Given the alarming uptick in LOB catastrophes in locations that offer superb diving but not necessarily safety-minded culture, I thought it might be useful to develop a reference list of items for an emergency evacuation bag.
Some people call these a 'go bag', 'bugout bag' or '72 hour bag'. Whatever you call it, this is a dedicated bag separate from the bag you used to get all your gear on the boat.
This is an individual bag. This is not my spouse's bag to carry my items for me nor is it my spouse's job to fetch the bag from my quarters for me. This bag is my responsibility.
There's likely to be little more warning than chaotic yelling or screaming in the middle of the night. Or perhaps during the day sensing with dread that the vessel is about to lose the battle towards a 90 degree heel while heavy, inanimate objects start taking on unpredictable life. The crew may very well be undertrained and in as much chaos as I am.
When putting this bag together, it's best to think about the worst conditions we may suddenly find ourselves in - adrift in the ocean at night and separated from our spouse or buddy. When we grab our individual evac bag, we want to have confidence knowing we have what we need to survive isolation and exposure.
For a LOB, here's what I pack.
There are other items that can be added depending on the climate or items above that could be deleted but the above would give me confidence to face four to five days adrift.
It's useful to use smaller, lightweight dry bags or heavy duty zip-loc bags inside to organize things.
Rationing water would be a key focus.
Below is the bag I originally purchased for this and it has been serving weekend duties on Florida day charters. It has been pretty good but I found the 20l space limited and the waterproof sealing on the zippers withered away quickly. I've really liked the mesh pocket on the front. Unfortunately the seams around the top of the shoulder strap anchor points have separated so this bag hasn't passed the basic durability test.
Here's my newest bag. It's definitely a step up for several reasons. Although it's larger (10 more liters), it still works for day charters where I'm only a few miles from shore. It clips nicely to the tank rack or from the cargo island in the center without taking up too much space and inconveniencing others. I like the simpler closure on top and it doesn't seem like it puts tress on the shoulder straps like the K3 does. The multi-functional valve allows me to squeeze all the air out or inflate the bag (one-way valve) for emergency flotation. This bag includes a laptop sleeve that anchors in place inside with a velcro patch. This doesn't do anything for me on daily charters but for folks that have a work laptop with them while on a LOB, knowing your laptop will survive may help boost confidence about getting one's life back together after rescue.
shop.dan.org
Looking forward to the ideas and experiences of others. I'm sure I missed something here (but I bet I'd think of it out there)!
Some people call these a 'go bag', 'bugout bag' or '72 hour bag'. Whatever you call it, this is a dedicated bag separate from the bag you used to get all your gear on the boat.
This is an individual bag. This is not my spouse's bag to carry my items for me nor is it my spouse's job to fetch the bag from my quarters for me. This bag is my responsibility.
There's likely to be little more warning than chaotic yelling or screaming in the middle of the night. Or perhaps during the day sensing with dread that the vessel is about to lose the battle towards a 90 degree heel while heavy, inanimate objects start taking on unpredictable life. The crew may very well be undertrained and in as much chaos as I am.
When putting this bag together, it's best to think about the worst conditions we may suddenly find ourselves in - adrift in the ocean at night and separated from our spouse or buddy. When we grab our individual evac bag, we want to have confidence knowing we have what we need to survive isolation and exposure.
For a LOB, here's what I pack.
1) Dry bag - backpack style with an inflate valve, waist belt may be helpful
2) Essential documents (passport, wallet, etc)
3) Four to six bottles of water
4) Shelf stable energy bars
5) Week's worth of one-a-day multi-vitamins - zip loc baggie or old pill jar
6) Medicine as necessary
7) Signaling mirror + whistle
8) Marking dye - dedicated to this bag
9) Strobe light - dedicated to this bag
10) Foldable wide brim hat with chin strap - I really like the Sunday Afternoon brand
11) Satellite-linked and subscription-based emergency communications device
12) Small knife
13) Small flashlight - dedicated to this bag, non-rechargeable batteries, super bright not necessary, long burn life is
14) Low profile mask and snorkel - this to keep the salt water out of your eyes and to give you some more airway under heavy waves
15) Small tub of Vaseline - Going to get raw in places like under the armpits and crotch
16) Wristwatch - with bezel or stopwatch to time things, this helps put structure in the day and focus efforts
17) Phone - auxiliary battery for back up, depending on signal strength, I'd proactively put my phone in airplane mode or completely turned off to preserve internal battery life with periodic windows to turn it on to check for signal and attempt sea-to-shore communication. On the remote Red Sea LOBs I did in the past, the cell phone was worthless to me as a communication device. Photos of family, different story.
There are other items that can be added depending on the climate or items above that could be deleted but the above would give me confidence to face four to five days adrift.
It's useful to use smaller, lightweight dry bags or heavy duty zip-loc bags inside to organize things.
Rationing water would be a key focus.
Below is the bag I originally purchased for this and it has been serving weekend duties on Florida day charters. It has been pretty good but I found the 20l space limited and the waterproof sealing on the zippers withered away quickly. I've really liked the mesh pocket on the front. Unfortunately the seams around the top of the shoulder strap anchor points have separated so this bag hasn't passed the basic durability test.
K3 Storm Waterproof Dry Bag Backpack - Best - Waterproof - Dry Bag - Backpack - 20 liters | K3 Waterproof best-waterproof-kayak-boating-marine-sailing-beach-dive-surf-sup-kiteboard-canoe-backpack-dry bag-K3 best waterproof back pack
Ramp up your outdoor adventures with the K3 storm 20 Liter Waterproof Dry Bag Backpack. Far beyond your average dry bag, the 20 liter waterproof backpack sheds water in style. Premium protection from rain, snow, dirt, sand and dust.
www.thek3company.com
Here's my newest bag. It's definitely a step up for several reasons. Although it's larger (10 more liters), it still works for day charters where I'm only a few miles from shore. It clips nicely to the tank rack or from the cargo island in the center without taking up too much space and inconveniencing others. I like the simpler closure on top and it doesn't seem like it puts tress on the shoulder straps like the K3 does. The multi-functional valve allows me to squeeze all the air out or inflate the bag (one-way valve) for emergency flotation. This bag includes a laptop sleeve that anchors in place inside with a velcro patch. This doesn't do anything for me on daily charters but for folks that have a work laptop with them while on a LOB, knowing your laptop will survive may help boost confidence about getting one's life back together after rescue.
DAN 30L Dry Bag Backpack
DAN's 30L Dry Bag is a waterproof backpack with adjustable shoulder straps and a roll-top closure. Constructed from durable, non-toxic PVC, it features welded seams to keep water out in any weather. Ideal for scuba diving, kayaking, boating, hiking, and camping.
shop.dan.org
Looking forward to the ideas and experiences of others. I'm sure I missed something here (but I bet I'd think of it out there)!
