SDI SOLO DIVER COURSE - IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU? | FULL COURSE REVIEW

Have you ever thought about diving on your own?
Have you ever found yourself short of a dive buddy?
Have you ever been diving and found yourself buddied with a diver that you wouldn't want to trust your life with?
Do you have a regular dive buddy who isn't as confident as you?
If you can answer 'yes' to any of the above 4 questions then fear not - I might just have the solution for you!
This is a full review of the SDI Solo Diver Course that I've recently completed with the brilliant team at Wraysbury Dive Centre.
I've broken it down and given you my own honest opinions as always, from the course fundamentals through to my thoughts, recommendations, and the reasons I chose the course in the first instance.
Please, if you have any thoughts, opinions or questions on any of this content then do add them in the video comments. I welcome all queries.
All views are my own, and I have not been directed or coerced to say anything contained in this video.
The cost of the course was covered in full by myself, and I have not been asked to, nor have I received any free equipment or training to create this video.
For more information on the SDI Solo Diver Course visit: www.tdisdi.com/sdi/get-certif...
For more information on Wraysbury Dive Centre Visit or contact the following:
Web - www.learntodive.co.uk/
Email - [e-mail]
Phone - 01784 488007
KZbin - ‪@WraysburyDiveCentre97‬
To support this channel please consider subscribing to ‪@BlackMantaPhotography‬
Timestamps & Chapters
Welcome & Intro 0:00
Why the SDI Solo Diver Course? 00:52
What are the fundamentals of the SDI Solo Diver Course? 04:05
How did I find the course? 08:48
What does the SDI Solo Diver Course consist of? 10:00
Would I recommend the course? 15:06
#sdi
#solodiving
#wraysburydivecentre

[@CritterHunter]

SDI rules. I just made this video as well about the course. Most insurances also recognise the sdi solo course snd not the others

[@BlackMantaPhotography]

It’s staggering! I had no idea until I started researching the equivalent solo courses that most agencies don’t actually offer anything close to it. A really great course!

[@freedomwanderer91]

Thanks for the video. I am PADI Self-Reliant Solo Diver certified, and I am grateful I did it. I feel more competent in the water and as a buddy diver with other divers. I have been to places they will not allow you to dive solo so I would recommend calling the places you are planning on diving to make sure they allow it. My local dive shop allows me to solo dive when I go out with them. When charter diving you may be "solo" but you are not "alone" with 20+ other divers which makes you an asset as a solo diver. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@jobrendan4461]

I also done this course with mark. It was really good

[@BlackMantaPhotography]

Really thorough isn’t it Jo. Highly recommend it!

[@bornaluckyman1]

Really informative thank you

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on self reliance/solo . Many dive sites won’t allow solo diving because of liability reasons, I can totally understand their reasoning. Would you give a 16 year old the keys to a corvette? There are some 16 year olds that could to a great job of handling that responsibility, unfortunately there are the other ones that will be in the news , social media etc making a mess of things. It’s hard enough to find a site to allow diving, we have to dive safe and keep our sport safe in the public perception.

[@BlackMantaPhotography]

Thanks for the comment and your thoughts on it. I'm glad you found the video useful. I absolutely agree - but I would say it's not so much the fault of dive centres not allowing solo diving, but more the impact they would receive if someone solo diving had an incident that was of no fault of their own. The SDI course does teach great self reliance, and does specify that a diver must be 21 years old with a minimum of 100 dives. But for me it was actually hoe detailed the course was and how much of a better diving a feel from even after nearly 800 dives. Would I want to dive solo everywhere - absoultely not! Would I want to dive solo in say the Red Sea off the back of a Liveaboard when there are currents pulling? No way! I think it has it's place in the dive society, even if it's for makeing divers more thought provoking when it came to diving with an inexperienced buddy.

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

@@BlackMantaPhotography I totally agree I would not solo dive in a cave or in a wreck .

[@BlackMantaPhotography]

@@ivoryjohnson4662 absolutely - any form of penetration diving isn’t permitted anyway with the solo diver qualification. That do make that super clear

[@TheKittySquisher]

I almost forget what it’s like diving with other people in the water. Really, the only time I require another diver is when I’m going past 140 ft. It’s nice to have someone else to stare at on deco stops.

[@joevan6397]

I don't like the 100 dives rule. I get it, really, I do. I own my own gear, I own my own boat, I have zero friends lol, is what it is. So, ALL of my dives have been solo, I have yet to dive with a "buddy" outside of training. Most likely all futures dives will be solo, so my only "training" to keep me safe is what I learn from KZbin. Sketchy to say the least lol. I could really use this training but it's not available to me due to the 100-dive rule. As things stand, I will have 100 solo dives BEFORE I am allowed to take the training on how to solo dive. that's a bit messed up. I would like to see the 100-dive requirement changed to a recommended, instructor decision if less the 100.

[@stevecoffey4884]

What is the nature of the technical challenge of maintaining neutral buoyancy an d dsmb deployment in dry suit? Thanks

[@ree8069]

My favorite dive buddy is an alu 80, not gonna lie.

[@jonnieinbangkok]

Rule of thirds...me and my dive mates call that a waste of a third of a tank of air 😂 😂 😂