I can never think of a time you would need a mirror. WHAT???

[somewhereinla]

I have got to say I am surprised how unpopular emergency beacon are in this country. If you want a full proof emergency device, this is it. I am an avid skyer, and I have often used one when I lived in France and sky in the Alps, just in case of an avalanche... Beacon were forbiden for public sales in the U.S, but 2 or 3 years ago the law changed, and you can now buy them. they are about the size of a small GPS.

 

[tonka97]

I have one, and will use it on land and at sea!

There's always inertia with new technology.

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

might as well bring a revolver along too... in case a shark comes? What?

How about diving smart, and not getting in situations where you're left standed in the ocean.

Stick with your buddy, stay with the dive group, plan the dive, dive the plan and no-one should EVER have a need a mirror, whistle, safety sausage or whatever.

Not saying to not have those items, but there is a point in which you become over-prepared.

Please read the link to this thread
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=173014

These divers dove the plan and stayed with their buddies. They surfaced as a group. One is alive and 4 have been missing at sea for the last several days. Their charter boat did not see them surface and they could not get his attention or the attention of the many boats in the area or swim in the current to get close enough to a boat. One lone survivor swam to shore and reported that they waved their fins and sausage all day and no one saw them. Bet those guys wish they had a $10 mirror or two. I think the weather was clear too. This is not a made up thing for people to talk about . It just happened to real people and it is not the first time. And sadly, it won't be the last.

 

[ClayJar]

qball: I don't know whether to consider you clueless or simply a troll, but I'll gladly lug around my mirror, whistle, and sausage. No one should EVER need seat belts, air bags, or any of that, but some of us like to be over-prepared there too.

I suppose it's the difference between being a passenger on a jumbo jet and being the pilot of said jet. If you're just along for the ride, it's fine to just assume everything will be hunky-dory. If you're the pilot and you just figure that with proper planning and maintenence no flight should ever have problems, you are incompetent or delusional.

(In theory, planning the dive and diving the plan is perfect. In practice, I wouldn't bet my life on it.)

 

[qball]

No, I'm not a troll. I've been diving for 20+ years. I didn't say not to bring a safety sausage, or whistle (I dive with those now).

I'm feeling old typing this, but back when I learned to dive, we didn't have safety sausages, or mirrors, or cutting shears. You had a knife, a whistle, and you were a smart diver.

Now, where are my dentures!

Since I'm getting back into diving I bought a new PADI book the other day. I compared it to my very old basic PADI manual and my old AOW PADI manual. I was very surprised on how the curriculum has changed (IMHO, for the worse). Dive tables are just "referenced" in the book. Yes, I realize the instructor teaches them in class, but it's always handy to have a reference, and excercises to refer back upon.

They just put a diver in the hospital yesterday off of Port Canaveral with the bends. Should NEVER have happened. Luckily she's okay.

And the story reference above about the divers lost in the Red Sea... bad captain...

Okay, rant over. Flame away!

 

[tracy_from_oz]

The guy at the local LDS who isnt for safety gear, I really do not want him being the one driving the boat on my next dive charter trip off shore.

I have a strobe, safety sausage, whistle, horn and dye marker.
I do not see anything wrong with being prepared, isn't it a part of your dive plan? What happens and what to do if something goes towards the negative.
Like it or not people have been left behind and you have to try and survive till help comes, why not give yourself the best possible chance you can.

Also for those who have mentioned beacons, can you post links to the ones you use so the rest of us can take a look, thank you.

 

[sambolino44]

Okay, rant over. Flame away!

OK! Let's see... "over-prepared". Hmmm. Over. Prepared.

"I didn't enjoy the dive because I was too prepared."

Now I can see, "I didn't have enough time or money to enjoy the dive because I spent too much time and money getting gear." Or, "I didn't enjoy the dive because I spent too much time futzing with my gear." Or, "I didn't go diving because I spent my air money on a mirror." Or, "I screwed up because I spent too much time preparing for some unlikely event that didn't happen, and not enough time preparing for a common mishap." But "over-prepared"?

.............. :buggy:

But really now, that cute little seven-dollar mirror ain't gonna hurt nobody. And, by the way, you mean you guys don't take your revolver with you? I wouldn't leave it in the car, that ain't safe!

 

[taliesin58]

I'm with Tracy. Can anyone provide links to the beacons?

 

[tracy_from_oz]

might as well bring a revolver along too... in case a shark comes? What?

Stick with your buddy, stay with the dive group, plan the dive, dive the plan and no-one should EVER have a need a mirror, whistle, safety sausage or whatever.

Not saying to not have those items, but there is a point in which you become over-prepared.

First off in regards to the shark, swim faster than your buddy.

What happens if you do stay with your buddy, dive your plan but come back to where the anchor line was and the boat is gone? Then your readiness dive plan comes into place which includes your safety equipment.
You are right in saying one should never have to use their safety equipment but as we have seen in past incidents, there has been a need for some to use theirs and I am sure they are and were glad they had safety equipment with them.

I am a pretty laid back person and I mean this will due respect sir and I say this without malice but this is one of the silliest things I have ever heard someone say in regards to being over prepared.
I am a dive instructor who has people to look after when I am teaching/diving who in all honesty rely on me to be prepared for any situation. I am a volunteer fire fighter and a 29 year old chick who runs a very successful business with people who expect me to be over prepared, come to think of it so does my family as well to keep them safe, fed and warm.
It may appear to people to be anal to have action plans with back up situations B-Z, but this is just me. It isnt the times that nothing happens, it is that one time that something does happen that counts.

 

[somewhereinla]

Just do a Google search for "Emergency Beacon" most of them are around $600.

here is to get you started:
http://comfortchannel.resultspage.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=beacon&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&client=safari&rls=en&sa=N