Solo diving is the practice of self-sufficient underwater diving without a "dive buddy", particularly with reference to scuba diving, but the term is also applied to freediving. Professionally, solo diving has always been an option which depends on operational requirements and risk assessment. Surface supplied diving and atmospheric suit diving are commonly single diver underwater activities but are accompanied by an on-surface support team dedicated to the safety of the diver, including a stand-by diver, and are not considered solo diving in this sense.
Solo diver surveying a dive site. The bailout cylinder can be seen slung at the diver's left side
An underwater photographer intent on the composition of his next photograph
Underwater diving, as a human activity, is the practice of descending below the water's surface to interact with the environment. It is also often referred to as diving, an ambiguous term with several possible meanings, depending on context.
Immersion in water and exposure to high ambient pressure have physiological effects that limit the depths and duration possible in ambient pressure diving. Humans are not physiologically and anatomically well-adapted to the environmental conditions of diving, and various equipment has been developed to extend the depth and duration of human dives, and allow different types of work to be done.
Surface-supplied divers riding a stage to the underwater workplace
Mild barotrauma to a diver caused by mask squeeze
Views through a flat mask, above and below water
Recreational breath-hold divers in basic equipment with floats and catch bags suitable for collecting lobster or shellfish