Solo diving certification courses develop techniques and mindsets that can improve the skills of all divers, even those who typically dive in a buddy team! Here are some ways that learning the basics of solo diving can make you a safer and more proficient diver.

Solo Divers Learn Self-Sufficiency

It's not uncommon to find yourself unintentionally diving solo when your buddy wanders off or becomes distracted.


Even the best dive buddies can become separated or momentarily unavailable to assist each other during a team dive. Unfortunately, the traditional buddy system tends to foster dependency. A diver who is dependent on his buddy as an alternate air source, or even as an redundant source of judgement will not be safe in the event of a team separation. It is far better to be self-sufficient and prepared for these scenarios when they happen. Solo diver training encourages and trains divers to be able to handle emergencies on their own. So, when you do find yourself in an unplanned solo dive (and it is more a matter of when than if), solo diving training will equip you to handle the situation effortlessly and safely.

Diving With a Buddy You Don't Know

It is not uncommon for divers to be teamed with an unfamiliar buddy. If this buddy is a new or relatively inexperienced diver he will probably not be able to render any meaningful assistance in the case of an equipment malfunction or any other type of emergency, despite his best intentions.

Being a certified solo diver means that even when you are put into this type of buddy team, you will be able to ensure your own safety without having to rely on another’s help (or attempts to help).

Diving in Poor Conditions

When diving in strong currents or poor visibility, many divers have unexpectedly found themselves alone underwater. Again, the dependent nature of the buddy system means that such divers may not be equipped to deal with this situation effectively. If a diver has not paid sufficient attention to his gear, the site conditions, the dive plan, and the navigational requirements prior to a dive, he may quickly find himself in a dangerous situation. This kind of complacency is a recipe for disaster! A solo diver is trained to take responsibility for these key components of the dive, and know how to take control of the situation if he finds himself alone underwater.

The Buddy Who Isn't

Many “buddies” don’t behave like dive buddies in any case. As many experienced divers will attest, it is common for dive buddies to stray during a dive. Even five meters apart can be too far away to efficiently help a buddy in distress. Divers may stray for a variety of reasons, such as focusing on underwater photography or videography. Similarly, a diver who is completely absorbed in observing a creature may fail to keep his buddy in his peripheral vision or check on him often enough. In this sense, the buddy system instills a false sense of security. If you and your buddy are not consistently in contact and aware of each other’s circumstances throughout the dive, it poses a safety risk. However, these risks can be mitigated by being self sufficient.

Dive Leaders and Instructors

Even if all the divers aboard the dive boat are planning to dive in buddy pairs, what about the person leading the dive? This person typically determines the dive plan and navigational requirements, upon which all the other divers depend. Unfortunately, dive leaders spend most of their dives solo diving. The dive leader often descends first – alone – to secure a buoy line, and again at the end of the dive to release it. During the dive, this diver is usually solely responsible for determining all underwater navigation, and often finds himself at the front of the group, a bit away from other divers. Dive leaders should be trained as solo divers because they cannot depend on help from the clients they are leading and are often required to perform solo tasks underwater.

Similarly, a diving instructor who takes novice divers on their first open water dives cannot realistically expect to receive prompt and effective assistance should an emergency arise. In this case, the instructor is diving solo for all intents and purposes. As such, solo diving training would be of paramount importance to ensure his safety on all dives.

The Take-Home Message

Although traditional buddy diving is said to be the safest method, a case can be made that solo dive training is the best way to improve diver safety. Divers who complete solo training will be better divers, regardless of whether they are diving alone or in a buddy pair. Being completely self-sufficient will assist divers in all aspects of their diving, from calculating air consumption to determining the underwater navigation required to follow the dive plan. Importantly, this training will bypass the dependency and false sense of security that leads to many unfortunate diving incidents that could have – and should have – been easily avoided.

 

Torben Lonne is the Editor in Chief at DIVE.in online magazine.

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