Solo diving

[AAUY]

Ok so I just got Certified October 28th. I haven't dove since then, but am planning on going with someone with a lot of experience mid-November (this month).

My problem is I have no one to go diving with most of the time. My LDS doesn't do dives on days that I am able to do due to work/school. I joined a local board and hoping to find some people to dive with there as well, but I still have the problem right now.

I want to go diving so bad! Not to actually dive, but just to practice my skills some more! I mean I do want to actually go diving, but right now I want to practice buoyancy and all my others skills so I can get it all down well.

The place I did my OW cert. is only 10 mins away from my house and it was chosen for it's safety. It has a very very small current and easy-ish beach entry.

What do you guys think about renting the gear, and going to the beach, but staying really shallow and practicing my skills by myself?

I would stay shallow, but deep enough to practice buoyancy, and just practice things like mask clearing, fin kicks, and learning better buoyancy etc. I've just always been told not to dive alone.

What do you guys think?

[fireflock]

I would not recommend it.

Wander over to the forums at thedivematrix.com and see what you can find. They have a pretty active group of divers in your part of the world.

Sometimes just finding the right group of divers makes finding a buddy much easier.

Most people have decent luck finding someone to dive with at the regular practice spots around here just by showing up and waiting for someone else who needs a buddy (on busier days, anyway).

Rich

[AAUY]

Originally Posted by fireflock

I would not recommend it.

Wander over to the forums at thedivematrix.com and see what you can find. They have a pretty active group of divers in your part of the world.

Sometimes just finding the right group of divers makes finding a buddy much easier.

Most people have decent luck finding someone to dive with at the regular practice spots around here just by showing up and waiting for someone else who needs a buddy (on busier days, anyway).

Rich

That's what I figured most would say *sigh*

As soon as December rolls around I'll have my sister to dive with and we have very similair schedules so then I'll be good, but she'll be a newbie as well.

What would you guys say about diving at this same spot with another newbie? We would be familiar with the spot as both do our OW dives there.

[NitroWill]

Defintely check out some of the various dive bords (Here, SB, matrix, divebuddy.com) and I bet you you can find several people who would dive with you in your area! Diving solo, especially as a brand new diver is not something to just jump into and you definitely need to have your skills developed to even consider solo diving. But I think if you look - you can easily find people in your area to dive with!

[AAUY]

Originally Posted by NitroWill

Defintely check out some of the various dive bords (Here, SB, matrix, divebuddy.com) and I bet you you can find several people who would dive with you in your area! Diving solo, especially as a brand new diver is not something to just jump into and you definitely need to have your skills developed to even consider solo diving. But I think if you look - you can easily find people in your area to dive with!

I think I'm just itching too much to get back in the water! I must say, I'm addicted lol

I guess I'll wait till I go diving in a few weeks and then go from there.

[texdiveguy]

Originally Posted by AAUY

I guess I'll wait till I go diving in a few weeks and then go from there.

Now you are thinking like a diver that is using good common sense and recalling the teachings of your recent course.

[Tableleg]

As a new diver myself, I feel your pain. I've been reading a lot about solo diving in this forum, and it seems to be a matter of being comfortable in the water and having the back up gear to use in case of an emergency. I don't know if I would go solo in a location that I could get into trouble (are is your location in the ocean? A lake?), especially if you're still trying to learn stuff like your buoyancy.

Anything is possible with the right training and equipment. It's just a matter of obtaining those things.