SDI Solo Diver

At one point or another, many divers have found themselves alone during a dive, whether it was intentional or not. SDI’s Solo Diving is the practice of self reliant scuba diving without a “dive buddy.” Solo diving, once considered technical diving and discouraged by most certification agencies, is now seen by many experienced divers and some certification agencies as an acceptable practice for those divers suitably trained and experienced. Rather than relying on the traditional buddy diving safety system, solo divers should be skilled in self-sufficiency and willing to take responsibility for their own safety while diving.

Being one of SDI’s most popular courses, the Solo Diver course stresses proper dive planning, personal limitations, and accident prevention, as well as the benefits, hazards, and proper procedures for diving solo. You will also learn the additional equipment that is required for solo diving including its proper usage and assembly. This is the perfect course for underwater photography and underwater video divers as well as those diving with their children or buddies that may not be very experienced in scuba diving.

Note: Underwater World is the only dive shop in the Philadelphia region that includes 3 weeks of preceding in-shop academic lectures for Solo Diver, as well as requiring a total of three (3) open water dives. (SDI's standards & policies set the minimum requirement at only two.). You must have a minimum of 100 verifiable, logged dives prior to the dives for this course.

Who this course is for:

The certified SDI Advanced Diver (or equivalent) who is interested in learning how to dive independent of a dive buddy, or looking to strengthen your buddy team diving skills.

Course prerequisites:

Minimum age 21
Certified SDI Advanced Diver or equivalent
Provide proof of 100 logged dives

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Solo Diver course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

Why solo dive?
History of buddy diving
Pros and cons of buddy diving and solo diving
Legal liability assumed by buddy diving
How to use the SDI Solo Diving waiver and release
Who must solo dive?
The solo diving mentality
When not to solo dive
Equipment for solo diving
Planning and conducting a solo dive
Navigation
Management of solo diving emergencies
Review the SDI Solo Diver Liability Release and Express Assumption of Risk Agreement Form

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include all of the following and more:

200 metres/600 feet surface swim in full scuba equipment, configured for local diving conditions; must be non-stop and performed in an open water environment
Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning
Plan dive limits based on personal air consumption rate
Plan exact dive
Properly execute the planned dive within all predetermined limits
Equipment configuration appropriate for solo diving
Proper descent/ascent rates
Proper safety stop procedures
Monitoring of decompression status equipment; tables, computers, equipment, etc.
Navigation skills – demonstrate proficiency of navigation with compass
Demonstrate emergency change over to redundant air supply (not to exceed 30 metres/100 feet)
Deploy surface marker buoy (SMB) from depth
Use of audible signaling device
Emergency techniques for managing free-flows (regulator, BCD, etc)

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in solo diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor as long as the following limits are adhered to:

The diving activities approximate those of training
The areas of activities approximate those of training
Environmental conditions approximate those of training

SDI Solo Diver minimum requirements:

Satisfactorily complete the SDI Solo Diver Knowledge Quests with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the Instructor.
Complete all open water requirements efficiently
Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
Complete three (3) Open Water dives--this is one more than what SDI actually requires

You must own the following pieces of equipment:

Primary Light
Backup
Tank Marker
Backup mask
EPIRB (e.g., Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS or Garmin inReach Mini) - If using Garmin, you must show proof that you subscription is active.
Two line cutting devices
Auditory signaling device (e.g., whistle)
Ascent reel (at least 300 feet of line)
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) with reflective strip
Lift bag (at least 50#)
Finger spool
Slate / wet-notes
Redundant air supply (either a pony bottle or doubles with an isolation manifold)

How to take this course?

Sign up and receive your online code
Once you complete the online portion schedule the class, pool, or open water dives as required.

Academic Lectures (7-9pm):

May 22
May 29
June 5

Open Water Dives:

June 8

Instructor: Adam Figueira

Location: TBD

Skill Level:	Intermediate
Skill Details:	See Course Description
Materials Included:	Includes eLearning
Requirements:	Minimum age 21 Certified SDI Advanced Diver or equivalent Provide proof of 100 logged dives
Instructor:	See Course Description

Dates:

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This class cannot be purchased online. Please contact the store for more information.

SDI Solo Diver
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