Safety and Signaling???

[divedadepths]

What does everybody carry on a regular dive in terms of signaling and safety. I have been reading some scary stories in dive magazines and was wondering what to get for open water dives. I know that i am going to get a smb and am going to steal the mirror off my small boat signal package, as the boat never leaves a small bay. So, what do you carry on a regular dive???

 

[Sasquatch]

That's a fair question. I, and most of the divers around here, carry these items as a minimum:

Inflatable safety sausage with reflectors
Signal mirror
Storm whistle
Light (small back-up dive light)

Sea ya!

 

[divedadepths]

Thanks Sasquatch! I failed to mention that i have a small AA type light, but i think it will become part of my regular dive equipment. I am also going to get a storm wistle to replace the whimpy one i currently have on my bc.

 

[SteveFass]

I vary it depending on the dive: is it night, is it an dm ecorted caribbean group dive, are there threats of currents, is it a charter boat, is it ocean, or cavern.

I carry the most on open ocean charter dives: whistle tied to hose inches from my mouth, air horn installed on low pressure hose, mirror in pocket, 6' smb hanging on my butt, spool for smb in pocket with 50% more line for the depth I am in, and I stay in practice with the smb and spool.

Easy caribbean escorted dives with a dive shop and dm I trust - smb, spool, whistle only. And I really have my doubts of the use of the whistle over the sound of a boat motor out in open water

I always carry a light, but don't consider it a safety devise. Depends on the light I guess.

 

[divedadepths]

thanks for the responses so far! Keep them comming please

 

[MichiganDiver]

This is a good thread. One of my fears, as a novice diver, is drifting out to sea. Our next trip is to Cozumel in April, where I will be "drift-diving" -- a new experience for me.

So, I'm watching these responses carefully. Thanks.

 

[laserdoc]

Just watch out for the current. It is faster on top. Back in the 80's I dove Coz. Had trouble with my ears and it took me longer to get down to depth. Needless to say I found myself alone on the decent. I got to 50 feet and had lost sight of everyone. I grabed onto a rock and waited. After about a min the group finally showed up and I rejoined them. It was kind of scary to be alone in that cuurent as I was a new diver at the time. When I got down I figured the current would bring my group to me if I waited. On the same trip my SPG was off it said I had 500 to 700 psi left when I had none. It was a mexicain rental rig. When I got back to the states I bought my own reg!! Watch out for rentals!!!!!!!!

 

[Diving Doc]

Personally I carry the following:

1. DSMB and reel.
2. Storm whistle.
3. Old CD as a reflexing device.
4. Hammerhead signalling device. Fixes onto LP of your BCD and works above and below water.
5. Two torces...primary and backup.
6. Glo-toob....sets off a beacon that can be seen anywhere up to a mile away.
7. Very distinctive hood...you can get day-glow yellow and green and pink (yeeuchh).

However, you do need to be very careful of the christmas tree syndrome where you end up with so many accessories attached that you cant get to anything!

All my sstuff is tucked away where it does not interfere with my diveing, yet easily accessible in an emergency

 

[divedadepths]

Personally I carry the following:

1. DSMB and reel.
2. Storm whistle.
3. Old CD as a reflexing device.
4. Hammerhead signalling device. Fixes onto LP of your BCD and works above and below water.
5. Two torces...primary and backup.
6. Glo-toob....sets off a beacon that can be seen anywhere up to a mile away.
7. Very distinctive hood...you can get day-glow yellow and green and pink (yeeuchh).

However, you do need to be very careful of the christmas tree syndrome where you end up with so many accessories attached that you cant get to anything!

All my sstuff is tucked away where it does not interfere with my diveing, yet easily accessible in an emergency

Yes i have seen the christmas tree divers. I was thinking of getting a pocket to somehow affix to my bc, maybe on the cumberland, as my pocket size is greatly diminished due to integrated weight (Passport bc). I would probably keep my AA light, 2-3 of those chemical glow sticks, a DSMB (gunna order it form scuba toys tomorrow) on a finger spool, and a mirror. I also think that a compass is a piece of safety gear. I have found that most people that have one, dont take it on their dives except when they know they have to navigate a specific course. I used mine in a local lake to find my way back to the anchor b/c an OW class silted up the vis. I think that knowing where you are going and your relation to the anchor is a very valuable piece of information that contributes to safety. If you cant find the anchor and are forced to come up far away from the boat, it is a lot more inconceninet and dangerous than if you could just find your way back to the anchor line.