Solo Diving: The Art of Underwater Self-Sufficiency [Paperback]

Von Robert Maier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 3, 2001

This practical guide to underwater survival covers what divers need to know from air consumption to equipment redundancy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Solo Diving is a must-read for every diver who thinks they understand the sport of scuba diving. -- Testimonial

This is truly the only book that I feel confident recommending to anyone, regardless of their underwater experience. -- Book testimonial

About the Author

Robert von Maier has been diving for more than 20 years, and has logged over 5,000 dives and trained over 1,000 students to scuba dive. He is an instructor trainer and course director, and has written and taught courses in deep, wreck and staged-decompression diving. He is a co-author of Deep Diving: An Advanced Guide to Physiology, Procedures and Systems. He lives in Carlsbad, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Aqua Quest Publications; 2nd Edition edition (December 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881652289
• ISBN-13: 978-1881652281
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,054,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Good Idea Needing More Practical Information, December 15, 2002

By 

John E. Smertneck (Neptune, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Solo Diving: The Art of Underwater Self-Sufficiency (Paperback)

This text covers a highly debated topic in diving today - solo diving. The author presents a lot of reasons, justification, and testimony for this practice and makes the reader think about various items such as fitness, limits, and air supply in conducting solo dives.
I am a working divemaster currently assisting in the teaching of a solo diver course in which this book is our primary text, and from my professional opinion it contains a lot of fluff and not enough practical detail. Gear rigging and streamlining is not covered, and I feel that this is an essential item that should be explored in depth for solo diving. Also, no potential underwater problems/solutions are covered, something that should be discussed and trained for. In addition, I believe there are more suitable methods for working with surface air consumption (SAC) rates.
Overall, I think that the book is good for getting divers to think about solo diving but should not be used as a training guide. This is a subject which receives very little publication and much criticism, and I am certain that as the knowledge base grows there will be more informative material published on solo diving.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Solo Diving Disappointment, April 4, 2002

By 

Ralph G Bixler "BixPix" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Solo Diving: The Art of Underwater Self-Sufficiency (Paperback)

I purchased this book expecting a book on solo diving techniques and gear requirements. The author seems more interested in making a case for solo diving than teaching solo diving methods. I got more out of the testimonials in the rear of the book than from the author. Very disappointing reading

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every diver should read this book., August 7, 2003

By 

Thomas J. Trebisky (Tucson, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Solo Diving: The Art of Underwater Self-Sufficiency (Paperback)

No new skills or methods are needed to dive solo.
What is needed is a new attitude, one that every
diver should have anyway, even if they never intend
to dive alone. This is what this book is about.
I come from the rock climbing culture where there is
no certification, and virtually all participants realize
-they- are responsible to learn the skills needed to stay
out of trouble. This book is refreshing and honest.
It may save lives by bursting peoples bubble about
the buddy system. Others it will inspire to prepare
themselves to accept the new levels of risk and freedom
in solo diving.