have a few questions.
If you have all these backup facilities, why would you be diving solo in the first place?
Many of your suggestions are practical and well considered, but if you are going to have someone on standby to do a rescue attempt, would it not be more practical to just dive together in the first place. I dive solo quite frequently, though seldom on rebreather, and often because conditions are right and I need to go do the survey, and no-one is available on short notice that I am willing to dive with, so I let someone know when I expect to be out of the water and make a phone call to confirm I am out. I always assume if I get into trouble I must get myself out and plan accordingly.
Cheers,
Peter

Hi Peter,

Living in an ideal world would be great but I unfortunately don't think that all the solo rebreather divers worldwide could have all these backup facilities...

Even if it's the case, having somebody who can look for you and attempt a rescue doesn't mean this person would be a suitable buddy (OC diver, diver who doesn't share the same interest than you, etc)

Cheers

sven · 19th June 2006, 13:48

Cedric,

Excellent post! Have some green :-)

A few more points to consider (some already mentioned, but I prefer stronger wording):
- spare mask
- spare reel and SMB (agree on colours prior to dive to indicate trouble)
- spare computer and/or 2 sets of tables
- spare torch
- spare set of cutting device
- bailout for every! stage of the dive
- slate + SMB to send up for communication with surface

Nothing new in the list above, just for completeness' sake.

cedricverdier · 20th June 2006, 14:29

Quote: (Originally Posted by sven)

Cedric,

Excellent post! Have some green :-)

A few more points to consider (some already mentioned, but I prefer stronger wording):
- spare mask
- spare reel and SMB (agree on colours prior to dive to indicate trouble)
- spare computer and/or 2 sets of tables
- spare torch
- spare set of cutting device
- bailout for every! stage of the dive
- slate + SMB to send up for communication with surface

Nothing new in the list above, just for completeness' sake.

Sven,

Very good points! Thanks for your input.

Cheers

***Louby Lou*** · 24th June 2006, 21:40

Hi All

Just to let you know that Cedric has updated his article and it can be found HERE in the library and also on Cedric's website

Cheers

Lou

mattmexico · 25th June 2006, 05:13

yo

A couple of times a safety and support diver came up. When solo diving and if deep your live may depemd on the support crew just out of logisitcal reasons such as of not being able to carry all bailout to the surface.

So what about the support divers and how do you deal with them and their responsability. None of them go into deco, or you have a deep one, medium depth and shallow one, deco station operation, full understanding of deep divers needs. No one is diving below training and experience depth. They can become such a large liability instead of an asset. When is it rescue and when is it support.

Matt

17th June 2006, 03:42	#1 (permalink)
cedricverdier S21 M.I.B. Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Worldwide! Posts: 486	Solo rebreather diving - a summary Hi all, After having published the article: How to make Solo Rebreather Diving safer? http://www.rebreatherworld.com/rebre...html#post52309 I received a lot of PMs and emails. it looks like people don't like to openly discuss about their opinion in a forum, when it comes to solo diving. I guess some bad experiences in the past. So here is a summary of all the posts (from Rebreather World and other forums), PMs and emails I got. A lot of ideas. If anybody has more ideas, feel free. The more the better before I update my article. How to be safer as a solo rebreather diver? General: Avoid potential entanglement and entrapment situations. Avoid task loading (so no video unless conditions are perfect, no line laying, etc). Run the dive well inside CNS limits possibly dropping the set point on deeper dives (also gives more time to react to solenoid issues should they occur). At the surface have someone to double check equipment and dive plan. Take more time in depth range 6-10 m to make final check on Rebreather, bail out and very carefully "listen to the body feelings". After 2-4 min, if all checks ok go deeper. Or get someone to check the unit on the way down, usually standard bubble check at 6m and check at the bottom. If something doesn't seem right, go to OC. Equipment: Carry enough OC bailout. Usually 150% of what calculated. Bail out rebreather: not to be trusted it in all situations yet. Always carry a mirror/CD to check own gear if need be. Have 2 cutting devices at least, accessible with both hands, 2 red bags as well as the standard yellow, and backup lights. Boat dive: Get some sort of plate with the name. Each diver can leave it at the rope when he arrives at the wreck, and take it with him up when he leaves. Deploy lift bag/SMB. Overhead environment Be concerned about physical injury, collapses, pinches in closing doors or falling rocks, cramps, entanglement. For complex dives either in ways of cave navigation, wreck penetration or deco and gas schedules, plan for brain fart How to make sure that someone will start looking for a missing solo diver in a reasonable time frame? Shore dive: Have a web cam that points out on the path shore divers take. Cave or shore dive: Have a bubble watcher, give them a reasonable schedule for the dive and limit the dive to the planned time If no bubble watcher, leave a written, dated and timed plan with someone or on the car. Have someone expecting a phone call at the end of the dive. Boat dive: Have a max dive time after which the surface team move to rescue mode. All divers can agree to be back at the shot by a precise time. Failure to meet up or a strobe left on the line would force a search. Always have one crew member in a dry suit ready to splash Take tagged clips to attach to the bottom of the line after descent, then to be removed when on the way to the surface. If someone doesn't make the line by the max time allowed per the plan, divers can start the search rather than delaying until after ascent and then realizing that someone is late. If the wrong colour SMB surfaces, then the surface support splashing to see what is going on. How to increase the chance for the missing diver to be quickly spotted and rescued by the other divers? Have white equipment. White is the best seen underwater. White stages. A white slate (outside at the tie-off point on a guideline (wreck or cave). Have a strobe attached to the back of the unit. Lay a line on the wreck and tag the line to minimize the search area. Rescue team should use a scooter for optimal coverage. Everyone has to be trained to rescue a rebreather diver (basic knowledge about procedures and rebreathers and first aid). Cheers __________________ Cedric Verdier PADI Course Director, ANDI-IANTD-PSAI-TDI-DSAT-DAN-NAUI-CMAS Instructor Trainer Trimix (CCR and OC) and Cave Diving Instructor Trainer www.CedricVerdier.com DIRrebreather member
(Offline)

17th June 2006, 17:15	#2 (permalink)
Mixaddict Always Learning! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Other CCR Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Draper, Utah USA Posts: 415	Re: Solo rebreather diving - a summary Cedric, Interesting comments. Thanks for your efforts. MixAddict
(Online)

18th June 2006, 22:17	#3 (permalink)
Gill Envy Shearwater Copis Diver Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Other CCR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: seattle Posts: 1,209	Re: Solo rebreather diving - a summary Cedric, thanks so much for championing open communication about something that is so controvertial...anything that can help improve diving skills is worth talking about, and in this case, as has been pointed out, we should always be diving with a "solo diver's" level of awareness, so these points are potentially helpful to us all. __________________ Gill Envy ...Because I wasn't born with gills! ><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>
(Offline)

19th June 2006, 11:50	#4 (permalink)
pbsouthwood New Member Current Rebreather/s: Other SCR Other Rebreather/s: Other SCR Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 9	Re: Solo rebreather diving - a summary Hi Cedric, An interesting posting. I have a few questions. If you have all these backup facilities, why would you be diving solo in the first place? Many of your suggestions are practical and well considered, but if you are going to have someone on standby to do a rescue attempt, would it not be more practical to just dive together in the first place. I dive solo quite frequently, though seldom on rebreather, and often because conditions are right and I need to go do the survey, and no-one is available on short notice that I am willing to dive with, so I let someone know when I expect to be out of the water and make a phone call to confirm I am out. I always assume if I get into trouble I must get myself out and plan accordingly. Cheers, Peter
(Offline)

19th June 2006, 13:44	#5 (permalink)
cedricverdier S21 M.I.B. Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Worldwide! Posts: 486	Re: Solo rebreather diving - a summary Quote: (Originally Posted by pbsouthwood) Hi Cedric, An interesting posting. I have a few questions. If you have all these backup facilities, why would you be diving solo in the first place? Many of your suggestions are practical and well considered, but if you are going to have someone on standby to do a rescue attempt, would it not be more practical to just dive together in the first place. I dive solo quite frequently, though seldom on rebreather, and often because conditions are right and I need to go do the survey, and no-one is available on short notice that I am willing to dive with, so I let someone know when I expect to be out of the water and make a phone call to confirm I am out. I always assume if I get into trouble I must get myself out and plan accordingly. Cheers, Peter Hi Peter, Living in an ideal world would be great but I unfortunately don't think that all the solo rebreather divers worldwide could have all these backup facilities... Even if it's the case, having somebody who can look for you and attempt a rescue doesn't mean this person would be a suitable buddy (OC diver, diver who doesn't share the same interest than you, etc) Cheers __________________ Cedric Verdier PADI Course Director, ANDI-IANTD-PSAI-TDI-DSAT-DAN-NAUI-CMAS Instructor Trainer Trimix (CCR and OC) and Cave Diving Instructor Trainer www.CedricVerdier.com DIRrebreather member
(Offline)

19th June 2006, 13:48	#6 (permalink)
sven Blogs Admin / Forum Mod Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 574	Re: Solo rebreather diving - a summary Cedric, Excellent post! Have some green :-) A few more points to consider (some already mentioned, but I prefer stronger wording): - spare mask - spare reel and SMB (agree on colours prior to dive to indicate trouble) - spare computer and/or 2 sets of tables - spare torch - spare set of cutting device - bailout for every! stage of the dive - slate + SMB to send up for communication with surface Nothing new in the list above, just for completeness' sake. __________________ Regards, Sven [SIZE=1]The Sydney Project website: [URL]http://www.sydneyproject.com[/URL] My Blog: [URL]http://sven.rebreatherworld.com[/URL] "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." Mark Twain[/SIZE]
(Offline)

20th June 2006, 14:29	#7 (permalink)
cedricverdier S21 M.I.B. Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Worldwide! Posts: 486	Re: Solo rebreather diving - a summary Quote: (Originally Posted by sven) Cedric, Excellent post! Have some green :-) A few more points to consider (some already mentioned, but I prefer stronger wording): - spare mask - spare reel and SMB (agree on colours prior to dive to indicate trouble) - spare computer and/or 2 sets of tables - spare torch - spare set of cutting device - bailout for every! stage of the dive - slate + SMB to send up for communication with surface Nothing new in the list above, just for completeness' sake. Sven, Very good points! Thanks for your input. Cheers __________________ Cedric Verdier PADI Course Director, ANDI-IANTD-PSAI-TDI-DSAT-DAN-NAUI-CMAS Instructor Trainer Trimix (CCR and OC) and Cave Diving Instructor Trainer www.CedricVerdier.com DIRrebreather member
(Offline)

24th June 2006, 21:40	#8 (permalink)
*Louby Lou* Slave to an MSc Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Roman Corinium! Posts: 1,016	Re: Solo rebreather diving - a summary Hi All Just to let you know that Cedric has updated his article and it can be found HERE in the library and also on Cedric's website Cheers Lou __________________ Miss Lou x Use of Rebreather World is subject to the Rebreatherworld Terms and Conditions - Please read! Outlaw Divers - Sssh we're diving! You heff vays uff dealink vis zem, oh Miss Rebreather World Admin! - Rob Davie Feb 06
(Offline)

25th June 2006, 05:13	#9 (permalink)
mattmexico Rebreather World Writer Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Classic Kiss Optima RB80 / Clone Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Evolution Prism Topaz Sport Kiss RB80 / Clone Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mexico, Q.Roo, Playa del Carmen Posts: 696	Re: Solo rebreather diving - a summary yo A couple of times a safety and support diver came up. When solo diving and if deep your live may depemd on the support crew just out of logisitcal reasons such as of not being able to carry all bailout to the surface. So what about the support divers and how do you deal with them and their responsability. None of them go into deco, or you have a deep one, medium depth and shallow one, deco station operation, full understanding of deep divers needs. No one is diving below training and experience depth. They can become such a large liability instead of an asset. When is it rescue and when is it support. Matt __________________ N 20' 37.617' W 87' 04.693' www.andreaswmatthes.com
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode