Glowsticks on night dives

[RJP]

Yeah, I have one of those, piece of crap flooded after about 20 dives. Maybe I'm too rough on things.

Still cheaper than 20 glow sticks...

 

[FishOutUvH2O]

+1

-1 for the unnecessary trash they create. I use a Princeton Tec "Eco Flare" tank marker light. . .

You're not seriously taking the environmentally moral high ground on this one are you? That would be like saying Jack The Ripper was a better person than Jeffrey Dahmer, because Jack only killed 5 and Jeffrey killed 17. Both of these products are incredibly bad from an environmental impact standpoint, no matter how you slice it.

 

[vladimir]

Yeah, I see them as a solution to a problem that doesn't exist!

I see them as a solution to a problem that exists all too often: how does a divemaster baby-sit 6 divers with no buddy skills who are unable to navigate, monitor their depth, monitor their gas supply, or otherwise manage the minimal tasks that get you back on the boat safely and without incident?

 

[gcbryan]

I see them as a solution to a problem that exists all too often: how does a divemaster baby-sit 6 divers with no buddy skills who are unable to navigate, monitor their depth, monitor their gas supply, or otherwise manage the minimal tasks that get you back on the boat safely and without incident?

It's not a solution in that it doesn't solve the real problem (poor skills) but in some situations they are probably helpful (as you've described).

In local diving it's often not necessary among competent divers (outside of an OW/AOW class setting for instance) and can be a crutch or just simply not needed. The use of tank flashers is even worse and is very irritating IMO.

As an aside, I think if you are in such clear waters that you don't use any lights other than tank lights you might as well not use them either. Or just use a small weak dive light when needed.

 

[vladimir]

It's not a solution in that it doesn't solve the real problem (poor skills) but in some situations they are probably helpful (as you've described).

I agree that it's not a solution to the divers' problem; I see it as a solution to the divemaster's problem, and the reason they often compel their use.

The use of tank flashers is even worse and is very irritating IMO.

I agree.

 

[Web Monkey]

Good idea or not? They seem like a great way to tell everyone apart. Are fish or other things attracted to them?

They're a huge waste for a couple of hours of light. when you're done you have a non-recycleable, non biodegradable tube filled with broken glass and chemicals, that has to go to the landfill.

Terry

 

[AbyssalPlains]

I replaced glow sticks with a tank light I bought for 10 bucks because it's one less contribution of toxic chemicals and plastic to the landfill or worse, the ocean.

 

[mike_s]

Dead scuba divers lay face down if they are on the surface. They are a lot easier to find at night if they have a glow stick hanging out of the water.

Dead scuba divers who are on the surface rarely inflate the BC's after they'd died also.


(chances are if they are on the surface already (night or day) then they aren't dead from diving..... )

I think they require them in COZ.. You cant have normal gear so you might as well have those.

yeah, in Coz, you're not allowed to have a dive knife to cut away that old glow stick. so at the end of the week, you have 5,6,7 dead glowsticks on your yoke!

 

[Ana]

I don't know how "non-green" are the glow sticks, I use them, I also use the ones in the pics bellow, .....the batteries last me around 10 hours. I don't care for the fatter ones that have AA or AAA batts.
When there are no lights around you can see whatever they are attached to. For diving I can read gauges with it, I can't see what is behind a lobster in a whole but I won't stop me from getting a few.

As far as the visibility from a boat... those things are plenty bright in the night to spot a diver I can spot small vehicles with very low profile. I placed an arrow in the spot where either one of those light can be attached. Really it does work.

 

[FishOutUvH2O]

yeah, in Coz, you're not allowed to have a dive knife to cut away that old glow stick. so at the end of the week, you have 5,6,7 dead glowsticks on your yoke!

Take your yoke out of the marine park and you can use whatever you want to play with it. Just don't get caught cutting on your yoke in public, they frown on knives there as well!!!:mooner: