Compiled and
edited by Jeffrey Bozanic
Well, the question
of solo diving certainly seems to have touched an exposed nerve! So
many additional responses were received that it was necessary to devote
this issue's Members Forum column again to the concept of a solo diving
specialty certification in order to print the comments of our membership.
It is obvious
that the issue addresses one of the long held and basic tenets of sport
diving. It should come as no surprise the majority of the membership
finds the idea has little merit--after all, this is the way we all were
initially trained (remember the law of primacy). What is surprising,
however, is that a significant portion of the membership believes that
there is nothing wrong with solo diving, and that many feel that a course
in solo diving would be in keeping with our association's mission of
providing safety through education.
The percentage
of respondents' beliefs were about the same as in the last issue, with
two-thirds opposed to sanctioning of solo diving, and one-third in favor.
However, even in the arguments raised by those opposed to the concept
there was tacit acknowledgment that the activity occurs. In many cases,
the authors stated they they dive alone, but that it too dangerous to
condone for others.
Those in favor
of the concept compare solo diving to other activities perceived as
hazardous. Flying an airplane was the most common analogy used. "Since
pilots are licensed to fly alone, why can't we dive alone?" The
secondary arguments included "solo diving would increase self-reliance,"
"solo diving will increase safety by instilling stronger self-rescue
skills," or "NAUI could incur liability by not teaching solo
diving skills."
All of the arguments,
on both sides of the question, have merit. But this is an emotional
issue. Put aside any personal beliefs on the issue and think calmly
for a moment. Ask yourself the following questions: "Why is it
acceptable for me to dive alone, but not acceptable for others?"
"Why can't we instill stronger self-rescue and self-reliance skills
without sanctioning solo diving?"
Periodically
we must all sit back and question our own beliefs rationally. Sport
diving has changed from the early days when we were first learning collectively
to pursue it safely, and it continues to change. Sometimes the reasons
for the way things were done before no longer exist, or equipment and/or
techniques have been developed to mitigate prior problems. As instructors,
we set the standards under which diving training, and ultimately post-training
activities are conducted. It behooves us to keep that in mind, and not
blindly follow dictums which have been handed down to us from our predecessors.
I urge you to consider your beliefs on various topics and practices,
not just the question of solo diving, as it is through such reflection
that we will find our way into the future of sport diving.
======================================================
QUESTION: "SHOULD
NAUI SANCTION SOLO DIVING, PERHAPS BY OFFERING A SOLO DIVING SPECIALTY
CERTIFICATION? WHY/WHY NOT? DO YOU PERSONALLY SOLO DIVE?"
A. I certainly
appreciate that there is probably a fair amount of successful solo diving
being conducted. However, there have been too many documented cases
of a diver's life having been saved only by the presence of his/her
dive buddy. For reasons of safety, NAUI just cannot back away from the
buddy diving concept.
--Jim
Corry, NAUI 7184L; Washington, D.C.(Has taught all levels to ITCs both
privately and at UCLA. Currently serves as Chairman of the Diving and
Water Rescue Committee of the National Association for Search and Rescue.
Has authored many articles about diving safety.)
A. Yes! The idea
of a Self Sufficient Diver Specialty course is over due. Here's why:
It would put more focus on self rescue skills. The ability to solve
problems underwater, independent of a buddy is an important skill. Most
instructors, when they teach, dive alone. This is possible to do safely
because of the self rescue skills experienced divers develop and take
for granted. Teaching people to dive alone would give these skills the
importance they deserve.
How many times has the following happened to you? A lone diver surfaces
and starts waving his arms. When you reach him he has nothing in his
mouth, thinks he is drowning, is too tired to get back to the boat,
and says something about losing his buddy. I rescue guys like that about
twenty times a year. These divers have buddies, but have poor self rescue
skills.
I think a prerequisite to certification should be one hundred logged
dives. This sounds like a lot, but really is not. If somebody is only
doing ten to twenty dives a year they are not getting enough water time
to maintain advanced skills. It is also unlikely that these people need
to dive alone. Many of the people I work with dive alone, but most of
the dive a couple of times a week. They are using their skills (thus
maintaining them) almost daily.
I think Self Sufficient Diver training should start early, perhaps as
early as Openwater I. But certification as a specialty should not take
place until the diver is active enough to merit it.
--Paul
McCallum, NAUI 9194; Los Angeles, CA(Instructor and underwater photographer.)
A. NO!!! Even
though our sport has had limited research, the little we have done clearly
shows that it is not a good idea. We also know that when divers get
separated they can also get into trouble, and they may not survive.
Most divers will try, or read about and then try, new techniques that
are promoted by the agencies. Some divers have been known to night dive
or deep dive without proper training, therefor it is only natural to
assume that they would then try to solo dive without training, because
"It is all right with NAUI."
It would prove interesting to watch our organization leaders explain
to governments, NAUI members, and the general public the resulting jump
in diving fatalities if solo diving is condoned. Pure solo diving would
be very difficult to control given a mixed group of divers trained and
untrained for solo diving. It would not be long before they would all
be diving solo.
I could see the downfall of a well established safety practice, and
the demise of our prestige. In the past we have lead by sound leadership
in the raising of standards which in turn has inspired others to raise
their standards. Hopefully we will not follow the road to destruction
by abandoning the practice of buddy diving.
--D.P.
Miles, NAUI 4687; Trenton, Ontario, Canada(Has taught all levels from
skin diving to ITCs including many specialties, with an emphasis in
dive rescue and leadership programs. Has served in many volunteer board
positions, including being a current member on the Ontario Underwater
Council Board of Directors. Recipient of the NAUI Canada Silver Pin
and NAUI Special Recognition Awards.)
A. I would recommend
every NAUI Instructor read the NAUI Credo; 3.1 #13 in the Standards
and Procedures Manual; and the April 1989 Skindiver magazine editorial
by Bill Gleason on "Do our heros grow up to be cowboys?" Once
read, think of this; if we do not condone non-buddy diving now and if
someone gets hurt while diving alone later...they can not sue us afterwards.
--Clarke
E. Skinner, NAUI 6858L; Valencia, CA(Instructor for Sport Chalet, Instructor
Trainer)
A. Ever since
I took my first basic course, I was told that one should never dive
alone because of the multitude of things that could go wrong. Throughout
this course, we always relied on the fact that our buddy was close enough
that they could lend assistance if needed. In fact, to insure that our
buddies were nearby, we would always be checking to see that each of
us were in view and that if we were not, then there was an agreed upon
procedure that would reunite us. We were so hung up with buddy diving
that we almost forgot why we went diving in the first place. I wondered,
is this what diving is all about?
As professional instructors we tend to get so caught up in the safety
issues that we forget how to teach diving so that people can enjoy the
underwater world. Many times people will enter the water with their
buddy and start the dive together only to find that the activity that
they want to do, such as spear fishing, photography, lobstering, or
exploring is not conducive to diving with a buddy.
Numerous times I began dives with a buddy in sight and nearby, only
to lose them shortly afterward because they were behind a rock, in deeper
or shallower water, taking a picture, or chasing a fish. In all these
times, both I and my buddies enjoyed the dive with no problems even
though we had been solo diving for a few minutes. During those times
one thought our instructor taught us was always in mind, "Always
dive with a buddy." With some divers this creates a certain level
of anxiety which may result in panicking. Divers should be taught to
think about how to safely enjoy the dive without worrying about themselves
or their buddies.
From a legal point of view where negligence is a concern, we would be
liable for not teaching self-sufficiency more than if we did teach self-sufficient
diving. We should concentrate more on individual safety as opposed to
safety only with a buddy. In this case, we have an obligation to our
students to insure that they have the skills and knowledge required
to take the appropriate action needed to get them out of difficult situations.
Creating stringent prerequisites and offering a specialty course for
exceptionally qualified divers would only serve as a deterrent to someone
who wants to feel more comfortable in the water and become better skilled
in self-sufficient, self-rescue techniques. There are no standards as
such that would prevent people from doing whatever they feel is comfortable.
If we feel that a specialty course is needed, we should make sure that
any prerequisites established can in fact be validated, and would not
turn away divers who wish to continue their diving education as well
as improve their skills.
Flying a plane requires individuals to take many safety precautions.
Before people are licensed, they must complete a solo flight. When taking
flying lessons, you are taught to make safety checks before the plane
leaves the ground (pre-flight check), and how to take appropriate actions
if some malfunction should occur. Divers should also do pre-dive checks
and be taught how to take appropriate action to get themselves to a
safe environment. As professional scuba instructors, we may be able
to learn from flight instructors as well as the flight training industry.
We should spend equal time in open water courses discussing and emphasizing
safe self-sufficient solo diving as well as buddy diving. As divers
progress through certification levels, more training on solo diving
should follow. Some specialty courses should also include solo diving
skills (photography, hunting and collecting), while others may require
a buddy for safety purposes (wreck and ice diving).
Let's get our heads out of the beach sand and recognize the fact that
individual safety is of primary importance, and it is the individual
that needs the skills and knowledge to become self-sufficient so that
they can truly enjoy a safe diving experience. As NAUI Instructors and
recognized leaders in the industry, we should take more of a leadership
role in recognizing that training for solo self-sufficient diving is
indeed keeping with our purpose of "Safety Through Education."
Throughout the years we have all talked about solo diving--now it is
time to act.
--Francis
Linnehan, NAUI 4464; Chelmsford, MA(President of Down Under Diving Ventures,
Inc. Has taught all levels of diving to ITC staff experience. Has taught
in many areas of the country, including North Atlantic, North Pacific,
and California coasts.)
A. When we take
students to the local quarry for their first open water experience,
I become very conscious of following all of the instructions that the
students are given. This includes the buddy system. As leaders, we should
never forget the law of primacy--students are always observing us for
clues. For example, when placing a float and ascent line, I always request
another assistant accompany me, or I tow the float out with the first
group of students and instructors. This way, I am never seen diving
alone, although technically I do not have a buddy in the latter case.
This example highlights a point I wish to make. When I escort a group
of students, everyone is my buddy, and yet no one is really my buddy.
Students can feel comfortable in the knowledge that we, as leadership
divers with rescue training, are well prepared to help them should the
need occur; yet they are not as prepared to help if we run into difficulty.
The point is not that they are insufficiently trained, but that they
are still in the learning process. Essentially, we must assume that
we are diving solo under these circumstances.
When I dive for sport, I always dive with a clearly defined partner--I
believe in the buddy system. Unfortunately the matter turns from a black
and white to gray during certification dives. Students are preoccupied
with their own interests, my problems are secondary to them. In fact,
we teach them a priority structure: 1) Themselves, 2) Their buddy, and
3) Other divers. To students or other leaders, I fall into the third
category. For that reason, I slow down and take a few extra seconds
to double check my own gear, and mentally review self-rescue techniques.
I also now wear a pony bottle on every dive, and two knives if entanglement
is a potential risk.
Regardless of what happens with the solo diving issue, those of us in
the instructional ranks should consider our unique position in the buddy
diving system. Even if solo diving is not offered as a certification
for normal sport diving, it might be a valid addition to the leadership
level curriculums for the reasons described above.
--Edward
Kabak, NAUI Z8391; Royersford, PA(Assistant Instructor teaching at Penn
State University and with private instructors.)
A. Absolutely
not. The liability and insurance problems would be enormous. NAUI must
continue to strongly emphasize that the "buddy" is the sport
diver's prime safety asset. We must not abandon our motto of "Safety
Through Education," by adopting a less safe fashion of diving than
presently advocated. Momentary solo descents by instructors or divemasters
are outside the realm of recreational/sport diving, and are to be considered,
contextually, professional diving. Students will not emulate this solo
diving if it is emphasized that your conduct is that of a working professional
(albeit you may be having fun).
--Steve
Broussard, NAUI 7147; Chicago, IL(Scuba Instructor at Chicago State
University, and has taught introductory through advanced and specialty
courses. A practicing attorney, he has lectured at ITCs and Branch workshops
on legal aspects of underwater instruction.)
A. While the
idea and practice of solo diving is neither new nor novel, I feel that
sanctioning the activity would raise problems. I am no stranger to solo
diving. Each time I enter the water with four ESEs, not only do I lack
a buddy but also have four liabilities. But having an instructor or
commercial diver with extensive diving experience (generally more than
the proposed 100 dives) dive alone is different from telling John and
Maybelle from Lookback, Kansas that they are now free to dive solo on
their next trip to the Great Lakes.
I have confidence that if NAUI decided to institute this course they
could do it safely and effectively. The real problem is in its interpretation.
For years we have been telling divers it is nearly a crime punishable
by death to dive alone. Now we "go back on our word," and
with what good reason? So all of us who are already diving alone still
can?
Additionally, my insurance company would have a collective stroke if
I made a practice of renting gear to solo divers. In fact, on my Waiver
and Rental Agreement it is mentioned that thou shalt not dive alone.
Someone should investigate the insurance problem before taking any actions.
And industry standards would be affected. How would it look to the other
agencies and how would they manipulate it politically were a solo diving
specialty to become reality? Would they say "NAUI is not promoting
safe diving practices?" Politically it is very volatile.
If this course is initiated, it should be restricted to leadership level
people and certain limited numbers of commercial divers, professional
photographers, and other diving professionals. (Another nightmare--how
professional is "professional?") A mandatory spare air requirement
would also be necessary. Alternatively, we might include safe solo diving
practices within courses designated for professional divers, but it
would be important to emphasize that it is not permissible for the lay
public to solo dive just because a few divers are successfully getting
away with breaking safe diving standards.
--Leslie
Sternberg, NAUI 6092; Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii(Instructor for Dive Maui,
Inc. Has taught all levels of diving from introductory courses to ITC
staff experience.)
A. Solo diving
violates one of the basic premises of sport scuba diving: "Always
dive with a buddy." In offering a solo diving certification a concern
regarding increased liability arises. With the exception of leadership
courses, NAUI sanctions sport scuba diving. Solo diving is a professional
diving activity.
One of an instructor's responsibilities is to motivate a student to
develop safe diving practices. Incorporating a sport solo diving certification
decreases the safety factors built into sport diving. Buddy diving offers
much more than assistance in emergency situations. Two or more sport
divers can assist each other through all phases of a diving activity,
from pre-dive planning to exiting the water for the mutual benefit of
each diver. Beyond safety considerations, solo diving takes away from
the camaraderie two people can gain by sharing similar experiences.
This serves to reduce the level of enjoyment of scuba diving as a recreational
activity.
Sport divers dive for recreational pleasure and solo diving should not
be available for sport divers. Professional divers dive for different
reasons, enjoyment is not the sole motivating factor. This distinction
between sport and professional diving is important. To ignore the fact
that sport divers solo dive is ignorant--it happens. But for the safety
of sport divers this activity should not be sanctioned and a solo diving
certification should not be offered. Experienced professionals do not
desire and do not need additional certification at this level, so it
also is not necessary for that group of divers.
--Shawn
David Powell, NAUI 8725; Casper, Wyoming (Has taught diving at the University
of Oklahoma, taught courses from Openwater I to assisting with ITCs.
Presented papers at ICUE '86 and '87, and also published in other journals.)
A. Over the
past years, a lot of the diving fatalities I have seen involved divers
scuba diving alone. Their common activity was spearfishing. Topside
they had dive buddies, but once the hunt began each person was on their
own. The victims' bodies were either found a day or two later, or not
at all. The main loss of time searching for them was simply the lack
of a definitive location where the victim was diving. I am sure had
the buddy system been enforced throughout the dive these incidents would
have been prevented or at least the intensity would not have been as
bad.
In the openwater diver courses, self rescue exercises are already initiated
from mask clearing to equipment handling and from dive planning to emergency
swimming ascents. A back-up system, the "buddy system," teaches
the divers to be responsible for looking after each others' safety.
This portion of the training should not be taken for granted by the
instructor, assistants, or students because of its importance in the
future. Legalizing solo diving would just produce and induce more overconfident
divers to dive alone, thereby giving rescue teams more work to do, waste
taxpayers' money, and giving the sport a bad reputation.
--Carlos
N. Santos-Viola, NAUI 5687L; San Francisco, CA (Former Training Director
and General Manager of Aquaventure Phils, Inc. Has taught all levels
to ITCs. Former Safety Chairman for the Amphibians Scuba Club.)
A. Solo diving
is the antithesis of the buddy system. If you could define the buddy
system, you would immediately discover that everyone violates it. Since
we are all violating it, then we must be solo diving. And if we are
all solo diving, then there can not be much wrong with it. The fact
is, there is not anything wrong with it, and we do not need a certificate
to prove it.
The buddy system originated in swimming pools. NEVER SWIM ALONE! Anyone
growing up around an aquatic facility (YMCA, Girls' Club, etc.) has
seen such a sign. It is an assist to help lifeguards to have their charges
keep track of each other.
Several things are troubling about this issue. No one has been able
to do the following: (1) Satisfactorily explain what "buddy system"
means, (2) Measure how dangerous sport scuba diving is, or (3) Identify
where that danger comes from.
Some people will tell you that the buddy system is the only safe way
to dive. They believe that scuba diving is so unsafe that you can not
do it without bringing along your own rescuer. Is this true? Of course
not! If this were so, we would discover another problem...not all divers
can rescue all other divers. Therefore the buddy system would exist
for some but could not exist for all. Some divers are frightened by
the prospect of having to "rescue" someone (especially a total
stranger with whom they have been "buddied"). No diver should
be made to feel morally or legally obligated to rescue any other diver.
Forcing two people who do not know each other to dive together (common
in resorts) is certainly not guaranteeing their safety, especially when
most are fully occupied just taking care of themselves.
The question of a separate solo diving certification implies that there
is a different skill level associated with solo diving, perhaps taking
more (or less) skill. A few interesting thoughts on this topic...if
you solo dive, you will never have to rescue anyone on the surface,
or buddy breath underwater. If we decide solo diving is therefore easier
than buddy diving, we should be able to shorten the diving course.
Incidentally, there should be no double standard in this issue. If the
axiom "NEVER DIVE ALONE" is true, then we should not see examples
of diving leaders routinely breaking it (instructors setting floats,
divemasters freeing anchors, etc.)
Compile a list of other solo activities which might be considered "dangerous."
My list includes: driving an automobile, flying an airplane, sport parachuting,
hang gliding. Now order them from most to least dangerous. I would do
so: parachuting, hang gliding, flying, driving, scuba diving. This is
my arrangement because I can not do the first three and I believe them
to be more dangerous than driving an automobile. Driving an automobile
is the most dangerous thing I do. Unless scuba diving is the most dangerous
activity for you (and you would have to have experience in all the activities
"less" dangerous), then you have no argument for prohibiting
solo diving. The rewards of solo diving far outweigh the modest risks.
There are some risks involved...not as many as driving an automobile,
and more than sitting on a couch.
Think about it. We fly planes solo, we hang glide solo, we parachute
solo, we drive automobiles solo...and no one points a finger at us!
But, get in the water alone, or lose sight of your buddy (and you know
how often that happens in the course of a dive), and a jury of self-appointed
experts will point their collective finger at you. Well...give them
the finger back!
I have dived alone and will dive alone. In the company of students on
training dives I am as good as alone. By-and-large, even in the company
of experienced and trusted friends, there are times when I am alone.
Considering everything, most of my dives have been done essentially
alone; there is nothing wrong with this. I do not go out of my way to
dive alone because it is more fun to share the experience with someone.
Solo diving is acceptable, but we do not need a solo diver certification
to show it.
--Fred
Calhoun, NAUI 380; Boston, MA (Private Professional Instructor, has
taught all levels of diving to ITCs. Producer of the Boston Diving Show.
Past North Atlantic Branch Manager. Recipient of NAUI Outstanding Service
Award.)
A. The topic of
solo diving has been addressed before. In 1979, while participating in
a NAUI Instructor Trainer workshop in Vancouver, B.C., I presented the
question "When do you teach solo diving techniques to your students,
during the advanced or assistant instructor class?" This started
a lengthy, somewhat heated discussion amongst more than a dozen of the
top NAUI Instructors in the North Pacific.
At the 1979 IQ in HOuston, TX, Lou Fead addressed solo diving during his
presentation "Buddies Speak Out." Fead had conducted a survey
with the help of NAUI headquarters which identified some interesting facts
and perceptions. Evidence indicated that maybe the buddy system, as we
know it, was not working very well to prevent accidents. It appeared that
buddies became more independent with diving experience and growth in self
confidence.
After the 1979 IQ and long talks with Fead, Spence Campbell, and several
other leading NAUI Instructors, I submitted an article for NAUI News on
solo diving, which was published in 1980. It was obvious then, as it is
today, that most divers (I would estimate greater than 90%) will dive
alone under one or more of the following conditions:
1.By
Accident--Buddies become separated while diving.
2.By Choice--Photographers and hunters often choose to dive alone because
they want to focus all of their attention on their task.
3.By Necessity--Rescue and instruction fall into this category.
4.By Misinterpretation--Leader/Follower...the follower follows, but
has no buddy. Fifty feet behind the leader in clear water off the Cayman
Wall is NOT buddy diving. This is called the "SOB" (Same Ocean
Buddy) System.
Do divers dive alone?
YES!! There is no question that solo diving is common and most divers
will occasionally be underwater alone. The real questions are...Should
NAUI INstructors teach solo diving techniques, and when?
Some of the instructors have indicated that solo diving should be taught
as part of the diver rescue training. I agree 100% with this suggestion.
We teach and motivate people to enter the ocean alone, in a high stress
situation, to save the life of a diver or swimmer. Have we ever evaluated
their abilities to get dressed into their equipment and make a safe entry,
dive, and exit without assistance?
Here is another concept to consider: We must address the difference between
buddy diving and buddy dependent diving. A new, learning diver is dependent
and should be diving with a trained, professional diving leader.
Maybe we should teach solo/independent diving techniques in the entry
level class. Shouldn't your students be capable of getting all of their
own equipment assembled, entering the pool/confined water, and comfortably
demonstrate skin and scuba skills with self confidence prior to being
eligible to accept the responsibilities of a buddy?
Buddy separation often creates unnecessary stress in the new diver for
several reasons. (1) Personal discomfort from a lack of self confidence.
(2) Lack of confidence in the other buddy's abilities. (3) The belief
that being underwater alone is dangerous. (4) The threat of criticism
from other divers, especially the instructor and dive buddy.
When a diver encounters a situation which causes stress, anxiety begins
to influence thoughts and decisions. Judgement is impaired and mistakes
are made. The person overreacts to the situation and someone gets injured.
If, however, we were to teach divers to respond in a positive manner to
accidental solo diving, we may prevent unnecessary accidents. New divers
need to be self confident and independent.
Buddy diving is a bonus, not a necessity. Buddy diving can increase enjoyment,
and, in some rare situations, enhance safety.
By yourself, you may choose to hike through the woods, thinking your own
thoughts while listening to the waterfalls and birds, or soar high above
the ground in a silent glider or parachute, or drive your car through
the mountains while listening to your favorite mood music on the radio,
or walk along the beach early in the morning listening to the waves crashing
on the shore and the sea gulls screeching,...or glide over a coral reef
or sandy ocean floor observing fish, crabs, octopus, and numerous other
submarine creatures go about their daily chores of survival.
Sometimes taking a calculated risk in an alien world turns out to be "just
what the doctor ordered." The emotional and psychological therapy
may be vary valuable.
Is solo diving extraordinarily risky? I do not think so. The risk is in
the mind of the diver and how she or he reacts to the environment and
situation.
Should we condone solo diving? I do not think we have a choice. Our attitude
as professionals about solo diving will not change the fact that divers
have and will continue to enjoy the underwater world...alone.
--Tom Hemphill, NAUI
2491; Federal Way, WA
A. As a military
diver I have been trained to dive solo by some definitions. The major
difference is we have surface tenders, dive supervisors, chambers, and
a means of communication with the crew (signals or wire communications).
Additionally, hundreds of training hours are spent practicing and perfecting
procedures. The number of hours required to hone the skills far exceeds
the economic realities of all but the most diligent divers. When diving
alone is compared to driving or flying alone, the problem should be
reduced to the ability to seek assistance. Planes are required to have
radios. Automobile drivers do not have the same problem with receiving
assistance that a lone diver somewhere in the vast oceans of our world
faces. Although teaching instructors may find themselves in a situation
where solo diving is required, a good technique is to utilize your teaching
assistant as a buddy. If an assistant is not available, it may be more
advisable to buddy the instructor with a student buddy team than to
send the wrong signal to your students. Buddy diving is safer...who
has not overlooked something that your buddy has corrected? Not to mention
that buddy diving is more fun.
--Joe Kilgore, NAUI
8740L; Pearl City, HI
A. No, absolutely
not. While a solo dive may be necessary to attach a line to a wreck,
these dives are short, quickly done by an experienced divemaster who
knows the wreck and with people on board in case of an emergency.
Unlike being on land, underwater you have lost or reduced many senses.
You are dependent upon equipment, have a limited air supply, and are
extremely susceptible to activity-related maladies (DCS, nitrogen narcosis,
hypothermia, and others). Each dive is unique and different, and may
involve interactions (with equipment malfunctions, physical stress,
marine life injuries, line entanglements, etc.) which could lead to
panic. While no dive is 100% safe, a buddy helps make it so.
A buddy helps you suit up, checks your equipment, reminds you of depth-time
and air supply limits, witnesses unusual occurrences, removes entanglements,
helps with entering and exiting the water, and lowers stress and exertion
levels.
You may need assistance if an accident occurs while diving. Your buddy
provides your extra set of hands and eyes to provide that assistance
if needed. If you need help and are diving alone, no fish is going to
help you!
--Gordon Ronald Hurlbert,
NAUI Z8187; Laval, Quebec, Canada(NAUI Assistant Instructor, owns and
operates Dive Five.)
A. I have closely
followed the raging debate over solo diving and should NAUI sanction
a self-sufficient diver course. I thought NAUI already did, it is called
Openwater I.
In this course students are trained, or should be, to solve the problems
that divers in their area face everyday. When a student graduates from
a NAUI Openwater I course he/she should already be a self-sufficient
diver. This does not mean they are capable of diving alone, nor should
they be encouraged to do so.
It has been said "a bad buddy can kill you!" While this may
be true, a good buddy can save you. These are the two extremes of buddy
diving and there are more realistic viewpoints that deserve to be explored.
A buddy can be there to help with equipment problems, making things
go a little smoother. A buddy can provide or summon help in an emergency.
A buddy can be a set of extra eyes and hands in many ways (have you
ever tried to bag an eight pound Maine lobster by yourself?). Most importantly,
a buddy is a person with whom to share a good day's diving, someone
to share in the excitement of being underwater. In short, a buddy can
make diving a safer and more enjoyable sport.
I believe it is time we stop using the excuse "a bad buddy can
kill you" and take the time to find a good buddy. You will be glad
you did.
--Jeffrey
Heim, NAUI 10880; Wayne, PA
A. As a military
diver I have been trained to dive solo by some definitions. The major
difference is we have surface tenders, dive supervisors, chambers, and
a means of communication with the crew (signals or wire communications).
Additionally, hundreds of training hours are spent practicing and perfecting
procedures. The number of hours required to hone the skills far exceeds
the economic realities of all but the most diligent divers. When diving
alone is compared to driving or flying alone, the problem should be
reduced to the ability to seek assistance. Planes are required to have
radios. Automobile drivers do not have the same problem with receiving
assistance that a lone diver somewhere in the vast oceans of our world
faces. Although teaching instructors may find themselves in a situation
where solo diving is required, a good technique is to utilize your teaching
assistant as a buddy. If an assistant is not available, it may be more
advisable to buddy the instructor with a student buddy team than to
send the wrong signal to your students. Buddy diving is safer...who
has not overlooked something that your buddy has corrected? Not to mention
that buddy diving is more fun.
--Joe
Kilgore, NAUI 8740L; Pearl City, HI
A. No, absolutely
not. While a solo dive may be necessary to attach a line to a wreck,
these dives are short, quickly done by an experienced divemaster who
knows the wreck and with people on board in case of an emergency.
Unlike being on land, underwater you have lost or reduced many senses.
You are dependent upon equipment, have a limited air supply, and are
extremely susceptible to activity-related maladies (DCS, nitrogen narcosis,
hypothermia, and others). Each dive is unique and different, and may
involve interactions (with equipment malfunctions, physical stress,
marine life injuries, line entanglements, etc.) which could lead to
panic. While no dive is 100% safe, a buddy helps make it so.
A buddy helps you suit up, checks your equipment, reminds you of depth-time
and air supply limits, witnesses unusual occurrences, removes entanglements,
helps with entering and exiting the water, and lowers stress and exertion
levels.
You may need assistance if an accident occurs while diving. Your buddy
provides your extra set of hands and eyes to provide that assistance
if needed. If you need help and are diving alone, no fish is going to
help you!
--Gordon
Ronald Hurlbert, NAUI Z8187; Laval, Quebec, Canada (AUI Assistant Instructor,
owns and operates Dive Five.)
