How is freediving solo on a calm day different from swimming solo in a pool?

People have no issue with swimming solo in a pool, but get all nervous with any kind of freediving solo.

Is there really that much difference??  Like to hear your views.

Current, waves, frigid waters, sharks, kelp, sometimes remote locations,  more physically demanding (carrying extra gear, hiking and swimming to dive spots etc), and deeper depths (potential shallow water blackout) just to name a few off the top of my head

If my swimming pool was 53 degrees, I'd buy a new house.

....I don't carry a speargun in my pool.  I'd move out if I had to.

.... you won't find BigJim foraging for a meal in a pool either 

physiologically there is a big difference. The mind is a power thing and you can start to panic when there is really nothing wrong. I've seen people freak out just because they allowed themselves to over think things.

Its not for everyone 

Hopefully some more safety conscious folks will chime in, but here is why I don't like diving "solo"....

Even though my partner and I often just tie up our kayaks and do our own thing, and we aren't buddied up, we know we are in the general area together and one of us isn't gonna take off and drive home without knowing the other one is back on shore or OK...

If  things go bad...shark attack, shallow water black out, heart attack, other medical emergency, kayak sinks, paddle floats away, weather goes to sh*t and can't make it in, I shoot myself in the head with my speargun, or I get eaten by a sealion...he can try and help, or call for help on the VHF, or at least tell my wife what happened and where to look for my body....and I can do the same for him...

But, I do dive solo when I can't find a partner...but that is a conscious decision I make and know if any of the above happens I am 100% on my own...I prefer to have a buddy out there with me in case any of the above happens.

And it's fun to be out there sharing the adventure with a good friend. 

Just my 2 cents.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

..... & It's all about sharing the adventure 

or at least tell my wife what happened and where to look for my body....and I can do the same for him...

Unfortunately, this is more than likely what would occur the way most (not all) of the people I know buddy dive (98%). Unless you are diving next to one another and alternating dives the odds are against you saving each other. 

I would prefer to buddy dive the way it is intended but it doesn't always pan out that way.

I like juggling, so why do people have an issue that I want to juggle chainsaws???

Hey Apple!! That's an orange..

Easy, here is why:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=18916.0

I was there that day yak fishing about 1/4 mile from him, never knew he was there until the helicopter showed up.  That was the last time I yak-fished the ocean solo.

Some things are just safer (and funner) with a partner.

-beenfishin

I probably dive solo 75% of the time. I'm OK with it.
BUT, this last dive would have cost me almost $200 in lost gear if not for my dive buddies that day; BigJim and Shark_bait. They saved my divebelt when it went overboard along with my goodie bag.
New weights, belt, time, fit, gas.....all saved by my buddies.

I think the difference between the two is, It is much easier to find your body.  Please keep it safe.

Ive done both many many times. Sometimes though when the ocean is glass and clam with good viz, being alone is priceless. These pics are from a solo birthday dive. Southern Sonoma county. Spooky? Hell yes. Worth it? fuck yes. November 18th 2008

No more Fabio!
Say it isn't so 

or at least tell my wife what happened and where to look for my body....and I can do the same for him...

Unfortunately, this is more than likely what would occur the way most (not all) of the people I know buddy dive (98%). Unless you are diving next to one another and alternating dives the odds are against you saving each other. 

I would prefer to buddy dive the way it is intended but it doesn't always pan out that way.

I am with Antonio on this, I prefer the true buddy system and fortunately am able to do so 80% of the time. The others I dive with are usually fairly close by.

The thread question is total apples and oranges. IMO, apples and oranges are both roundish and are both fruit. The ocean and the pool are both water and you will get wet in both, those are the limits to their similarities.