Submission Dive Blog

Darren recently conducted Sub-Mission’s first PADI Self Reliant Diver Specialty, which was a big hit for those who took part. Relying on yourself underwater is a rather daunting prospect to most people, especially with that nagging question at the back of your mind… “what if…”. What if I need my buddy? My buddy always navigates, what if I can’t find my way back? What if I run out of air? Of course, these are all relevant points but with a prerequisite of 100 dives, PADI Advanced Open Water Diver for the PADI Self Reliant Specialty and advantageously SMB deployment experience, some divers, not all, would feel that they would be able to over come some of these issues independently even if they had a buddy with them. Incidentally, running out of air should never be a threat to those who are vigilant with their air checks throughout a dive.

 

Simon, who took the Specialty course kindly wrote a review for the blog:

“Going to be a bit bold here and say that the PADI Self Reliant Diver specialty is the best PADI speciality yet! I was lucky enough to be in the first group undertaking the PADI Self Reliant Diver specialty; now before I go any further this is not about PADI or Sub-Mission suggesting that diving on your own is the way forward. You might find that a bit odd, but lets face it you can carry all the redundant (spare) equipment you need but you can’t carry a redundant brain – the buddy system is here to stay! What the PADI Self Reliant Diver Specialty does is teach you to sort out your own problems by planning and carrying redundant equipment. A crucial part of the PADI Self Reliant Diver Specialty is that you use that equipment and familiarise yourself with what to do and how to do it should an issue arise. This course combines the very best of the PADI Deep, Navigation and the SMB specialties The course makes you think about the most precious resource in diving – time and as we all know gas supply gives you time. The PADI Self Reliant Diver introduces gas management and planning, effectively the last building block of dive preparation, planning and enjoyment. I really can’t recommend this course highly enough; it’s also a great introduction into technical diving concepts – now then, where are the details for that Tech 40 course!”

Nick’s review of the course:

“I really enjoyed completing the self reliant specialty! Even in the challenging conditions you made sure the course was fun and enjoyable from start to finish. From no mask swims to mind boggling formulas, this course has it all!”

Katy’s review of the course:

“I decided it would be good for me to take some training in being a little more self reliant, especially being a photographers buddy underwater, I tend to find myself hanging around behind Darren whilst he lingers over one photogenic fish or another. I could be indulging myself in nudibranch hunting whilst Darren is spending time taking photos. So Sunday morning I found myself at Stoney Cove, enrolled onto the PADI Self Reliant Specialty preparing my equipment, making sure I’d got a spare timer, spare signalling device, redundant air supply, spare mask and heaving myself into the water with all of the grace of a baby hippo.

During the first dive we were instructed to swim with full kit on the surface, hover underwater for one minute, calculate our air consumption rates with a five minute swim at 10 metres, respond to a free flow by switching to our redundant air supplies and then deply our SMB’s. The water temperature was 7 degrees and the visibility was better than usual but due to the wind it was slightly choppy and it felt like we could have been in the sea!

We did another 5 minute swim on the second dive to calculate our air consumption, we conducted compass navigation swims, natural navigation swims (sound familiar PADI Advanced Open Water Students?) as well as the terrifying idea of having to take our masks off in the water, swim 18 metres and keep the mask off for 2 minutes. This was not as bad as I thought it was going to be, just very cold on the eyes, although my face felt lovely and warm when I put the mask back on.

The last dive concentrated on navigating away from the entry point, checking air, time and sticking rigidly to the dive plan. We were tasked with turning around at a set point and being back at the exit point at the exact time agreed before hand. All went swimmingly and we were proud of ourselves for executing our rigid plan. Just one last thing to do and that was to simulate an out of air situation, switch to our redundant air source and then deploy our SMB’s.

I enjoyed the three dives required for the PADI Self Reliant Specialty immensely and I always like to learn new skills, to test myself and to push my experiences further. I’m not going to go diving on my own, I am a far too social underwater diver for that! I love to be able to grab Darren and show him something interesting (and watch his eyes glaze over at the sight of yet another tiny critter) however, improving my ability to be a little more dependant on myself will not hurt whilst Darren is taking some pretty amazing photos. Look out Nudibranchs, here I come!”

Share