FYI Peter Hughes' New Policy

[tc]

Reuben, you may want to check what requirements they have now- this thread is from back in 2006 and things may have changed.

 

[reubencahn]

Reuben, you may want to check what requirements they have now- this thread is from back in 2006 and things may have changed.

Requirements are the same, without any further description of what they require. I've emailed them as well.

 

[Damselfish]

Interesting, I've been on 2 PH boats in the past year and never noticed this, though I see it now when I look for it. We were on the Sun Dancer last summer with friends who only had sausages if that, and I don't recall it ever coming up. We were also on the Wind Dancer a few months ago, and they supplied (no charge) largish SMBs with reels - had everyone practice shooting them too. I don't recall mention of strobes or dive alerts but I could very well be forgetting since we have them anyway. So I wonder if they're only enforcing this as conditions warrant.

 

[mike_s]

We're booked on the Star Dancer in July, and I just noticed this requirement. I always carry an SMB. I understand the DiveAlert and will purchase one, but what exactly do they require in the way of a "Personal Mini Strobe." I always carry a backup light, i.e., Scout Light or Photon Torpedo, but it doesn't flash. Will that be enough for them? If not, are they talking about something like the little TekLite strobes Tektite Mark-Lite Fire Fly, 5 Flashing LED or something more substantial like the Jotron AQ-4 Personal strobe light ?

a flashing LED is not the same as an emergency strobe.

If you are in a real emergency and need a strobe, you don't need some wimpy-ass flashing LED. go with the real strobe.


FYI, strobes have 2 basic uses in diving. One as a surface marker for emergencies, and two as an underwater marker, such as clipping to an object such as the anchor line to find your way back to the boat/line during a night dive.

putt your strobe on about a 6" "leash" of line and a snapbolt on the end. that way you can clip it into a d-ring in your BC pocket and also run the line through/around the anchor line and clip it off about 5 or 10 feet off the bottom. (you don't clip off at the very bottom of the anchor because 5-10' up give better sighting of it).

 

[reubencahn]

a flashing LED is not the same as an emergency strobe.

If you are in a real emergency and need a strobe, you don't need some wimpy-ass flashing LED. go with the real strobe.


FYI, strobes have 2 basic uses in diving. One as a surface marker for emergencies, and two as an underwater marker, such as clipping to an object such as the anchor line to find your way back to the boat/line during a night dive.

putt your strobe on about a 6" "leash" of line and a snapbolt on the end. that way you can clip it into a d-ring in your BC pocket and also run the line through/around the anchor line and clip it off about 5 or 10 feet off the bottom. (you don't clip off at the very bottom of the anchor because 5-10' up give better sighting of it).

I already carry a fairly robust light which can be used to signal, so I'm not really looking for a strobe that will serve in emergencies. I'm aware that some use strobes to mark anchor lines, but it's not my practice. Rather, I'm just trying to comply with PH's policy. If I have to get a real strobe, I'll get the Jotron, but I'd rather avoid spending 3 x $ 85 (wife, son and self).

 

[mike_s]

Get the Princeton Tec model. it's a decent strobe at a fair price. (and will keep your budget down for 3 of them).

you can get this one for about $35 bucks and it's much brighter than a LED strobe.

Aqua Strobe | Princeton Tec

 

[reubencahn]

Get the Princeton Tec model. it's a decent strobe at a fair price. (and will keep your budget down for 3 of them).

you can get this one for about $35 bucks and it's much brighter than a LED strobe.

Aqua Strobe | Princeton Tec

Thanks. That looks like a good compromise.

 

[mike_s]

Thanks. That looks like a good compromise.

just don't forget a good way of clipping it on, like a snapbolt, etc... otherwise you'll end up with it falling out of your BC pocket and won't see it fall with your peripheral vision limited by your mask


might I suggest one of these (or something similar)

Stainless Steel Bolt Snaps

or

Innovative Scuba Split Ring Connector with Brass Bolt Snap

 

[divengolf]

Thanks. That looks like a good compromise.

I've carried one for about a year. Before a recent dive trip, I tested the 8 hour claim. It takes a single AA battery, so I took a 2600 mAh rechargeable, fully discharged it and recharged it. The strobe lasted about 5.5 hours with a fully charged battery. Not enough to last a night at sea. And not the 8 hours claimed by the mfgr.

But I always carry a MiniQ40 LED in my BC pocket with 4 AA batteries. My theory was that I could use the LED batteries once the strobe died. But changing batteries while floating at night is probably impossible. So I'd use the LED as a backup to signal if needed.

Mares makes a combination flashlight & strobe that takes 3 AA. They claim 24 hours of light I but didn't test mine. It flooded after a couple dives.

 

[hypersonic]

So I wonder if they're only enforcing this as conditions warrant.

Was on a PH boat earlier this month. We never had an equipment check and am quite sure several divers did not have Dive Alerts though a couple had whistles. As for signal mirrors and strobes, seriously doubt if half the divers carried them on day dives.

Not to marginalize the value of carrying the equipment noted in the PH list, IMHO, the requirement is more of a CYA for PH. You have a problem and weren't carrying the safety gear they require, don't make any claims to PH's that they were not looking out for your safety.