I do most of my diving alone and don´t know why all these books and instructors scold people for it. Its like skiing and climbing and all that stuff. It might turn out good to have a buddy along, but you dont always have that option...so you dont just stay home and wait for a call.
By the way, the objection to Spare Air that you might get nuts by relying on it...would that also hold for having a buddy with you?
I liked the idea of Spare Air fromt he beginning but have never used it. I was really pissed when a dive shop dewd told me I couldnt buy one without a PADIwack license. If I wanted to get an expensive license to breathe air, Id be a scuober.
But, I have to admit, it IS compressed air and therefore using it, even briefly, could lead to problems if you dont know what youre doing. I dont think embolism would be that probable, but there are other effects from breathing compressed air, including, I would think, possible residual effects on your next dive.
Since there were several mentions of shallow water black out in this thread, could I invite anybody who has actual first hand experience of such a thing to post in my thread on that subject?