As you have learned during your Open Water Diver Certification, scuba diving is almost always done with a group or at least with a buddy. However, there is an increasing interest and a growing community of solo scuba divers in recent years that are showing success.
Solo diving, self-reliant diving or independent diving, are all terms that refer to scuba diving without a buddy. Solo diving has its advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to understand these before deciding whether to dive solo or not.
Solo diving can provide a new challenge and level of independence and freedom to a diver. However, this requires extensive training, and additional emergency equipment, and is far more dangerous than diving as part of a larger group or with a buddy.
These are just a few of the most basic reasons for which solo diving may be interesting for you, as well as some of the reasons that it may not be the best option.
I generally recommend taking a solo diving course if you want to improve your diving awareness and technique or if you have some specific needs that make diving with a buddy less relevant (e.g. underwater photography). Diving solo just for the sake of it can be dangerous and I usually do not recommend it.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of solo diving, as well as some of the potential risks involved.
Benefits of Solo Diving
Solo divers generally enjoy an additional level of freedom, as they can spend their time underwater as they please. They are not limited by the abilities, insecurities, schedules, desires, or inclinations of other divers.
However, such freedom comes with possible additional costs and risks. As a matter of fact, solo diving without specific training and certification is highly discouraged and no dive shop will rent you any equipment if you are not able to demonstrate that you have adequate training.
Solves Problems of Finding a Partner of Equal Level
While most divers are trained in a group of some kind, it is common for couples and various family members to begin and/or complete their diving certification and training at different times.
In some cases, it can very well be that your life partner cannot scuba dive.
Additionally, while diving in a group, each diver will have a different level of confidence, which means that it will be nearly impossible for two divers to have the same comfort level while heading out on a dive, regardless of their past experiences.
This will inevitably impact the number, duration, quality and location of your dives, and might induce you to dive solo.
In fact, solo diving can be especially appealing to experienced divers that are often limited by the abilities of others and would like to do as they please.
All of these factors contribute to the difficulty of finding a well-suited and equally matched diving partner. For many experienced divers in this situation, solo diving is likely to have a very strong appeal.
Additional Freedom in Dive Experience
Not having a group or buddy allows a single person to go on a dive at the time and location of their choice, doing as they please with the time they spend underwater.
Solo divers don’t need to worry about using up anyone else’s diving time by going too slow or even exploring at too fast of a pace. Some divers will also be naturally more inclined to explore or push their limits, while others would be perfectly content photographing or watching a single fish or creature in the same area.
Single divers enjoy a level of freedom that is not available to group or buddy divers.
Solo Diving allows for Greater Focus During a Dive
Diving solo can help you focus more on the environment and on your dive objectives. Without a dive partner or buddy to communicate with, you can fully immerse yourself in the experience and pay closer attention to your surroundings.
This is particularly useful, for example, if you are into underwater photography and want to take all the necessary time to take the ultimate pic of a lifetime.
Solo Diving Training Provides For Enhanced Safety
Many divers pursue a solo diving certification to enhance their diving skills and the overall safety of their dives. Their intention is not necessarily to dive alone, but rather to learn a very specific skillset that allows them to face emergency situations on their own.
This is usually one of the main reasons for which I recommend taking a self-reliant diver certification.
If you belong to this group of divers and are wondering whether you should be taking a solo diver course, I can only recommend you to do so. This will definitely improve your diving awareness, skills, and safety.
It can also turn useful in case you would like to pursue more advanced diving courses such as Technical Diving.
Downsides to Solo Diving
While it may seem appealing to dive whenever you would like, there are also some drawbacks to solo diving that should be adequately accounted for and considered.
This type of diving demands a lot of a person, forcing them to be both mentally and physically alert and in expert condition. Solo diving comes with an increased danger, a heavier load, intensive training, and additional dive planning beforehand.
This is why group or buddy dives are more highly encouraged and provide generally a higher level of safety for participants.
Increased Dangers
Solo diving is by definition riskier than diving with a buddy. In case of an emergency or equipment failure, you should take into account that there will be no one else to help you out.
As a solo diver, you need to be extremely vigilant and well-prepared to mitigate such risks.
As you have learned in your Open Water Diver Course, scuba diving with a buddy provides a backup plan in case of problems or emergencies.
Solo divers need to have contingency plans in place and be prepared to handle any situation on their own.
Requires Intense and Extensive Training
Because the stakes are so much higher, there are a lot more hoops to jump through before one can become sufficiently qualified and receive the appropriate certification to endeavor on a solo dive safely.
I personally do not recommend starting a self-reliant diver course before having done a deep diver specialty and a peak performance buoyance specialty. While teaching a self-reliant diver course, I also do not take students that I have not seen diving before.
Must Carry Additional Equipment
When diving in a buddy team, you have learned that you should rely on your buddy for most of the common emergency situations such a s “out of air” or “equipment failure”.
While diving solo, you can only count on your self and on your ability to manage such situations. This means that you will need to carry with you some redundant equipment.
For example, while signing up for a PADI self-reliant diver course, you will be required to have your basic scuba equipment, a DSMB, a redundant gas source, redundant air supply and dive computer, as well as a redundant surface signalling device.
Having to deal with all this additional equipment can be initially a challenge for some divers.
If you have limited scuba diving experience, you should not sign up for a solo diving course as you are most likely still in the process of getting acquainted with your basic scuba equipment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, solo diving can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for experienced, well-trained divers who are willing to take on the added responsibility and risk. However, it is not recommended for inexperienced or ill-prepared divers. It is essential to weigh the pros and cons carefully and make an informed decision based on individual capabilities, experience, and risk tolerance.