Safe Diving Kit (In-Water)

[Saipanman]

I generally do shallow and warm (and now realize I should carry more stuff more often) but I have:

whistle on bcd that came with bcd: never used
pocket mask (for rescue breaths) : only used when teaching rescue class
and my common sense.

When instructing, I throw in a knife, because PADI says I have to.

 

[Dive-aholic]

reel/dsmb
safety sausage
whistle
2 knives
small flashlight, all dives; add a medium and large for night and overheads)
pony on deep dives, all solo dives.

 

[ScubaFreak]

emergency sausage (bright Orange )
Titanium knife on leg
Mini titanium knife on BCD
Whistle attached on BC hose
Pocket mask in BC pocket to administer in water resucitation if needed (go ahead- flame me! )
Strobe on right shoulder of BCD.
Mini Torch in pocket.

 

[ArthurGerla]

Last year a few stories surfaced (excusez le pun) about divers being lost at sea and drifting for hours waiting for a search craft to pick them up. A certain low budget movie springs to mind. Anyway, apparently you needn't worry as much about sharks as you should about simple sunburn. So now (at least on tropical boat dives) I carry a cap in my BCD.
Another worry might be dehydration. How about taking some water with you on your dives?

 

[gfisher4792]

Another worry might be dehydration. How about taking some water with you on your dives?

I know there are divers out there (mostly ones who do deco dives) that carry Camelback drink bladders (or the like) with them. I would imagine breathing in dry air for hours on end might make you a bit parched.

 

[Trisha]

My four "every dive" items:
1) Dive slate in pocket - yes, my husband still has to listen to me underwater.
2) Small flashlight in other pocket - always nice to see under those ledges.
3) Whistle attached to BC hose.
4) Dive shears in its own pocket, slid onto waist belt - here's the story....

We went boat diving with my brother-in-law and his family at Bull Shoals, AR. I had already had the conversation with the nieces about dive shears: "Oh, I don't carry that - Dad does."
My first dive under 60 feet, Richard went into the trees following an anchor line, I got nervous about him and tried to follow... and got caught in some thin rope. My panic control is very good under pressure, thank you, and other than wasting minutes trying to signal my hubby (ha!) I did what I needed to do -- reached down and cut the rope. Then reached down and cut more rope. Then swam to the cliff face and regrouped.
Need I say that I am sold on the idea of a cutting instrument on every diver, every dive?

Also, every dive requires a dive flag. Night dives mean two lights each and a glowstick ziptied to the first stage, plus lights on the shore. Richard sometimes carries his speargun and goody bag. And whenever we get into ocean diving, the SOS kits will include a safety sausage, small strobe light, mirror, and maybe a couple of Dive Alerts.

 

[Divemastr]

Last year a few stories surfaced (excusez le pun) about divers being lost at sea and drifting for hours waiting for a search craft to pick them up. A certain low budget movie springs to mind. Anyway, apparently you needn't worry as much about sharks as you should about simple sunburn. So now (at least on tropical boat dives) I carry a cap in my BCD.
Another worry might be dehydration. How about taking some water with you on your dives?

A cap is a good idea. I think I have seen a neoprene cap that would work great carrying it in the BCD pocket. I'll have to try to find one before I go to Cozumel in Feb. Thanks for the idea.

 

[wcl]

Last year a few stories surfaced (excusez le pun) about divers being lost at sea and drifting for hours waiting for a search craft to pick them up. A certain low budget movie springs to mind. Anyway, apparently you needn't worry as much about sharks as you should about simple sunburn. So now (at least on tropical boat dives) I carry a cap in my BCD.
Another worry might be dehydration. How about taking some water with you on your dives?

Those are both very good ideas.

Especially the cap for my shiny, bald head (I will fry long before I get thirsty!).

In default of a cap, I always have several bandanas in my boat gear, and this may be just another use for that versatile item. Shold work just fine for this wet.


Cheers,
Walter

 

[OE2X]

In my drysuit pockets:

SMB - surface marker buoy
Spool
EMT Shears
Whistle

On my BPW:

HID Can light
Backup light
Small blunt tip knife

 

[wcl]

Oh, and I simply assumed this as standard gear for all, but looking at another thread where it was questioned I am reminded not to make such silly assumptions:

- Compass

Dive watch and/or bottom timer in addition to computer also counts, I suppose.

-- Walter

Howdy!

Here's what I always take:

- Safety sausage
- Small flashlight (2-AAA little Pelican LED)
- Z-knife
- UK Trigger small BCD knife
- Storm whistle

When going to a wreck lately, I also bring EMT shears.

On night dives, besides the usual primary and backup and tank light, I also take a little strobe/flash combo (Firefly Plus, http://www.acrelectronics.com/fireflys/fflyplus.html; probably not the best strobe, but found it on sale at boating store).

I am also just now looking to buy a signal mirror to carry always.

All of this is quite small and compact and pretty easy to take every time. I have fortunately never yet needed any of it, but have only been doing this since last March.

Cheers,
Walter