I was invited - and declined because I had greater priorities - to attend
and undertake a solo diving course this past week-end.  (From a 'Tech'
Agency!) :-)

This morning - co-incidentally - I received the following Press Release.

For what it's worth, my own position on solo diving is very flexible! <BWG>
I believe diving to be an evolving activity and not bound to the past.
Neither do I believe the past - and the belief in the buddy system - to be
without merit! :-)

But it seems to me to be an interesting discussion point!  :-)

Strike
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Solo Diving: PADI Worldwide's Position

Why PADI advocates the use of the buddy system

The buddy system in use today for scuba diving came from a decades old
water safety concept found in swimming and lifeguard training. It was
adopted because it applied to diving and because it made good safety sense.

Early support of buddy diving safety procedures was referenced by Jacques
Cousteau and the crew of the Calypso in the book "The Silent World".  The
goals of training divers include developing the skills to take
responsibility for themselves and to be self-reliant. The buddy system
provides divers in training with a safety redundancy to this skill base that
diving alone simply cannot provide. PADI has, and will continue to, train
divers using the buddy system based on its proven benefit to diving, divers
and diving safety.

Practicality & Convenience

     The buddy system has provided tangible contributions to millions of
dives.  Buddies provide an extra set of eyes and hands for each other.
Providing assistance in putting on equipment, adjusting straps, assisting
with weights and tanks, entering the water, helping to load and unload gear
are but a few practical arguments that support the buddy system.

Safety:

     The roots of the buddy system arise from diving and water safety. Early
days of diver training heralded the buddy system as an important safety
procedure because only through the buddy system could a diver reasonably
expect to escape from entanglement, entrapment, out of air situations,
disorientation, a head injury, chest pains, cramping and dozens more. Diver
training and diving equipment have improved, yet these same values apply
today. Like all safety-based systems, the buddy system is not perfect.
However, the simple fact is that without a buddy in the water, the
distressed diver has little or no chance of assistance.

     The buddy system is the most basic form of scuba diving fail-safe.
Buddies have helped each other in subtle and profound ways for decades.
Often the smallest buddy intervention averts a string of error chains
occurred and negative outcomes or tragedy. The safety record of scuba diving
has improved dramatically over the past few decades, while the number of
certified divers has increased. During this time, buddy system training
techniques have been an integral component of this training.  While there is
no way to quantify the accidents that were prevented or did not happen
because of one buddy looking after another, empirical outcomes support the
relevancy and integrity of this training.

Enjoyment:

     Diving is a social activity, so the buddy system is more than a safety
rule. Diving with someone you know and are comfortable with adds to the fun.
Most divers actually enjoy companionship in and out of the water. It is fun
to share exciting adventures and experiences with others. Fundamentally, the
buddy system is about dive companionship, something that won't appeal to
misanthropic personality types.

Can Solo Diving be done responsibly?

     Yes, but let's be clear about what responsible solo diving is and what
it is not. It requires experienced scuba divers willing to make the
necessary commitment to train and equip themselves to accept the added risks
involved.  That is to say, a person with the required attitude and aptitude
to pursue responsible solo diving. This is true in other adventure sport
activities such as solo rock climbing.

     It is important to clarify what responsible solo scuba diving is.  PADI
views it as a form of technical diving and not for everybody. To responsibly
engage in solo scuba diving, a diver must first be highly experienced, have
a hundred or so buddy accompanied scuba dives, be absolutely self-reliant
and apply the specialized procedures and equipment needed to engage in the
activity. This includes, but is not limited to redundant air sources,
specialized equipment configurations, specific dive planning, and management
of solo diving problems and emergencies. When solo diving is performed
within this description, we see a place for it. Responsible solo diving is
not diving alone without the mental discipline, attitude or equipment.  That
said, no amount of redundant equipment can effectively back up a diver's
brain better than another individual.

What concerns does PADI have with regard to solo diving?

     When a problem occurs on a solo dive, or when the diver is alone in the
water, there is little or no chance of assistance for the distressed diver.
This decreases the chances of a diver surviving the problem or having a
favorable outcome.  Diving alone reduces the chance of survival regardless
of the problem. Since 1989, there were at least 538 fatalities where it was
clear divers were either intentionally diving solo, or became separated from
a buddy and were de facto alone.

     PADI is concerned by certain proponents of solo diving within the dive
industry, including a major diving publication, who attempt to promote solo
diving by bashing both PADI and the buddy system with headlines touting
 Why the Buddy System is dangerous".  This is both irresponsible and
reckless. To suggest that the buddy system fosters a false sense of security
and increases the likelihood of panic is outrageous and contrary to the
empirical evidence. To claim that divers shouldn't use the buddy system for
fear of being sued by a diving companion is ridiculous. The unfortunate
reality in the litigious U.S. is that folks have sued one another for nearly
anything. It is no surprise that there have been a handful of cases where
one buddy has brought suit against another. Outside of the U.S., this
argument doesn't hold up and smacks of the fear mongering to sell magazines.
Besides, how long will it be before a solo death results in a suit against a
magazine or other forum endorsing solo diving, a practice that is contrary
to community practice.  There is nothing to prevent such lawsuits from
arising.

     PADI's position is clear; solo diving proponents should advocate
responsible solo diving on its own unique merits, requisite training, and
equipment needs and not through sensationalized attempts to disparage a
proven safety system, that has served the majority of recreational scuba
divers well.

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