Solo rebreather diving?

cedricverdier · 8th May 2005, 06:58

Hi,

Everybody knows the old discussion about solo diving and the risks vs benefits of it.

But with the growth of the Rebreather World Forum and a lot of members from all over the world, it could interesting to get information about what happens in the real world.

Do you enjoy solo rebreather diving or does it scare you? Is it possible to decrease the risks?

Personaly I mainly solo dive with my Meg when I dive small caves or penetrate far into a wreck. I prefer to be on my own in this case as it's quite difficult to deal with another diver (specialy an OC diver) in distress while being in a restriction.

Statistics show that it very often ends up with a 2-fatalities-rather-than-1 type of accident.

Otherwise if I have the opportunity to dive with a competent and self-dependant CCR diver, that will be my first choice; not for a safety standpoint but for the fun to share the experience with someone else.

Cheers

***Decodiver*** · 8th May 2005, 09:42

I dive predominantly solo.

Obviously this changes when teaching, as I always have in-water rescue diver(s), and like Cedric I do like going to dives with mates, however once in the water I am on my own.

The only time I will dive with a buddy is when we are after a specific piece of spidge..................

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

Mark Chase · 8th May 2005, 10:22

I tried to avoid solo diving with CCR as I think it is more dangerous than solo diving on OC. The chances of passing out on a rebreather are far greater than on OC but the incident reports of divers passing out but staying on loop and not dieing until the gass ran out or being rescued by other divers make be think that its a situation that is easily avoidable so why risk it?

Unfortunately I love solo diving. It is just so stress free and perfect that I know I can’t resist when the opportunity arises. When my buddy has had enough for the day or he can’t make it on the trip I will undoubtedly be found solo diving.

SO far I have only done a handful of solo dives on the box but the more diving I do on the unit the better I feel about doing it. Wreck penetration solo I tend to be less adventurous than I would be with a buddy.

ATB

Mark Chase

robprice · 8th May 2005, 10:57

I never use to solo dive untill I went ccr. As I work away alot, when I get back I find I can not wait untill the weekends to dive.
As not too many dive in the week I have started to dive solo.
As I want to put time in on the ccr.
I only started to do this when I was fully aware of what I had been taught.
Also I could spend a lot of time at the shallower depth doing drills and going over differant things that may go wrong allowing me to cope with them better.
Due to this I have improved alot.

Robprice

Nad · 8th May 2005, 10:58

I dove solo many time, specially for job.

Also for recreational dives I like to go solo, same with my homebuild.

I think it's a kind of feeling: do you like it? go! Otherwise don't force it.

Nad

**wedivebc** · 8th May 2005, 16:04

I have not dived solo on Rebreather but I expect to start doing it soon. Right now the closest I've come is SOSD dives. I guess when I am as comfortable on CCR as I am on OC I will dive the same way I do on OC and that is often solo.

Andy Del · 8th May 2005, 20:33

Yesterday I had a buddy, 'cause the boat driver managed to pick onto reef and there was no sign of the wreck (just some old old coal about) so we teamed up to search. Normally it same ocean diving: other guys about, dum dee dum, dum dee dah... just give a wave, and ask if something looks awry.

If I'm diving with my partner, then I have a buddy.

Pierre Farrugia · 8th May 2005, 20:40

In 10 years diving I only dive maybe 3 times solo apart from some jobs I had to do underwater and thses being very shallow. I don't know why I feel more comfy to dive solo in a CCR then OC altough it's not what I want to do. Apart from that I have too much fun both above and below water with my buddies! Also who will pay me beer if I go solo

Nad · 8th May 2005, 21:43

Quote: (Originally Posted by Pierre Farrugia)

Also who will pay me beer if I go solo

This is a good point vs. diving solo!

Nad

Robert Cook · 9th May 2005, 03:03

I do most of my practise dives solo - haven't found a buddy yet who wants to sit around watching me do drills for an hour and a half. I've also done real dives solo on occasion, but not all that often. Haven't done solo in an overhead environment yet, but I'm sure that will come in time.

Overall, it's a safety comprimise - I've got less backup available, but the bit that nobody mentions is that in theory I'm much less likely to have to assist/rescue anyone else while solo. I say in theory because I've never had to rescue my buddy - it's always somebody I happen to bump into during the dive. There's also the issue with weather a random buddy is likely to be able to assist/rescue me from a real emergency - a few would be able to, most wouldn't,

Thanks,
Robert

8th May 2005, 06:58	#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: 497	Solo rebreather diving? Hi, Everybody knows the old discussion about solo diving and the risks vs benefits of it. But with the growth of the Rebreather World Forum and a lot of members from all over the world, it could interesting to get information about what happens in the real world. Do you enjoy solo rebreather diving or does it scare you? Is it possible to decrease the risks? Personaly I mainly solo dive with my Meg when I dive small caves or penetrate far into a wreck. I prefer to be on my own in this case as it's quite difficult to deal with another diver (specialy an OC diver) in distress while being in a restriction. Statistics show that it very often ends up with a 2-fatalities-rather-than-1 type of accident. Otherwise if I have the opportunity to dive with a competent and self-dependant CCR diver, that will be my first choice; not for a safety standpoint but for the fun to share the experience with someone else. 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
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8th May 2005, 09:42	#2 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,181	I dive predominantly solo. Obviously this changes when teaching, as I always have in-water rescue diver(s), and like Cedric I do like going to dives with mates, however once in the water I am on my own. The only time I will dive with a buddy is when we are after a specific piece of spidge.................. Cheers, Dave Cooper. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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8th May 2005, 10:22	#3 (permalink)
Mark Chase I go down for ages Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kent Posts: 2,700	I tried to avoid solo diving with CCR as I think it is more dangerous than solo diving on OC. The chances of passing out on a rebreather are far greater than on OC but the incident reports of divers passing out but staying on loop and not dieing until the gass ran out or being rescued by other divers make be think that its a situation that is easily avoidable so why risk it? Unfortunately I love solo diving. It is just so stress free and perfect that I know I can’t resist when the opportunity arises. When my buddy has had enough for the day or he can’t make it on the trip I will undoubtedly be found solo diving. SO far I have only done a handful of solo dives on the box but the more diving I do on the unit the better I feel about doing it. Wreck penetration solo I tend to be less adventurous than I would be with a buddy. ATB Mark Chase __________________ Is it supposed to make that noise ? I took my unit to the dive shop and demanded they bolt on every thing that would fit. Join my elite diving teem and get a Tshirt "Doing It Chasey"Hammerhead Eccr Advanced Diving System
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8th May 2005, 10:57	#4 (permalink)
robprice Bob.P Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dubai Posts: 44	Solo diving I never use to solo dive untill I went ccr. As I work away alot, when I get back I find I can not wait untill the weekends to dive. As not too many dive in the week I have started to dive solo. As I want to put time in on the ccr. I only started to do this when I was fully aware of what I had been taught. Also I could spend a lot of time at the shallower depth doing drills and going over differant things that may go wrong allowing me to cope with them better. Due to this I have improved alot. Robprice
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8th May 2005, 10:58	#5 (permalink)
Nad Rebel to the Bone Current Rebreather/s: Ouroboros Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 976	I dove solo many time, specially for job. Also for recreational dives I like to go solo, same with my homebuild. I think it's a kind of feeling: do you like it? go! Otherwise don't force it. Nad __________________ The Impossible is often the Untried
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8th May 2005, 16:04	#6 (permalink)
wedivebc Dave Tomblin Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada Posts: 1,444	option missing I have not dived solo on Rebreather but I expect to start doing it soon. Right now the closest I've come is SOSD dives. I guess when I am as comfortable on CCR as I am on OC I will dive the same way I do on OC and that is often solo. __________________ Cheers, Dave.... Man is the only animal burdened with the knowledge he will eventually die
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8th May 2005, 20:33	#7 (permalink)
Andy Del Classic KISSer Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Australia, Sunny Sydney Posts: 422	Yesterday I had a buddy, 'cause the boat driver managed to pick onto reef and there was no sign of the wreck (just some old old coal about) so we teamed up to search. Normally it same ocean diving: other guys about, dum dee dum, dum dee dah... just give a wave, and ask if something looks awry. If I'm diving with my partner, then I have a buddy. __________________ Yellow - the colour of greatness!
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8th May 2005, 20:40	#8 (permalink)
Pierre Farrugia Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Malta Posts: 636	In 10 years diving I only dive maybe 3 times solo apart from some jobs I had to do underwater and thses being very shallow. I don't know why I feel more comfy to dive solo in a CCR then OC altough it's not what I want to do. Apart from that I have too much fun both above and below water with my buddies! Also who will pay me beer if I go solo __________________ Pierre Farrugia My wife told me " If you don't quit diving I'm going to leave you" My reply " God, I'll miss you" www.atlam.org www.divemed.com
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8th May 2005, 21:43	#9 (permalink)
Nad Rebel to the Bone Current Rebreather/s: Ouroboros Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 976	Quote: (Originally Posted by Pierre Farrugia) Also who will pay me beer if I go solo This is a good point vs. diving solo! Nad __________________ The Impossible is often the Untried
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9th May 2005, 03:03	#10 (permalink)
Robert Cook Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 107	I do most of my practise dives solo - haven't found a buddy yet who wants to sit around watching me do drills for an hour and a half. I've also done real dives solo on occasion, but not all that often. Haven't done solo in an overhead environment yet, but I'm sure that will come in time. Overall, it's a safety comprimise - I've got less backup available, but the bit that nobody mentions is that in theory I'm much less likely to have to assist/rescue anyone else while solo. I say in theory because I've never had to rescue my buddy - it's always somebody I happen to bump into during the dive. There's also the issue with weather a random buddy is likely to be able to assist/rescue me from a real emergency - a few would be able to, most wouldn't, Thanks, Robert
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