You're Lost At Sea!! What Signal Devices Do You Have To Use - and Why Not?

[DandyDon]

Nope CDs don't do nearly as well as a $10 mirror...

I am pleasantly surprised how many are carrying Dive Alert whistles, but then after the way the Great Barrier Reef couple and Komodo Five surfaced just outside of storm whistle range then got swept away overnight - makes me wonder why more don't. I do get some nice PMs from divers who don't want to post in public but thanking me for some suggestions.

 

[ba_hiker]

Sky blazer aerial flares, smoke/flare combo, dye packet, glow sticks, strobe, surface streamer. I use real SAR mirrors after a bit of mirror training a few years back. I put sky blazer flares and smoke/flare combo (supposedly water proof anyway) in small vacuum sealed bags. I carry it in a dive rite large pocket attached to my tank, and adjust the contents according to the dives i am doing. In the tropics I add two 250 ml sealed water bags, a hat with a brim and waterproof zinc oxide cream (for sun protection) sometimes I add a second pocket for this stuff.

I generally carry a finger spool, a smb (sometimes two), a small knife, shears, and a line cutter too, on my body (wet or dry suit) as part of my regular kit. I carry a second whistle on my bc, a light (for looking under rocks mostly..) too.

I have marine vhf, ham vhf, aviation vhf, all ji67 compatible and have used the in various ways (kayaking, hiking, ham radioing, emergency services communications, flying) and don't consider them very useful in the water. Range is too dependent on antenna height.

I use basically the same emergency kit, with out the body gear and with a mouth horn added and head lamp added, for kayaking.

 

[DandyDon]

Received a PM today about this Satelite Tracker Messenger...

Size: 4.38 X 2.75 X 1.5”
Approximate Weight: 7.37 ounces

(1) Home page Spot Messenger > Home - lots and lots of info

Functional Specifications
SPOT features four key functions that enable users to send messages to friends, family or emergency responders, based upon varying levels of need:

Alert 9-1-1 – Alert emergency responders to your exact location
SPOT sends one message every 5 minutes until power is depleted or 911 is cancelled.

Ask for Help – Request help from friends and family in your exact location
SPOT sends one message every 5 minutes for one hour or until Help is cancelled

Check In – Let contacts know where you are and that you’re okay
SPOT sends three identical messages to the SPOT service for redundancy. The first of those three messages is delivered.

Track Progress – Send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using Google Maps™
SPOT sends one message every 10 minutes for 24 hours or until SPOT is powered off.

Coverage
SPOT works around the world, including virtually all of North America, Europe and Australia, portions of South America, Northern Africa and Northeastern Asia, and hundreds or thousands of miles offshore of these areas. See coverage maps and current coverage.


Battery Life

Includes 2 AA 1.5V lithium batteries; under normal usage a full battery charge should meet or exceed the following

Power on, unused: Approx. 1 year

SPOTcasting tracking mode: Approx. 14 days

9-1-1 mode: Up to 7 consecutive days

SPOTcheck OK/√: 1900 messages

Operating Conditions
SPOT works around the world virtually anywhere
Operating Temperatures: -40°F to +185°F (-40ºC to +85ºC)
Operating Altitude: -300 ft to +21,000 ft (-91 m to +6,492 m)
Weight: 7.37 ounces (209 grams)
Dimensions: 4.38 x 2.75 x 1.75 inches (approx. 111 mm x 69 mm x 44 mm)
Floats in water
Waterproof to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
Humidity Rated:
MIL-STD-810E Method 507.3, 95% to 100% condensing
Salt Fog Rated
Per MIL_STD 810E Method 509.3, 5% NaCl, 95% distilled water
Vibration
Per SAE J1455
Random, 20 Hz to 2000 Hz, 0.04g2/Hz, one hour per axis
Drop
Dropped twice on all six sides from one meter onto hard surface.
How to buy...

(1) MSRP: $169.99 free Express Shipping + $99.99 USD/yr basic satellite service subscription includes:

ALERT 9-1-1: Dispatch emergency responders to your exact location. Unlimited usage included.


CHECK IN: Let contacts know where you are and that you’re okay. Unlimited usage included.


ASK FOR HELP: Request help from friends and family at your exact location. Unlimited usage included.

Terms and conditions apply >>>


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[Cabbie]

I've just added a Dive Alert PLUS and a knife. Where's the best place for the knife ? right now it's attached to the outside of a pocket but wondering whether it would be better on a hose.

 

[String]

Standard dive here.

2 x delayed SMB (1 orange and 1 yellow). The orange is used on every dive, yellow is an emergency.
1 x strobe
1 x primary torch
1 x backup torch
1 x storm whistle
2 x cyalume sticks

Pretty much standard kit. I dont bother with a mirror as they generally dont work in grey skies/no direct sunglight which is 90% of my diving.

As for the talk show thing, there is substantial evidence that 2 people that went missing in Australia recently arranged for the incident to happen for exactly that - lots of money. They have a very inconsistent story and a lot of it just doesnt stand up to common logic.

 

[Cabbie]

I'm curious about this talk show malarky. A columnist in an English newspaper certainly had a few things to say a couple of weeks back. Any more on evidence that it was pre-planned ?

Swim with sharks — it’s easy money | Jeremy Clarkson - Times Online

 

[D_B]

String brings up a point, you should always go over what signaling equipment you have with your dive boat .. some places the color of your SMB means something, ether to you, or in general
.. I have only a yellow one so that's what I use and here there is no concern with using it on a regular recreational dive

 

[D_B]

I'm curious about this talk show malarky. A columnist in an English newspaper certainly had a few things to say a couple of weeks back. Any more on evidence that it was pre-planned ?

Swim with sharks — it’s easy money | Jeremy Clarkson - Times Online

to keep this thread on topic, you probably want to discuss this in the thread on scubaboard about just those questions

 

[Cabbie]

point me in the right direction and I'll swim over.

 

[hudson]

I have read comments about the SPOT stating it's not good holding a signal, so that kills it for me.

I have all the survival devices, a Streamer (love it - awesome substitute for dye), whistle, SMB, big signaling mirror (I think the DAN tag mirrors are much inferior) and soon a dive alert and a strobe... I also bring along a hat and considering adding a water bottle.

But... really all that may not get you anywhere in a real emergency. An EPIRB is not that expensive when you consider all the money that you spent on gear. Certainly there is a non-trivial chance that you will need it on an ocean dive, no? What's that worth to you?