Error Five Drifters Rescued - Hawaii Kai

[Scared Silly]

No, that's not how it works. I have carried the same whistle and mirror in a drysuit pocket for hundreds of dives. No damage.

That is your experience. I posted my experience and knowledge as it specifically relates to signal mirrors. I have had them delaminate due to water immersion. So yes, it can work that way. Just like like one can have a great experience with XYZ, where as someone else can have a poor experience with XYZ.

Saying that's not how it works. Is akin to saying dive boats don't lose divers because you have never been left behind. The five divers in this incident would vehemently disagree. Dive boats can and have lost divers. That may not be your experience but it sure as hell was the experience of five divers in this incident. So again yes, it can work that way.

 

[DandyDon]

Like most plastics (I suspect the whistle is something like ABS), they will degrade and get brittle/crack with enough time and environmental exposure - but that will take quite a while, so inspect periodically and replace if needed (whistles and mirrors are cheap).

I've carried mine on my BC for 20 years. No change.

 

[Steelyeyes]

It did to mine. I pressed & pressed & pressed my power inflator button underwater, but my BCD bladder wasn’t filling up with air. Then it dawned on me that the DiveAlert was blocking the LP air from going through it to the power inflator button. The DiveAlert internal was corroded & jammed the whistle. I had to take it off underwater to make my power inflator to work.

You need to check your DiverAlert before going to dive & flush it with fresh water after the dive. At some point of testing it before diving, it just made a burb sound so I tossed mine to the trash. What a piece of sh*t.

I have had two of them over the years. I changed mine because I changed power inflators/second air source brands. I always soak my gear in fresh water as soon as I can. I test my inflator before every dive. I have never had one actually fail. My Dive Alert is on quick disconnects so I can delete it underwater in case it's disabling the power inflator. My wife and I use the underwater mode to communicate because nearly every other diver on the planet is a tank banger or a rattler.

To each their own.

 

[Joneill]

I've carried mine on my BC for 20 years. No change.

Good for you but that does not change the FACT that plastics will degrade over time. How long that takes is based largely on the amount of exposure they receive, especially sunlight/UV, which is why I said it takes a quite a while (as most folks dive gear is not left out for substantively long periods of time).

I merely suggested to check and replace as needed - feel free to ignore that advice. I personally had 1 inflator hose whistle develop a crack at the attachment hole and I signal mirror come apart (it was an adhesive lamination (thin mirror film glued to a thicker plastic base) and I guess the adhesive failed for whatever reason). The point is that sh_t happens so periodically inspect all of your gear… or not: up to you!

 

[Racer_X]

So, yeah, thread hijack but it's already happened and the right people are paying attention to this. Stories like this and my 3 year dive plan means my current plan is:
1 ResQLink AIS: ResQLink AIS Personal Locator Beacon - ACR Electronics, Inc
it's got the GPS, AIS, and the blue button that says "someone heard you." which would sure help if I have to press the button. 0 subscription cost, and better than the nautilus current gen.

2. Mini marine radio so I can listen to channel 16 to see if someone is coming, and maybe even, you know, TALK to a boat I might see or one that's getting close and can't find me. Welcome to StandardHorizon.com

Need to see how big of a package they'll make, but I think it is the best possible coverage combination - GPS+AIS+marine radio with confirmation.

Thoughts?

 

[Dan]

Just ordered one from Amazon.

Got it today. It’s very loud. My ears are buzzing for a minute after I blow it.

 

[Dan]

I carry these (PLB1, Nautilus Lifeline nexGen, whistle) in my BCD left waist pocket (DSMB in my right pocket):

View attachment 893396

My update alert devices. DSMB & finger spool are in right BCD pocket. The rest of the devices (Nautilus Lifeline nexGen, PLB1, storm whistle & Strobe light to be strapped on top of the DSMB) are in left BCD pocket.

 

[Dan]

Strobe strapped on top of DSMB at dusk.

 

[chillyinCanada]

My update alert devices. DSMB & finger spool are in right BCD pocket. The rest of the devices (Nautilus Lifeline nexGen, PLB1, storm whistle & Strobe light to be strapped on top of the DSMB) are in left BCD pocket.

View attachment 893690

Do you have anything to join divers together so that they don't get separated in current or float away from one another due to exhaustion, etc.?

 

[Dan]

Do you have anything to join divers together so that they don't get separated in current or float away from one another due to exhaustion, etc.?

Yes. I have 2m long rope connected to a reef hook with bolt snaps on each ends. It’s in right BCD pocket next to DSMB & finger spool.

If I want to make the rope shorter (closer to my buddy), I just make a daisy chain knot to whatever length I need to down to as short as a foot, as shown, below.

Alec Peirce shows how to make the daisy chain knot, below: