Question Coloring / Making your kit unique

[went_postal]

So... I did a quick search and didn't see exactly what I am trying to accomplish. My question is not about aesthetics but more about being recognizable in a group.

I know that may sound weird... but in a couple of dives my wife was a little disoriented not really knowing who was who in our group. I get it... we were all pretty much wearing all black.

I recently got a Scubapro Hydros and I know the weight pocket can have the color changed. Are there any other tricks or things that people do to improve their visual signature to the group?

I may be overthinking this but figured I would ask. If the answer is buy my own tank and paint hot pink... k. =)

For me... I can normally find my wife because her fins have a streak of pink in them. My daughter I can find due to the pattern on her wetsuit. Due to being... "larger framed" 99% of the stuff out there for me is black. I am all for tacticool... but wondering if others have a similar issue and/or solution.

 

[matt9122]

Fins, Tanks, Hoses, Wetsuits, Masks......The more custom, the more you will stand out. You could also get a noise-making device to be able to communicate with each other. I find that a flashlight works well for this, too. I wonder, though, how big of groups are you diving with and what kind of visibility must you have? If you guys are staying close, it shouldn't be so hard to keep track of each other.

 

[OTF]

A bright or uniquely colored mask strap (or strap pad) is a functional easy addition. Another easy one is to wear a brightly colored thin rashguard top and/or bottoms over your wetsuit (morphsuits also work great if you REALLY want to appear "unique"). Big block letter name stickers or sharpie'd tape on tanks is always nice. Colored tape temporary arm/leg bands like soldiers use will work great but might seem a little weird for recreational diving.

Fins of course, but new colorful fins are expensive. Some guides like to wear two different colored fins to be unmistakable in a group. If you get own your tanks yeah you can put permanent paint, stickers, or DOT reflective tape on them. Don't forget the bottom, which will be visible to anyone behind you.

Neon fluorescent blue, green, yellow, or white are the most visible colors underwater. Orange, red, pink contrast best on the surface for boat visibility but look washed out at depth.

Pick a color you like. As you slowly, naturally acquire gear over the years opt for your matching color where possible. But be careful not to fall into the temptation to buy something just for the color if it is more expensive or less good than the boring black option.

 

[Landau]

I once dove with a couple who each wore one blue fin and one red fin so they could instantly identify each other.

Check out your buddy and guides gear before splashing so you can ID them underwater. There is usually something you can use to tell them apart, though sometimes the whole group might be in matching rental gear.

And try not to purchase all black gear for yourself.

 

[OTF]

Agree that it's always worthwhile to take an intentional moment to note identifying features on your team members' gear before hitting the water. It can even be part of a pre-dive check+plan discussion.

 

[went_postal]

Fins, Tanks, Hoses, Wetsuits, Masks......The more custom, the more you will stand out. You could also get a noise-making device to be able to communicate with each other. I find that a flashlight works well for this, too. I wonder, though, how big of groups are you diving with and what kind of visibility must you have? If you guys are staying close, it shouldn't be so hard to keep track of each other.

Not that big... but my wife and I are new to diving.

I have experience looking for things in the dark from my time as a firefighter. =). My wife does not have that experience. So she gets a little overwhelmed.

And to be fair... we've been diving in a quarry so the visibility is garbage.

I am not a huge fan of the noise makers but I do understand their usefulness in emergency situations.

I once dove with a couple who each wore one blue fin and one red fin so they could instantly identify each other.

Check out your buddy and guides gear before splashing so you can ID them underwater. There is usually something you can use to tell them apart, though sometimes the whole group might be in matching rental gear.

And try not to purchase all black gear for yourself.

Believe me... the all black is not a choice. Sometimes it is about all that is available. A lot of stuff out and about is out of stock. And I've not seen a whole lot of rental gear that wasn't all black.

My wetsuit has red arms... but I don't think in darker environments it's standing out enough.

A bright or uniquely colored mask strap (or strap pad) is a functional easy addition. Another easy one is to wear a brightly colored thin rashguard top and/or bottoms over your wetsuit (morphsuits also work great if you REALLY want to appear "unique"). Big block letter name stickers or sharpie'd tape on tanks is always nice. Colored tape temporary arm/leg bands like soldiers use will work great but might seem a little weird for recreational diving.

Fins of course, but new colorful fins are expensive. Some guides like to wear two different colored fins to be unmistakable in a group. If you get own your tanks yeah you can put permanent paint, stickers, or DOT reflective tape on them. Don't forget the bottom, which will be visible to anyone behind you.

Neon fluorescent blue, green, yellow, or white are the most visible colors underwater. Orange, red, pink contrast best on the surface for boat visibility but look washed out at depth.

Pick a color you like. As you slowly, naturally acquire gear over the years opt for your matching color where possible. But be careful not to fall into the temptation to buy something just for the color if it is more expensive or less good than the boring black option.

Give the choice I would probably do the yellow/green stuff... unless there was a good neon orange.

I think as suggested by many the fins may be the place to do that... And I am not terribly married to my fins at the moment... just using Sherwoods that they had available when I started out.

 

[OTF]

Underwater there's a very noticeable difference between regular colors and colors with actual fluorescence. Truly fluorescent pigments will absorb ambient blue light and emit a different wavelength, standing out much stronger in the dim blue/green depths.

 

[Rob9876]

One thing I've found helpful when my son and I were doing group night dives is to write our initials on the bottom of our fins with a silver sharpie. Makes it easy to see if you're following the right set of fins after everybody bunches up to see something -- that silver color really pops when hit with a light.

 

[went_postal]

how big of groups are you diving with and what kind of visibility must you have?

I would also comment... the last couple of dives we went on there were a metric butt load of other people in the water. So if you are new to diving and suddenly there are several other people in the water all in black... it can be disorienting.

 

[DrakeTheDiver]

One thing I've found helpful when my son and I were doing group night dives is to write our initials on the bottom of our fins with a silver sharpie. Makes it easy to see if you're following the right set of fins after everybody bunches up to see something -- that silver color really pops when hit with a light.

I do this as well, take a paint pen and write in as large as you can your name or initials I write on the bottom, more visible from behind or above when in trim. Can also get funky color fins as mentioned above. Otherwise try to stay in a position, I like to the right and slightly above/behind. Gives me good visibility of my buddy. Another thing is regulator hose color, or color kits for regs. Mask colors as well. And yeah colored rash guard, wetsuit, Drysuit would work. But my biggest recommendation is to try to stay in that position with your buddy, that way you avoid having to look around a ton.