Solo Diving once considered technical diving and discouraged by certification agencies is now seen as an acceptable practice for those divers suitably trained and experienced. Rather than relying on the traditional buddy diving safety system solo divers are skilled in self sufficiency and are able to take responsibility for their own safety while diving. The first Training Agency to offer a Solo Diving certification was SDI (Scuba Diving International) in 1999. To date they remain the only agency to formalise this level of diver training. Additionally Big Blue Tech is the only school on the west coast to offer this course (including Bangkok, Koh Samui, Patatya and Koh Pang-Nga)

Other certifications have this style of course called either independent diver or self sufficient diver but nothing beats the label “Solo Diver”

Big Blue Tech completed this course for Mark (dive master intern from Pattaya) Matt (Oil Industry worker from Pattaya) and Andy (Big Blue Tech Dive Master Intern). The course took 2 days with a morning of theory and 4 dives.

The skills learned on the course including aspects of dive planning, gas monitoring, redundant breathing sources, navigation and physical stamina. The students were pushed close to the edge of their comfort level with the introduction of new methods of diving.

The course is designed to train a diver to a level where he can dive on his own without supervision providing he/she has a backup breathing supply. Additionally their SAC rates were calculated so they could effectively determine their gas consumption prior to the dive.

One of their last two dives let them explore Chumphon Pinnacle (Koh Tao’s premier dive site) with the support of surface cover who had their dive plan logged.

Matt and Mark return to Pattaya today after a night on the town. Andy went straight back to working towards his technical divemaster course by assisting on an Advanced Nitrox Course.

Below are some pictures of their course.