Found him ~3 miles out after an hour of searching

[texasdivemaster2012]

If Guy refused to stay as deep as the rest of the group, the divemaster should have stopped him from diving altogether or required him to hire a private divemaster. What would happen if Guy ran out of gas or otherwise had a problem?

 

[Doc Harry]

Just a friendly reminder...
I used to search for people in open ocean from the air. I recommend that you carry all of the following signal devices, all of the time:

Signal mirror
Sea dye
SMB

I carry a regular 1-meter SMB, but I also carry a 3-meter SMB. And sometimes I carry a GPS satellite beacon and a strobe.

 

[dflaher]

Just a friendly reminder...
I used to search for people in open ocean from the air. I recommend that you carry all of the following signal devices, all of the time:

Signal mirror
Sea dye
SMB

I carry a regular 1-meter SMB, but I also carry a 3-meter SMB. And sometimes I carry a GPS satellite beacon and a strobe.

Could a dive flashlight replace the mirror? I suppose the light could run out of battery, but the mirror wouldn't be as useful on a cloudy day. I also carry two SMBs: a shorter one attached to a spool for ease of deployment, and a longer one if needed on the surface if chop is high.

 

[JFS]

Could a dive flashlight replace the mirror? I suppose the light could run out of battery, but the mirror wouldn't be as useful on a cloudy day. I also carry two SMBs: a shorter one attached to a spool for ease of deployment, and a longer one if needed on the surface if chop is high.

You won't see a flashlight in daytime. The mirror reflects sunlight back so is very easy to spot during day.

 

[DandyDon]

You won't see a flashlight in daytime. The mirror reflects sunlight back so is very easy to spot during day.

Carry both. I hang a signaling mirror from my neck inside my suit.

 

[ggunn]

You won't see a flashlight in daytime. The mirror reflects sunlight back so is very easy to spot during day.

Sunlight reflecting from a mirror is a very narrow beam, plus there is that angle of incidence equaling the angle of reflection business. How can you tell that your beam is hitting the eyes of whomever you want to see it?

 

[inquis]

Sunlight reflecting from a mirror is a very narrow beam, plus there is that angle of incidence equaling the angle of reflection business. How can you tell that your beam is hitting the eyes of whomever you want to see it?

It spreads out more than you think. Stretch out your arm, put the boat between two fingers held in a "V" (or an appropriate British sign), mirror near your eyes, and sweep the spot across your fingers. It's the "blink" that will get noticed.

 

[morecowbells]

In addition to my mirror, my hot pink fins, SMB and camera strobe should get me noticed.

 

[Charred]

I have a signaling mirror I have attached to my BCD from DAN I think. In the middle it has a little optical you look through at the target of the flash. Then you wiggle it.

Don't forget a whistle. I have one attached to my inflator. It is my first to use signal after my BCD and I've used it at Cozumel to catch a boats attention.

 

[Charred]

Just a friendly reminder...
I used to search for people in open ocean from the air. I recommend that you carry all of the following signal devices, all of the time:

Signal mirror
Sea dye
SMB

I carry a regular 1-meter SMB, but I also carry a 3-meter SMB. And sometimes I carry a GPS satellite beacon and a strobe.

Could you please comment on the correct time to deploy the dye?