Solo Diving - Training and Equipment

Training and Equipment

Safe solo divers must be self-sufficient, well trained, prepared and practised. They should have a completely redundant set of all life support equipment (e.g. a complete, self-contained backup breathing gas supply). In addition, the responsible solo divers adhere to a very conservative dive profile, both in depth and level of difficulty. Unlike the buddy system, which encourages divers to rely on others in the event of an emergency, solo diving encourages divers to prepare themselves to overcome emergencies by their own means. The divers who engage in solo diving are typically those who are experienced and equipped enough to handle problems themselves. Solo divers must feel totally comfortable and relaxed in doing this sort of diving, and nobody should ever think of doing diving solo if they are not both competent and comfortable in doing so.

Qualifications for formal solo diving training as provided by SDI emphasises the need for experience and maturity in diving. In particular the student pre-requisites for the solo diving certification course are:

• A minimum age of 21 years
• A minimum certification of SDI/PADI Advanced Diver (or equivalent)
• Proof of a minimum of 100 logged open water dives.
• Depending on the country – a certificate of medical fitness

The student must have an acceptable alternative air configuration, redundant gauges and/or computers, SMB and reel, compass, and (depending on training centre) signaling device and line cutting device. During the course tests are conducted on swimming skills and swimming endurance, scuba skills associated with solo diving (e.g. use of redundant air), navigation skills and dive planning skills (including air management).