How to not look like a Christmas tree?

[TexasKaren68]

I think I've been spending WAY too much time on the Accidents and Incidents board

I just got my OW cert last weekend and will be doing AOW dives next month in Kaua'i.

After that I plan on doing a few local dives in lakes and preferably vacation/recreational dives in places like Hawaii, Honduras, Belize, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Australia, Florida, etc. I don't have much desire to do deep dives other than what's required for AOW and wreck dives don't much appeal to me. I like reefs and pretty fish

So, reading about that couple who were left behind to die at the Great Barrier Reef was a little scary.

So far I have basic dive gear (mask, fins, snorkel, boots, BC, reg, octo, compass) and no accessories. However; based on things I've read on SB, I should be shopping around for the following:

O rings
Light
Mirror
Whistle
Extra mask
Fin strap
Slate
Knife
Shears/line cutter
SMB/spool
Pony bottle
Glow sticks
Air horn
VHF Radio/EPIRB
Dye


I don't want to look like a Christmas tree

I don't want to get abandoned by a dive boat without proper signaling devices either.

 

[tengsr]

you could strap a bag to your front side and load it up, as long as it doesn't block your quick release of your weights

 

[superspeed]

some of the stuff you listed is a bit....overkill for most dives that you describe.

O rings - throw them in your dive bag
Light - clip to bcd or tuck in pocket, small for reef dives, bigger for night dives
Mirror - in pocket or in SMB
Whistle - clip to bcd
Extra mask - throw one in a dive bag maybe...most dive boats will have spares. And if your strap breaks during a no deco dive you can just hold it on your face for the couple min it takes to surface.
Fin strap - dive bad (make a good save a dive kit)
Slate - depends if you really feel the need to communicate that much under water....i like hand signals and only bring a slate when i teach.
Knife - small one on bcd strap
Shears/line cutter - same as above
SMB/spool - good to have....these can get a little bulky but will be nice to have a big one if you need it.....i have a d-ring on the rear bottom of my bcd...mine goes there.
Pony bottle - more or less just added safety for rec dives...as you should have a buddy who should have a octo to give you.
Glow sticks - night dives, zip tie to first stage
Air horn - goes on inflator hose.
VHF Radio/EPIRB - IF you decide to buy one of these you really can eliminate a lot of the other signaling stuff, but still bring something in case this fails.
Dye - If you really find this necessary then they are small tubes which would fit in a pocket.

Overall it does sound like a lot of stuff...but a lot of it is small and not to bad once you get used to setting up your gear. Talk to your AOW instructor about stuff like this and they will help you more about setting it up to your specific gear.

And have fun in Kauai

 

[DevonDiver]

Add pockets to your wet/drysuit.

Don't rely on d-rings as a convenient dumping point for your kit.

Determine what you need rather than what you want, or think you might need.

Opt for equipment that can fulfill multiple purposes.

 

[g1138]

You should get what you believe you need, not what everyone has said they need.
If you're really worried about getting left behind, make a great impression to the divemaster, captain, and crew. Let them know your name and converse with them for a bit. If the boat ain't that big, guarantee someone will notice you not being there when they take roll.

Moving on to your christmas tree list:
I'll mark what I think you should have in blue, the rest I think you can do without.
Save a Dive Kit: I use a water proof Pelican Micro 1060 case to store all my things. Leave this on the boat.
O ring kit
Mask strap
Fin strap (get spring straps and you technically won't have to worry about this)
Silicone lube
zip ties (x2)
o-ring pick (an ear wax pick with a sharp point on one end works well enough)
That's the basics. I have more items that tailor to my specific kit.

Light - small, stow in your pockets OR
Tie a bolt snap to it, clip it to your shoulder D-ring and use hair ties/rubber inner tire/bungee to loop the dangling head down to your shoulder strap
If you're doing night dives then you should have 2 lights, a small back up and a more powerful primary.
Glow sticks - for night dives only, hair tie-loop it or zip tie it to your BC handle or yoke on the first stage.
Slate - not necessary, go over your hand signals prior to jumping in (I only use it for science dives and when I'm TA-ing a Basic class, the latter of which I rarely use it)
Knife or Shears or line cutter - choose 1 or 2, small knife is really versatile IMO
attach it to your thigh or BC
(I wouldn't recommend your calf because it could hard to reach if you're limited in mobility or entangled)

Whistle - Fox 40 or storm whistle, zip tie it to your BC Hose or shoulder adjustment strap D-ring. As long as you can get to it without ditching your BC
Mirror or dye marker - BC pocket (choose one, both work for air spotting. Mirrors are a little more finicky and rely on your own technique to get spotted. For boat spotting an SMB will do)
SMB/spool - 5-6ft with 3-5in flat diameter is best. Fill it with a single breath at 15ft to get it roughly 2-3ft tall so you can easily hold it up when you're neutral during your safety stop. Inflate it fully when you're on the surface to signal. Train with this before using it in a real dive

Pony bottle - Not required for recreational dives, and IMO I think it would be too much for you right now. Get some diving experience or a mentor first before tackling this.

Air horn - if you really want it you can get one that connects between your inflator and inflator hose. For tropical dives with no gloves a little quick fist pounding into the hand is enough noise to signal your buddy (who should be within touching distance)

VHF Radio/EPIRB - VHF: If there are no boats around you, your little wee antenna is not going to hail anyone if you're in open water. Put this in your BC pocket if you must have it.
EPIRB: Unfamiliar with how reliable this is. I do know you need at least 1 satellite above your region to be able to send, receive, and relay a distress signal.

 

[g1138]

Forgot to mention. In order to not look like a christmas tree you have to be sort of a minimalist.
Take what you need, improvise with what you have.

 

[CamG]

Greetings TexasKaren there are ways to properly stow the gear you have mentioned and I am sure that you know that by now.
Many things slip into a pocket;
1. Thigh pocket are nice, they attach to your belt webbing and your leg with velcro.
2. Tech shorts have thigh pockets, on each side.
3. You can glue pockets to dry suits or wet suits.
4. Some things cutting devices need to be placed strategically where they can be reached with either hand.
5. Redundant gear is good but only if it does not hinder your dive or become useless clutter. Safety devises are only good if you are trained to use them and adept at such.
As a student of Accident Analysis you already know that poor skills can cause issues and reels are like a spider web if you are not trained to use one.
6. To be stream lined is as much about hose routing as everything else if you wish to be properly trimmed out then consider that as well.
DRAG is a divers enemy and will burn gas / effort cheating you out of dive time!

ONE THING YOU ALWAYS NEED TO PLAN YOUR OWN DIVE!
You are responsible for getting your buddy and you in and out of the water whether on a guided dive or not.
BEWARE THE TRUST ME DIVES!
There is no such thing, your skills and training need to be in line with your experience to ensure both your safety.
All these devices can not save you from diving beyond your training and experience.

If you have ever witnessed a panic situation; You are shouting clear advice but it is not being heard, You are demonstrating what to do and it is not seen, you are watching a person spiral into their own doom blindly!

To many divers get the cart before the horse, they look like christmas trees getting in the water and end up worse off for it!
BEWARE THE CHRISTMAS TREE SYNDROME!

CamG Keep Diving....Keep Training....Keep Learning!

 

[windtech]

first i would look at what diving your going to do. then set up kits for what you need. if your doing boat dives. then the signaling devices are a must. but get used to using them. practice with what you are using and carrying. because having it and knowing how to use it when you need it is the key. after a wile you will know what you need before you need it. and then you wont have the inspector gadget feeling, or Christmas tree thing going on. after a few dives of what you what to do you will have a greater understanding of what extra gear your going to need. orings are a good thing to have but you should have a basic save a dive kit. but you have to remember that somethings in your save a dive kit have a shelf life even when not being used. but there is so much gear that you dont need, but nice to have kind of thing.

and dont worry to much if you carry that extra piece of gear. i still carry stuff that i dont need or have never used. although i know how to use it all if it when i need it. some of the best dives ive had is when i was trying to practice with gear and it mucks up mine or my buddy's. you get a good laugh when the signal tube takes you mask to the surface with it.

above all else get out and dive and everything will fall in to place some day.

 

[vladimir]

VHF Radio/EPIRB - If there are no boats around you, your little wee antenna is not going to hail anyone if you're in open water. Put this in your BC pocket if you must have it.

The wee antenna on a personal locator beacon sends a distress signal to a satellite, which is "forwarded to a rescue coordination center within typically 3 minutes." This is the one item you'd sell your soul for if you happen to be lost and adrift in open water. Whether that scenario is likely enough to merit carrying one is another topic.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Use the active storage concept. I.E. a limited number of often used items are stored where they are accessed with ease, the rest get stuffed out of the way.

First, group the items according to how they will be used.

A small light (backup and for looking in holes) and cutting tool (small knife or shears) belong in active storage (I.E. D ring) since you need easy access to them and want to be able to re-stow them with ease.

Safety gear (SMB/light stick/signal mirror/whistle) are can be connected and rolled up into once neat package. Of course they need to be accessible, but not in a prime location. Personally I have mine bungy corded to my BP. Pockets are great IF you have them, but they also are a source of drag so adding a couple of huge bellow pockets may or may not be a great idea.

The secondary safety related items all need to be studied by you to see if they are really worthwhile for you and for that dive. Pony bottles, EPRIB's, spare mask and such do have legitimate uses, but they are also just a extra junk to carry for many. Don't assume you need them.

Remember in many cases less is more. Whatever you choose to carry, make sure it is reliable and practice with it on a regular basis. Safety gear requires an investment in time, not just dollars and weight.