I found myself unexpectedly solo diving after getting separated from buddies because I was distracted by taking photos. My first dive at 95' solo was not planned and I didn't feel comfortble. The next day I bought a 20cf pony tank and second regulator. I am quite experienced and this really made a difference. I think ALL divers should have exposure to self-sufficient diving in their training, even briefly. Nowadays, It's my norm to solo dive and take photos, as it is with most of my UW photo friends here in FL. On deeper dives, I still prefer a buddy!
It’s generally the time I solo dive too Marty. No one else to harass you as you take photos and video! Thank you for your comment and thanks for watching!
Way to go, I do dive solo a lot because we have 0.5 to MAX 4 feet visibility in NYC and vicinity, thus getting certified is a MUST to add to your awareness.
Thanks Brian! Self Reliant is not something that should be rushed into! Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching! We love watching your channel too!
I am glad I have subscribed to your channel, your videos and your presentations are absolutely professional and as a diver, pilot and Safety Officer, I really appreciate that. Cheers
Luiz, those are very, very kind comments! We appreciate it and we appreciate you for Subscribing to our channel. We will try to keep producing videos at a high, professional level!
I would personally suggest go do a sidemount course straight away rather than SR diver course (either Recreational or Technical) along with a intro to tech or tech fundamental course for learning finning technics and fine tune your trim, easier trim on a sidemount and better potential of going into future training. With the understanding of using a sidemount(long/short hose) set up, it gives you a lot more choice on what you want to use, could be two AL80, two 7L steel, or one 12.2l and then a pony bottle.
CMAS III since 1992 not PADI. To note at this time they taught us to ascend from -25m to surface, with your gear or dumping your gear. Anything deeper meant 2 bottles on your back No connection. Two regulators first and second stage, you swapped between them during the dive. That was real redundancy. I'm 66 years old my back is not what it was, I can't do two 15 litre tanks on my back and walk. So in my garage is a single 15 litre with two outlets. I mount two regulators, first and second stage. Now I don't do solo often, it's most often 5-10m recovering an anchor or repairing a mooring. I don't want a buddy hovvering around that I am supposed to watch. Now your friend uses DIN regulators. So do I. They are more streamlined but that's not my reason. I fly around the world, in many places, Red Sea for example now they dive DIN and just offer you adapters for INT.. They pressurize their bottles to 230+ Your INT regulator is rated at 200 it may not be happy. I have experienced that. More important with INT you rely on the O ring is on the tank maintained by the boat crew. I have had that O ring break at 5 metres. I hit the surface fast, you don't know the noise that makes with a tank dumps just behind your head. So I changed all my regulators to DIN. With Din YOU maintain the O ring with the tank
no clue with the 19 cuft pony.... They have it set up so the reg points outward, the hoses stick out and makes for a much greater entanglement hazard. I would turn the bottle in the mount.
Just put a strapping kit on the 19 and hang it under yout left arm like any other stage cylinder. Keeps the valve and SPG easily within reach and sight.
Are you a padi instructor only? Itd be nice if you included other org certs... ssi, sdi/tdi, raid, etc... I'll hold my comments for other essential gear until I see the next vid.
Ssi teaches a course like this but they don’t allow solo diving. Self sufficient diving is a big part of the ssi rescue course and for the dive guide couse. I would not recommend diving solo.
I wouldn't solo dive anything paat 20 feet. It truly is an uncomfortable feeling for me when i get separated from a dive buddy. I had it happen a few times and you realize how lonely and scary it gets. I wouldnt say dangerous i guess, but certainly an uncomfortable feeling at anything beyond 30 feet. I dont mind 20 ft beach dives because if needed, you can do an emergency ascent from it.
Correct, there is not a specific cert. for back mount doubles. Most divers will not be introduced to doubles until their first tech course. I have joked about submitting a Distinctive Specialty to PADI for Recreational Doubles to compete with recreational sidemount. Thanks for the comment. Josh
If I’m 15 and I have the paid jr dive license and I want to solo dive in a Florida spring that like 10 meters would that be fine it’s not in a cave just going down to 30ft
Came to watch what gear I should have for solo diving ,and all I seen is a guy go on about air Nothing about this told me nothing about what extra kit I needed
We dive with 19"s on every dive. Between the cylinder with its valve and the 1st stg of the reg on the 19 - you have added about 2-3 pounds to your kit. If anything you may need to balance your trim with 1-2 pounds on the side opposite the 19.
Just asking... If you go dive alone, and your self-contained, and you know and aware on how to use your backups, but you don't have a "solo diver certificate"... Can you get arrested and go to jail? Who will do the arrest? What law is broken in doing so?
@@everythingscuba So basically one can just go on his merry way and go certify himself as a solo diver. After self-training, book diving on theoretics and other classroom infos he finds in the physics library, as well as do a practical himself too?
@@herphermits you’d have to be your own certifying agency for that. CMAS might have a problem with that. Lol. But most importantly working with an experienced instructor may give you some practical insights and share some additional knowledge for your own safety. Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know.
You can jump in the first cave you find with a pony bottle and and 50 pounds of weight in your pockets and see if you can reach the bottom without anyone stopping you. The police is not the issue. No plastic card will make a difference - only the missing knowledge you don't know you are missing. But hey - you might survive your lack of training.
Most of my dives are in low to zero visibility and even if my partner is five feet away I won't be able to see him or even rely on him. We don't use redundant air supplies simply because the dives are very shallow, almost always less than 20' so the idea being if there is a problem just surface. I've considered a redundant air supply but the extra equipment may pose an increased risk of entanglement. It may sound stupid and dangerous to most people but on these dives we don't even bring a second regulator.
I got first certificate, from a proper diving center more than 26 years ago. This was before diving became such an international and open for all sport. In my opinion PADI is nothing more than a franchise cash cow, next certification brakedown I expect to see from them is based on cylinder size and material. Should you dive alone? Never! If you have any alternative don't do it. The same as with rebreathers, over 300 dives within recreational limits, still if I am asked my answer is always: you don't need the headaches. If you are a rescue diver or dive master you can solo dive. There are so many scenarios that are ok to solo if you are experienced: shallow dives 5-10 meters for example. Your analysis pre diving should always start with worst case scenario! What is it and if I have a plan for it.
I'm a self taught solo tech diver, only hold advanced certification. But I'm not stupid! I have been researching tech diving since I was a kid. I have been considered a "liability " by some instructors because they didn't know me! I say "look at my dive logs" then you will realize I must be doing something right because I'm still alive! Never had an issue.
Just because you are alive does not me you are right. :) While the feedback your received of being a liability maybe rubbish's, I would at least self evaluate it honestly. I would never dive Solo, on a short hoes setup. May it is address in the Channels other videos, but this video does not have me encouraged.
Just curious why do you feel you need a long hose to solo dive? We are addressing solo diving in a non-overhead non-technical, non-decompression environment as a recreational diver. Not a tech/cave/wreck penetration dive? At least in the PADI system which we teach for self reliant divers we don't address the need for long hoses for recreational solo diving. Be careful of the use of the word "never" or "always", many times there are exceptions which are still safe. Every diver should use the equipment they are comfortable with and is reliable to them and safe for them. We are always open to learning from our viewers, we are not too proud to admit we "know" it all.
@@everythingscuba Hello and thank you for the feedback. Basically while out hunting one day, early in my diving career, I got really tangled up in some fishing line never some concrete culvers in the Gulf of Mexico. Ended up having to remove gear and depth to get cut out of everything in some silly current. The short hose just had me jerking around to much. The hunter I was with, saw the end of it and talked to me about long hose on the boat. I switched to long hose after. Then during my PADI DM course, in the Caribbean's, I had 2 OOA situations, where the OOA diver came blowing over me panicking and grabbing my primary reg out of my mouth then trying to race to the surface. The whole time I was wishing I had my long hose to better control the situation. To be honest, I believe Long is the best configuration for all diving. Short hose and yellow octo was once a Tech Diver setup too. But, due to all the shops around the world with short hose rental gear, I do not see long hose being dominate any time soon. I do teach all my OW students short and Long hose. It is for them to chose thier path.
@@shuntao3475 thanks for the reply. Given those experiences I can see why you might lean towards the long hose option. Interesting perspective. Thanks for your reply! Mental note made!:) We love learning from other divers! Cheers!
HAHAHA! "I must be doing something right, otherwise I would already be dead." and "I never realised I was a liability to my own safety" Well done - I guess you're ready for cave diving, HAHAHA
@@everythingscuba I was thinking beware of "instructors" giving ridiculous advice. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. I'll agree to disagree here but I'm done watching your TH-cam channel.
@@BatPigPictures there are many divers who dive solo all the time. I’ve got over 300+ solo dives. Under the the “right conditions” and with the correct training and redundant equipment the risk is no greater than that of diving with a buddy. As instructors underwater with brand new student divers, we are essentially solo diving since the brand new diver has little chance of “rescuing” us. I suggest you watch the first episode in this series and see if it makes sense to you. Dangers & Misconceptions of Solo Diving th-cam.com/video/lU1TB88olVY/w-d-xo.html
@@everythingscuba Look, I have no intention of a back and forth with you. Now, that was a ridiculous statement about being a solo diver with new students. You know a new student could call 911, get you to a boat, keep your head above water, hand you his/her second stage, and the list is endless. 300 "solo dives" just means to me that you were lucky 300 times. Luck runs out. Have I been diving and my buddy swam off? Sure, but that is not the same as solo diving. There is a standard in our industry and it should not be changed to find more students, which I believe is why agencies are now offering "Solo Diving". Again, agree to disagree.
If you’ve been diving with a buddy who swam off you’re less safe than a diver who is prepared to deal with problems by being a responsible solo/self reliant diver.
Mike, you obviously are entitled to your opinion. We are strong believers that the instructor NOT the certification agency is the key to good education.
We are only here to provide some information Brian. Our channel is free. But yes to perform certain dives you may need to purchase (or rent) additional equipment. An unfortunate side effect of the sport. For those who wish to continue to dive with a single tank with a buddy on their OW certification then there would be no additional cost. Thanks for watching.
I use a 3ltr pony slung under my right armpit with apex regulators and off course filled with 32% nitrox.Never ever hope to use it but all my kit is tested every year
That's a bit cynical. That all depends on what your current skill level is. Of course it could also be solo diving just isn't for you. No one is requiring you do to it. I'd say the courses they recommend in this vid are worthwhile for any diver eventually though. Personally, If I'm going to be diving solo I want my gear to be redundant and myself to be well trained in emergency procedures. Otherwise, I'm just increasing my risks significantly. Thankfully I'm already an experienced Rescue and Sidemount diver (started doing that to extend my gas supply and to ease the weight on my spine) so all I'd need to pay is for a bit of training.
What other Must Have gear do you think we should cover?
Subscribe to Everything Scuba: th-cam.com/channels/qkYj52oqx4kie11AMtdRDw.html
Im a certified rescue diver, going to do my first solo dive today. Glad I came here for a quick refresher
I found myself unexpectedly solo diving after getting separated from buddies because I was distracted by taking photos. My first dive at 95' solo was not planned and I didn't feel comfortble. The next day I bought a 20cf pony tank and second regulator. I am quite experienced and this really made a difference. I think ALL divers should have exposure to self-sufficient diving in their training, even briefly. Nowadays, It's my norm to solo dive and take photos, as it is with most of my UW photo friends here in FL. On deeper dives, I still prefer a buddy!
It’s generally the time I solo dive too Marty. No one else to harass you as you take photos and video! Thank you for your comment and thanks for watching!
Way to go, I do dive solo a lot because we have 0.5 to MAX 4 feet visibility in NYC and vicinity, thus getting certified is a MUST to add to your awareness.
What kinda pony tank do you have
20 CF luxor alum@@archer7360
Good points on additional training required before signing up for the course. Makes a lot of sense safety and confidence wise
Thanks Brian! Self Reliant is not something that should be rushed into! Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching! We love watching your channel too!
We
Good points i solo dive nearly every day definitely skills I have learned by watching this
I am glad I have subscribed to your channel, your videos and your presentations are absolutely professional and as a diver, pilot and Safety Officer, I really appreciate that.
Cheers
Luiz, those are very, very kind comments! We appreciate it and we appreciate you for
Subscribing to our channel. We will try to keep producing videos at a high, professional level!
I would personally suggest go do a sidemount course straight away rather than SR diver course (either Recreational or Technical) along with a intro to tech or tech fundamental course for learning finning technics and fine tune your trim, easier trim on a sidemount and better potential of going into future training.
With the understanding of using a sidemount(long/short hose) set up, it gives you a lot more choice on what you want to use, could be two AL80, two 7L steel, or one 12.2l and then a pony bottle.
After 21 years of diving, my best safety gear is still my buddy
We generally believe our own brain is our best piece of safety gear. But buddies come a close second. Thanks for your comment Jimmy.
All those broken O-rings littering the ocean 😢
My favorite gear to have while solo diving is a diving partner 😂 I’m tough but not that tough
Your TH-cam channel is cool and awesome keep up the good work and do a good job and your are welcome
Aaron thank you for your kind words! We are glad you enjoy our channel. Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing your thoughts!
CMAS III since 1992 not PADI. To note at this time they taught us to ascend from -25m to surface, with your gear or dumping your gear. Anything deeper meant 2 bottles on your back No connection. Two regulators first and second stage, you swapped between them during the dive. That was real redundancy. I'm 66 years old my back is not what it was, I can't do two 15 litre tanks on my back and walk. So in my garage is a single 15 litre with two outlets. I mount two regulators, first and second stage. Now I don't do solo often, it's most often 5-10m recovering an anchor or repairing a mooring. I don't want a buddy hovvering around that I am supposed to watch. Now your friend uses DIN regulators. So do I. They are more streamlined but that's not my reason. I fly around the world, in many places, Red Sea for example now they dive DIN and just offer you adapters for INT.. They pressurize their bottles to 230+ Your INT regulator is rated at 200 it may not be happy. I have experienced that. More important with INT you rely on the O ring is on the tank maintained by the boat crew. I have had that O ring break at 5 metres. I hit the surface fast, you don't know the noise that makes with a tank dumps just behind your head. So I changed all my regulators to DIN. With Din YOU maintain the O ring with the tank
no clue with the 19 cuft pony.... They have it set up so the reg points outward, the hoses stick out and makes for a much greater entanglement hazard. I would turn the bottle in the mount.
Just put a strapping kit on the 19 and hang it under yout left arm like any other stage cylinder. Keeps the valve and SPG easily within reach and sight.
Are you a padi instructor only? Itd be nice if you included other org certs... ssi, sdi/tdi, raid, etc...
I'll hold my comments for other essential gear until I see the next vid.
I am a PADI instructor and unfortunately can’t speak for other agencies. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching!
Ssi teaches a course like this but they don’t allow solo diving. Self sufficient diving is a big part of the ssi rescue course and for the dive guide couse. I would not recommend diving solo.
I wouldn't solo dive anything paat 20 feet. It truly is an uncomfortable feeling for me when i get separated from a dive buddy. I had it happen a few times and you realize how lonely and scary it gets. I wouldnt say dangerous i guess, but certainly an uncomfortable feeling at anything beyond 30 feet. I dont mind 20 ft beach dives because if needed, you can do an emergency ascent from it.
Depends on where you are!
I don’t really understand all the love for aluminium
There is not certification for doubles.
Correct, there is not a specific cert. for back mount doubles. Most divers will not be introduced to doubles until their first tech course. I have joked about submitting a Distinctive Specialty to PADI for Recreational Doubles to compete with recreational sidemount. Thanks for the comment. Josh
If I’m 15 and I have the paid jr dive license and I want to solo dive in a Florida spring that like 10 meters would that be fine it’s not in a cave just going down to 30ft
Came to watch what gear I should have for solo diving ,and all I seen is a guy go on about air
Nothing about this told me nothing about what extra kit I needed
th-cam.com/video/n8WadCqvDMA/w-d-xo.html
I would add a exstra bcd inflator hose to the sling....
Hi. There are abalone diving mobile cage with floats., saw a pucture on google. Thank you for this moovie.
Hi, wanted to ask, on a 19 cu/ft pony bottle, it roughly weighs around 13 lbs full air, How much lead weight do take off from you belt ?? Thanks lyle
Generally you will drop 2-3 pound (1kg) from the opposite side of the tank to balance out your trim.
We dive with 19"s on every dive. Between the cylinder with its valve and the 1st stg of the reg on the 19 - you have added about 2-3 pounds to your kit. If anything you may need to balance your trim with 1-2 pounds on the side opposite the 19.
6:40 in to get to the gear reccomendations?
Just asking... If you go dive alone, and your self-contained, and you know and aware on how to use your backups, but you don't have a "solo diver certificate"... Can you get arrested and go to jail? Who will do the arrest? What law is broken in doing so?
+herp hermits there is no “Scuba Police”. You won’t be arrested.
@@everythingscuba So basically one can just go on his merry way and go certify himself as a solo diver. After self-training, book diving on theoretics and other classroom infos he finds in the physics library, as well as do a practical himself too?
@@herphermits you’d have to be your own certifying agency for that. CMAS might have a problem with that. Lol. But most importantly working with an experienced instructor may give you some practical insights and share some additional knowledge for your own safety. Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know.
You can jump in the first cave you find with a pony bottle and and 50 pounds of weight in your pockets and see if you can reach the bottom without anyone stopping you. The police is not the issue. No plastic card will make a difference - only the missing knowledge you don't know you are missing. But hey - you might survive your lack of training.
Most of my dives are in low to zero visibility and even if my partner is five feet away I won't be able to see him or even rely on him. We don't use redundant air supplies simply because the dives are very shallow, almost always less than 20' so the idea being if there is a problem just surface. I've considered a redundant air supply but the extra equipment may pose an increased risk of entanglement. It may sound stupid and dangerous to most people but on these dives we don't even bring a second regulator.
Solo diving should be always with buddy
Then it wouldn’t be “solo diving”.
I got first certificate, from a proper diving center more than 26 years ago. This was before diving became such an international and open for all sport.
In my opinion PADI is nothing more than a franchise cash cow, next certification brakedown I expect to see from them is based on cylinder size and material.
Should you dive alone? Never! If you have any alternative don't do it. The same as with rebreathers, over 300 dives within recreational limits, still if I am asked my answer is always: you don't need the headaches.
If you are a rescue diver or dive master you can solo dive. There are so many scenarios that are ok to solo if you are experienced: shallow dives 5-10 meters for example. Your analysis pre diving should always start with worst case scenario! What is it and if I have a plan for it.
yeah, I got my certification last year
and I have no idea what I'm doing.
Locator beacon could be nice $$
oh dear look at that loose rigging @8:00 - people been using it as a carry handle... NO!!!
I dive alone and nitox is not needed
Depends what dept you are going, if you will go deep than you will definitely going to need it.
I'm a self taught solo tech diver, only hold advanced certification. But I'm not stupid! I have been researching tech diving since I was a kid. I have been considered a "liability " by some instructors because they didn't know me! I say "look at my dive logs" then you will realize I must be doing something right because I'm still alive! Never had an issue.
Just because you are alive does not me you are right. :) While the feedback your received of being a liability maybe rubbish's, I would at least self evaluate it honestly. I would never dive Solo, on a short hoes setup. May it is address in the Channels other videos, but this video does not have me encouraged.
Just curious why do you feel you need a long hose to solo dive? We are addressing solo diving in a non-overhead non-technical, non-decompression environment as a recreational diver. Not a tech/cave/wreck penetration dive? At least in the PADI system which we teach for self reliant divers we don't address the need for long hoses for recreational solo diving. Be careful of the use of the word "never" or "always", many times there are exceptions which are still safe. Every diver should use the equipment they are comfortable with and is reliable to them and safe for them. We are always open to learning from our viewers, we are not too proud to admit we "know" it all.
@@everythingscuba Hello and thank you for the feedback. Basically while out hunting one day, early in my diving career, I got really tangled up in some fishing line never some concrete culvers in the Gulf of Mexico. Ended up having to remove gear and depth to get cut out of everything in some silly current. The short hose just had me jerking around to much. The hunter I was with, saw the end of it and talked to me about long hose on the boat. I switched to long hose after. Then during my PADI DM course, in the Caribbean's, I had 2 OOA situations, where the OOA diver came blowing over me panicking and grabbing my primary reg out of my mouth then trying to race to the surface. The whole time I was wishing I had my long hose to better control the situation. To be honest, I believe Long is the best configuration for all diving. Short hose and yellow octo was once a Tech Diver setup too. But, due to all the shops around the world with short hose rental gear, I do not see long hose being dominate any time soon. I do teach all my OW students short and Long hose. It is for them to chose thier path.
@@shuntao3475 thanks for the reply. Given those experiences I can see why you might lean towards the long hose option. Interesting perspective. Thanks for your reply! Mental note made!:) We love learning from other divers! Cheers!
HAHAHA! "I must be doing something right, otherwise I would already be dead." and "I never realised I was a liability to my own safety" Well done - I guess you're ready for cave diving, HAHAHA
You should not EVER dive alone. This is crazy. Maybe in your pool? Never in the Ocean or a lake or pond. "Come on Man!"
Beware of those who speak in absolutes.
@@everythingscuba I was thinking beware of "instructors" giving ridiculous advice. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. I'll agree to disagree here but I'm done watching your TH-cam channel.
@@BatPigPictures there are many divers who dive solo all the time. I’ve got over 300+ solo dives. Under the the “right conditions” and with the correct training and redundant equipment the risk is no greater than that of diving with a buddy. As instructors underwater with brand new student divers, we are essentially solo diving since the brand new diver has little chance of “rescuing” us. I suggest you watch the first episode in this series and see if it makes sense to you. Dangers & Misconceptions of Solo Diving
th-cam.com/video/lU1TB88olVY/w-d-xo.html
@@everythingscuba Look, I have no intention of a back and forth with you. Now, that was a ridiculous statement about being a solo diver with new students. You know a new student could call 911, get you to a boat, keep your head above water, hand you his/her second stage, and the list is endless. 300 "solo dives" just means to me that you were lucky 300 times. Luck runs out. Have I been diving and my buddy swam off? Sure, but that is not the same as solo diving. There is a standard in our industry and it should not be changed to find more students, which I believe is why agencies are now offering "Solo Diving". Again, agree to disagree.
If you’ve been diving with a buddy who swam off you’re less safe than a diver who is prepared to deal with problems by being a responsible solo/self reliant diver.
had to stop watching as soon as you mention PADI. WORST diving certification anyone could get. absolute rubbish. 0/10 would never, ever recommend
Mike, you obviously are entitled to your opinion. We are strong believers that the instructor NOT the certification agency is the key to good education.
Mike all
The certification agencies are about the same it's the experience a person gains later.
Sounds more like, "buy more equipment, buy more classes, buy , buy. buy."
We are only here to provide some information Brian. Our channel is free. But yes to perform certain dives you may need to purchase (or rent) additional equipment. An unfortunate side effect of the sport. For those who wish to continue to dive with a single tank with a buddy on their OW certification then there would be no additional cost. Thanks for watching.
I use a 3ltr pony slung under my right armpit with apex regulators and off course filled with 32% nitrox.Never ever hope to use it but all my kit is tested every year
That's a bit cynical. That all depends on what your current skill level is. Of course it could also be solo diving just isn't for you. No one is requiring you do to it. I'd say the courses they recommend in this vid are worthwhile for any diver eventually though.
Personally, If I'm going to be diving solo I want my gear to be redundant and myself to be well trained in emergency procedures. Otherwise, I'm just increasing my risks significantly.
Thankfully I'm already an experienced Rescue and Sidemount diver (started doing that to extend my gas supply and to ease the weight on my spine) so all I'd need to pay is for a bit of training.
@@everythingscuba I think he is addressing that the first 6 minutes seems like a PADI marketing reel.
@@shuntao3475 we aren’t here to market for PADI. They do a great job of that by themselves. Thanks for your comments.