VHF handheld

[DA Aquamaster]

But if you're only less than one mile away on the surface, totally shrouded in a fog bank --a VHF/GPS unit like the Mystic would be invaluable. (Lessons learned from two GUE Instructors a few years ago, up north in Monterey, whose diveboat & surface support crew lost them in the fog after scootering and a drifting deco scenario --the two on the surface, tantalizingly could hear their diveboat searching for them nearby, but could not see them). . .

I agree a radio might be nice to have in that situation, but the boat also needs to be monitoring.

Also I am wondering if they could hear the boat searching for them, why couldn't the boat hear a whistle? Localizing a sound in fog can be a bit harder but it can still be done.

My thoughts are that it makes more sense to build the signal kit around low cost, low tech but relaible works every time equipment like a whistle, a signal mirror, a dye marker and a strobe - then think about adding the high tech stuff.

If I had to have only one high tech item it would be an epirb as the low tech items will get me out of trouble in 90% of the cases where a VHF and GPS will be useful, while the epirb will help in the remaining 10% as well as in 90% of the situations where the VHF and gps would be useless. It's just a matter of getting more bang for the buck and the equipment weight.

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Personally, I think if a diver is close to shore in most populated areas, there will often be cell coverage and in that case a cell phone is potentially as useful as a VHF.

 

[Zoomer]

IC-M34 VHF Marine Transceiver - Specifications - Icom America

This is what I have

 

[OBXDIVEGUY]

IC-M34 VHF Marine Transceiver - Specifications - Icom America

This is what I have

Do you carry it u/w in a case or bag, or leave it on a float?

 

[Zoomer]

I leave it on the float in a ziplock bag. I have dropped it in the water a few times, still works fine, just have to rinse it with fresh water.... it is supposed to be water proof to grade 7, which to their standards that is 1 m deep for 30 minutes.

 

[mike_s]

These aren't "pressure proof" to carry deep on a dive or anything, but they still keep water off them, if stored in scooter, etc for example.

even if the radio is 'water proof', might not be a bad additional layer of safety.