Solo cert.

[texdiveguy]

How many on this sub-forum have a Solo Diver cert. card..?

I don't....just progressed to solo diving through my own diving exposure and experience.

[WV Diver]

Not yet, but I have already spoken to the instructor and will have it soon.

[diversteve]

I'm thinking about it since I'm starting to do liveaboards and either the Hughes or the Aggressor boats(can't remember which) won't let you dive solo w/o one.

[rainmaker]

I don't have the cert. I got into solo diving because I'm only an hour's drive away from a very divable lake (Lake Jocassee, SC), and I can dive from shore almost anytime I please. I also have a regular dive-buddy, but his diving time is limited because of his job.

[coyote]

I don’t. No one close (as in within 100 miles) offers it. Maybe someday,- but for now the places I’m most likely to dive solo don’t require any type of cert.

[CompuDude]

No place near me requires the cert. It's pretty rare that I will dive solo, however.

That's an interesting point (if correct) about live-aboards requiring one, however... if so, I may go ahead and get one. Although, would they require a DM to have one? Not sure. Might be an interesting course to take, regardless.

[texdiveguy]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

No place near me requires the cert. It's pretty rare that I will dive solo, however.

That's an interesting point (if correct) about live-aboards requiring one, however... if so, I may go ahead and get one. Although, would they require a DM to have one? Not sure. Might be an interesting course to take, regardless.

I know the MV Fling and MV Spree that run charters to the Flower Gardens do require one regardless of your cert. level.....liability thing.

[diversteve]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

That's an interesting point (if correct) about live-aboards requiring one, however... if so, I may go ahead and get one. Although, would they require a DM to have one? Not sure. Might be an interesting course to take, regardless.

Here's the Hughes link: https://www.peterhughes.com/PDFFiles...rSoloDiver.pdf

Hughes requires SDI Solo certification. I don't remember where I saw the Aggressor info, might've read it in a forum post.

Here's the Explorer fleet requirements:

Divers wishing to dive solo, who have previously been certified to do so, are welcome to dive solo off of an Explorer vessel, with the except of the Galapagos Eco Explorer. The follow requirements must be met:

• Solo divers must present proof of their certification.
• Solo divers must carry a pony bottle (not a Spare Air or similar device) or independent or isolated-manifold twin tanks, whistle, knife, compass, and signaling device deployable from safety stop depth (safety sausage or dive flag on a reel, for example).
• All solo divers must file a dive plan for each solo dive with the dive staff on board, and adhere strictly to that dive plan.

• They're also teaching the SDI course on select trips now.

[porsche060]

Solo cert is going to become another money maker...

[fire diver]

I got kinda irked at my daughter's OW instructor last weekend. He invited me to come along, and to bring my gear to pool dive with my daughter, so I was around for everything. I got to hear the whole speach about "you're not allowed to go deeper than 60 with OW, AOW let you go to 100" So then he turns to me and asks what my deepest dive was. I told him 102. Then my daughter told him that I did it alone. So now he's telling me I really need to take the AOW and Solo course. I didn't want to undermine him in front of students, so I just said no thanks, I was fine.

I don't need a peice of plastic to tell me it's OK to go deep, or to dive solo. I've done all the risk analysis, and planned accordingly.

I used to really dislike the idea of the solo course. But over time I came to realize that I learned my stuff from a variety of other solo-ists. Having it all in one class is just another way. I DO have a problem with some of the class material though.

Fd