Many great posts in this thread - a few more things to consider
Wind on the water seriously impacts sound. If you are trying to get the attention of someone who is upwind from you, they most likely will never hear you shout or scream. In some conditions the loudest whistle may not be heard - all the more reason to have a powerfull whistle, safety sausage and air powered sound device (yes I know they are useless when you are out of air, but if you are not out of air they just might save your life).
Try your sound producing devices at home - someone earlier mentioned they did a test with their kids and were surprised that they could not be heard. Also test them often, you wouldn't drop underwater without wet breathing that regulator first to make sure it works - right, well test those sound producing devices too. Finding out that it no longer works when you need it the most would NOT be a good thing.
As PerroneFord has already mentioned these devices are not necessary in cave applications and would be excess gear not needed on the dive. Diving in an ocean or any body of water where you cannot swim to the shore - these are the dives where you need the sound producing and visual signaling devices.
It has also been mentioned that you should wear your whistle on a bungie in case you ditch your bc and other gear. Excellent point, if you do have to ditch your bc AND if you have time AND if you are still thinking - take your safety sausage with you! Don't send that to Davey Jones' Locker (the bottom) with your BC.
Besides the visual signaling a safety sausage provides - remember that the average adult only requires 15lb's of bouyancy to float. Many safety sausages develop at least 12lbs and most divers wear some sort of thermal protection which may or may not develop enough bouyancy to keep you afloat.
And to take advantage (hijack) of this thread for the purposes of safety, if you see someone who is in trouble in the water and you need to throw them something that floats, look around you- thow anything in sight - chances are something will float - half empty thermos, a cooler, wooden chairs, plastic or rubber boat fenders, even that half empty spare outboard motor gas can will provide enough bouyancy to keep a couple of swimmers/divers afloat for a very long time.
The last advice is NEVER EVER give up trying!
Cheers
Wind on the water seriously impacts sound. If you are trying to get the attention of someone who is upwind from you, they most likely will never hear you shout or scream. In some conditions the loudest whistle may not be heard - all the more reason to have a powerfull whistle, safety sausage and air powered sound device (yes I know they are useless when you are out of air, but if you are not out of air they just might save your life).
Try your sound producing devices at home - someone earlier mentioned they did a test with their kids and were surprised that they could not be heard. Also test them often, you wouldn't drop underwater without wet breathing that regulator first to make sure it works - right, well test those sound producing devices too. Finding out that it no longer works when you need it the most would NOT be a good thing.
As PerroneFord has already mentioned these devices are not necessary in cave applications and would be excess gear not needed on the dive. Diving in an ocean or any body of water where you cannot swim to the shore - these are the dives where you need the sound producing and visual signaling devices.
It has also been mentioned that you should wear your whistle on a bungie in case you ditch your bc and other gear. Excellent point, if you do have to ditch your bc AND if you have time AND if you are still thinking - take your safety sausage with you! Don't send that to Davey Jones' Locker (the bottom) with your BC.
Besides the visual signaling a safety sausage provides - remember that the average adult only requires 15lb's of bouyancy to float. Many safety sausages develop at least 12lbs and most divers wear some sort of thermal protection which may or may not develop enough bouyancy to keep you afloat.
And to take advantage (hijack) of this thread for the purposes of safety, if you see someone who is in trouble in the water and you need to throw them something that floats, look around you- thow anything in sight - chances are something will float - half empty thermos, a cooler, wooden chairs, plastic or rubber boat fenders, even that half empty spare outboard motor gas can will provide enough bouyancy to keep a couple of swimmers/divers afloat for a very long time.
The last advice is NEVER EVER give up trying!
Cheers
