Dive knife, Sea Snips, or both?

[Dan]

I just came back from kelp diving in Anacapa, Channel Islands, SoCal last weekend. I saw several divers strapping their legs with BFNs, even a girl with BFN strapped on one leg & another built in pocket on her thigh of 7mm wetsuit with another BFN. What are freaking 2 BFNs used for in a shallow dive (< 40 feet deep) where the kelp can be easily rip apart by a fin stroke or a hand pull?

I have never seen so many divers strapping BFNs on their legs until then.

I think there are other more important safety gear than those BFNs. Here are what I carry on my every dive:
1. DSMB
2. Mirror
3. Flashlight
4. DiverAlert
5. Whistle
6. Diver knife
7. PLB1

I noticed Anacapa dive sites are favorite place for newbies to get their fist few OW dives. We found knifes (new & old with coral growth on it), snokles, a snorkel with mask, flashlight, etc. on the kelp forest floor .

 

[dberry]

BFN? Hooked on phonics?

 

[briannapstevens]

Big F****** Knife

Bwahahaha!

 

[briannapstevens]

I just came back from kelp diving in Anacapa, Channel Islands, SoCal last weekend. I saw several divers strapping their legs with BFNs, even a girl with BFN strapped on one leg & another built in pocket on her thigh of 7mm wetsuit with another BFN. What are freaking 2 BFNs used for in a shallow dive (< 40 feet deep) where the kelp can be easily rip apart by a fin stroke or a hand pull?

I have never seen so many divers strapping BFNs on their legs until then.

I think there are other more important safety gear than those BFNs. Here are what I carry on my every dive:
1. DSMB
2. Mirror
3. Flashlight
4. DiverAlert
5. Whistle
6. Diver knife
7. PLB1

View attachment 426712

I noticed Anacapa dive sites are favorite place for newbies to get their fist few OW dives. We found knifes (new & old with coral growth on it), snokles, a snorkel with mask, flashlight, etc. on the kelp forest floor .

This is a great list. What is a PLB1? That DiverAlert (which I've never seen before) looks AWESOME.

 

[Lorenzoid]

This is a great list. What is a PLB1?

some threads:

Scuba diver's Personal Locator Beacon - how never to be lost at sea

Ocean Signal RescueME PLB1 (Dan_T's)

PLB info

 

[Dan]

This is a great list. What is a PLB1? That DiverAlert (which I've never seen before) looks AWESOME.

@Lorenzoid posted a good link to read up about PLB. It's a good thing to have, not only for diving, but also when you are hiking in the wood, getting lost in place where there is no phone signal to call for rescue.

l put my PLB1 in an old UW camera case since it's only rated to 50 fsw. It's small enough to fit inside my BCD pocket.

 

[Lorenzoid]

@Lorenzoid posted a good link to read up about PLB. It's a good thing to have, not only for diving, but also when you are hiking in the wood, getting lost in place where there is no phone signal to call for rescue.

I should have included DandyDon's opinion on that: Why Not A Plb For Every Car, Backpack, Divebag, Etc...?

 

[briannapstevens]

I should have included DandyDon's opinion on that: Why Not A Plb For Every Car, Backpack, Divebag, Etc...?

Have you seen this one? Nautilus Lifeline Marine Scuba Rescue GPS | eBay

That's a lot less expensive than yours, yes? It says its rated for 425 feet. What do you think of that? I really want one now that I've read the content you linked!

 

[briannapstevens]

Have you seen this one? Nautilus Lifeline Marine Scuba Rescue GPS | eBay

That's a lot less expensive than yours, yes? It says its rated for 425 feet. What do you think of that? I really want one now that I've read the content you linked!

Looks like they sell it on Amazon, too.

 

[Lorenzoid]

The Nautilus Lifeline is different from a PLB--it's based on marine VHF radio, where a PLB uses satellites. They are both tools to help locate a person in distress. Each has its pros and cons.