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

[EvaL]

Just found this test of SMB, flags, dyes, strobes, flares etc that can be seen from the air and surface under various conditions, but they didn't test mirrors. I apologize if it has already been posted:
http://www.divernet.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?id=2565&section=1003&action=display&show=

 

[D_B]

Just found this test of SMB, flags, dyes, strobes, flares etc that can be seen from the air and surface under various conditions, but they didn't test mirrors. I apologize if it has already been posted:
http://www.divernet.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?id=2565&section=1003&action=display&show=

thanks, good that you have an interest in such things before you need them

... The rest of that test can be found here ... http://www.jeanelaine.co.uk/diveraids/intro.htm

Surface Survival Primer .. http://www.tabula-international.com/DIV/SMB3.html

Equipped to Survive ... http://www.equipped.org/toc.htm .... in particular ... http://www.equipped.org/signal.htm

... plenty to keep you busy reading up on

 

[AmyJ]

"They" do make a rescue laser that sweeps a beam rather than a point which is infinitely more practical for signalling purposes. Its waterproof to 80 ft. Check out http://www.greatlandlaser.com/who.htm

I think this looks interesting... but I'm having a blond day.... any thoughts about this?? good? bad? greedy advertising of a useless product?? I certainly don't understand why it would work better than a regular laser ( I don't really need to know why, if it in fact does)... would it work on something CLOSER than 16 miles???

 

[D_B]

I think this looks interesting... but I'm having a blond day.... any thoughts about this?? good? bad? greedy advertising of a useless product?? I certainly don't understand why it would work better than a regular laser ( I don't really need to know why, if it in fact does)... would it work on something CLOSER than 16 miles???

It shines in fan like this -> l and not a round beam like this -> *
with a fan shape sweeping the horizon, you have a better chance of hitting the searcher in the eye with the beam (only way to get his attention) yes it would work at closer range, although the fan shape of beam would be smaller the closer to you the searcher was ... important to make your sweeps with it systematic and not miss any direction
... here you go ... http://www.equipped.org/rescuelaser.htm

... there really is a great deal of info in this, and those other links above ... makes good fireside reading

 

[plsander]

I carried a signalling mirror, whistle, sausage, and jon line when my wife and I went diving in the keys.

Saw this http://www.rescuestreamer.com/... looks interesting as a passive (I don't have to do anything for it to work after I deploy it) signalling device.

 

[String]

Signalling mirror is orders of magnitude better than a CD and its cheap. Also a GOOD whistle like a storm whistle is useful. As is an SMB especially if you glue the SOLAS RADAR reflector strips onto it.
Strobe/small torch also very very useful

All of these should really be carried on every open ocean dive - they arent big or bulky.

The red sea people it would seem only had 1 SMB between them and nothing else.

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

There's one neat trick I read somewhere (sorry, don't remember where, maybe on one of the above linked articles) that doesn't seem to get mentioned often...

If you stick your dive light up in the end of your SMB it turns it into a giant glowstick. Might be nice if you hear a plane or boat out in the dark, but can't tell which direction to aim your light. I've seen SMBs with a pocket in the top end that's intended for a chemical glowstick, but the above trick is much more visible.

 

[1amphibian]

I would like to add some observations on this thread from the perspective of the Search and Rescue Aircrew. As I am in Florida, and my agency covers the Skyway bridge (favorite jumping spot for suicidal types)and all of the bay, we do a lot of over water searches.

The signal mirrors are a great device if you have the right one. In calm water the mirror can be seen for miles as well as easily aimed at the aircrew. Once you spot us, keep flashing it at us until were right on top of you, dont' bother with SOS or anything else. Were moving somewhere between 60-80 knots and chances are your not going to hit me with every flash, so just keep flashing it as much as you can.

If the water is choppy, the mirrors are all but useless. Every wave produces a flash of sunlight almost identical to the mirror, so each second I get hit with hundreds if not thousands of tiny flashes of light. In those instances a colored device such as the laser or some form of SMB or flare would prove much better.

As for how those devices can be seen from the air, we run our search patterns at 500 to 600 feet and if your waving a 4 foot tall piece of day glo orange marker, I'll spot it pretty easily. Dye markers also work well since we are flying low. Won't work as well if it's a c-130 looking for you from 5000 ft, but they will work to some degree, especially in calm waters.

If at night, use your dive light and SMB as mentioned above, when we get close, just shine your light right at us and move it around like the signal mirror until were close. Also strobes are great as we can see them for over 50 miles.

By far the best device you can carry with you is the EPIRB. We each carry one along with the ICOM waterproof VHF radio. With the new becons we simply fly to the GPS coordinates and start looking, and since it usually puts us within 25 feet of you, it's not much of a task at that point.

Just my two cents worth.

Chris

 

[D_B]

Thanks for giving us the searchers perspective on this, Chris

 

[AmyJ]

ok, so I'm working on gathering all of this stuff... one question about a finger spool... I was going to get the 65 ft (then cut some off to fit better)... but then thought maybe I should have 100... or should I get the 165?? We are new divers with no urges to go deep just for the sake of being deep... currently our deepest is about 80 feet... but keeping in mind potential emergencies... or whatever... if I only carry one spool..... how much should I have?

Also any recommendations for a new DSMB... want one that can be deployed at depth to use for safety stops, ascent line etc... but also useful for emergency location. what is your favorite?