Gear and Buddy Identification

[fintastic]

Hi,
My husband is my dive buddy. We both have black wetsuits, black bc's and black fins. After a recent night dive and another dive with friends in low viz it was apparent that we need something a little more "eye catching" to identify our gear on a dive boat and underwater to easily identify each other in case we accidentally lose sight of each other (I say accidentally because we are very good at staying together). During our night dive I noticed that I could immediately others by initials or other markings (smiley faces) printed on their fins in a bright, reflective marker and others had the common sense (or luck) to have distinctive fins (green, yellow) or BC's. My question is: what type of markers do you suggest? Is there one that will last as well as be visible underwater? what about reflective tape? My husband suggested those reflective arm bands that runners use when running at night. Any ideas? Suggestions? I know, I know, I should've asked the guy with the distinctive markings on his fins but...

 

[SueMermaid]

I usually look for someone's fins first when looking in a group for my buddy. Putting some distinctive mark on those is probably the first thing I would do.

 

[Damselfish]

some ideas on this thread
http://www.scubaboard.com/t51448.html

 

[fintastic]

Thanks for the thread. It was very helpful.

 

[pipedope]

On the forehead and back of my hood and on the top and bottom of my fins.

Back in the days when everyone dove with a snorkel I wrapped a bright colored tape around the snorkel tube.
My buddies could always tell it was me and they all mentioned how much easier it made the dive.

 

[mer]

If you own your own tanks, putting your initials on the tank in those 3" reflective background letter stickers (think mailbox number markers) works really well.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I have hose wraps and each hose is wrapped in a different color. Even my non-diving parents could pick me out of a group of divers in a video
Ber

 

[Randy43068]

Good morning,

I was wondering the about same thing last weekend. I put two 'stripes' of reflective tape around my air tank. One can get the tape from an auto parts store. I've got white and green bands of reflective tape encircling my air tank just below the tank straps, and above the bottom labels.

I also but a band of reflective red tape on my octo hose close to the regulator.

Good diving,

Randy

Hi,
My husband is my dive buddy. We both have black wetsuits, black bc's and black fins. After a recent night dive and another dive with friends in low viz it was apparent that we need something a little more "eye catching" to identify our gear on a dive boat and underwater to easily identify each other in case we accidentally lose sight of each other (I say accidentally because we are very good at staying together). During our night dive I noticed that I could immediately others by initials or other markings (smiley faces) printed on their fins in a bright, reflective marker and others had the common sense (or luck) to have distinctive fins (green, yellow) or BC's. My question is: what type of markers do you suggest? Is there one that will last as well as be visible underwater? what about reflective tape? My husband suggested those reflective arm bands that runners use when running at night. Any ideas? Suggestions? I know, I know, I should've asked the guy with the distinctive markings on his fins but...

 

[Scottri]

I wear bright yellow fins and bright yellow tanks. I also have my tanks "custom" painted with my name. I also mark all of my gear with bright yellow paint pens. The students love the bright yellow fins and tanks, it makes it very easy for them to follow me when I lead tours.

Scott

 

[Bandito]

One thing that works well for night dives are "glow sticks" I picked this source off the web in a few seconds:

http://www.eglow.com/-4_inch_glow_sticks.html

You may find others but they come in different colors for color coding your partners if needs be.

They also work well for poor viz dives.


Cliff