Solo diving

Diving intentionally without a buddy, accepted by some agencies with dedicated training, redundant gas, and strict self-reliance standards.

Solo diving is diving deliberately without a buddy, a practice that was taboo for decades and is now formally recognized by parts of the industry through certifications like SDI Solo Diver and PADI Self-Reliant Diver. The premise is honest risk accounting: a solo diver has no one to share gas with, so every critical system must be redundant and every problem solvable alone.

The equipment answer is redundancy: an independent backup gas supply such as a pony bottle with its own regulator, a backup mask, a backup computer or timing device, and cutting tools reachable with either hand. The skills answer is conservatism and self-rescue: generous gas reserves calculated in advance, shallower and simpler profiles than you would accept with a buddy, no overhead environments, and rigorous pre-dive checks with no one to catch your mistakes.

Prerequisites are deliberately steep, typically 100 logged dives before solo training. Many underwater photographers and hunters are effectively solo even in a group, which is exactly the argument for formalizing the skills. Whether or not you ever dive alone on purpose, self-reliant training makes you the buddy everyone wants. Check local rules first, many operators and some regions still prohibit diving alone.