Safety equipment

[Maggy]

Hi!

Relatively new to diving (AOW with 19 logged dives), I only own mask, fins, a dive computer and a wetsuit. As for now, I only intend to dive on vacation in warm water and everytime I dive I borrow BCD, regulator etc from the dive operator.

Which saftey equipment do you think I shall buy to bring with me, in order not to have to rely on the DM/instructor from the operator. I'm thinking about a saftey sausage etc. Not sure if a borrowed BCD come equipped with anything or if it's depending on the operator.

Any ideas?

 

[chilie]

I love my safety sausage I bought through http://www.scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=Dan_Signal_Tube It is made by DAN and includes a signal mirror, Wind Storm whislte and a chemical safety light. Not bad for a sausage with 50lbs of lift in case of BC troubles.

 

[trtldvr]

Generally the only safety equipment you will find on a rented BC is a whistle. A nice start, but not enough.

First purchase should be at least 1 cutting device. I don't advise going "Rambo" on this. A small, sharp, dive knife with a line cutter or a pair of EMT shears. Many locations that are popular with divers are also popular with fisherman. Where ever there are fisherman and structure, there is bound to be monofilament fishing line. This stuff can cut into your skin before you can break it.

Second would be the signal sausage. In the mean time, if you find yourself in a situation needing to be seen on the surface, you should have 2 signalling devices already. They are conveniently carried on your feet. Waving a fin above your head goes a long way to making you visible. A signal mirror could be helpful as well. I know a few divers that cary an old CD in their pocket for this (I tend to be a bit rougher on my gear to feel comfortable doing this).

I know you said that you have a computor, but I still suggest wearing a watch. Computors are very reliable, but they can fail. A cheap Timex rated to 100m is more than sufficiant.

Having signaling devices in case you get lost is important, but not getting lost is better. Get a compass and practice how to use it.

I am glad to see that you are thinking this way. Continue to get comfortable in the water. Then once you feel secure taking care of yourself find a good rescue course. It should be 1 of the most challenging and rewarding dive classes that will take.
Safe dives
trtldvr
www.divealive.org

 

[jphelps9196]

It's unlikely that rental gear will include any safety equipment. The DAN kit referenced above is very well reviewed, and the Scuba Toys price is the best I've seen... even before your discount =)

 

[don Francisco]

SMB, and whistle are a must, so is a compass (if you know how to use it), I'd add a shackle or something to use to bang on your tank to get attention underwater. A line cutter, or scissors, though not necessarily a knife won't hurt (Knives are banned in many marine parks).

But the most important safety device is the computer stored conveniently between your ears.

Learn to stay alert to what's going on around you. Manage your bouyancy, stay focused and avoid unthinkingly chasing turtles (for example) up or down, avoid entanglements, both for your sake and for the reef's sake. Manage your air supply, know how much is left and how long you expect it to last. In short, take care of yourself so all that safety stuff is never needed.

It isn't things or their lack, or events, or luck that injure divers most often - It's themselves.

 

[Maggy]

Thank you for your replies. I guess a visit to the local dive shop is on my agenda. At least to find some kind of cutting tool and a signaling device to start with. Maybe I can find a cutting tool that also works to bang the tank with.

And I will keep practicing my buoyancy and be comfortable in the water. I learned to use a compass in the AOW course recently (and I also chose the buoyancy course). Just wish that I lived closer to warm tropical water, so that I could dive more often. Next trip is in November.

Thanks again!

 

[OldNSalty]

How about a hat? It might sound funny but if you think you might be stuck floating in the open ocean for several hours covering your head might prevent some bad burns. Of course, it all depends on rather you have room-can't carry everything and signaling devices are more important.

 

[Maggy]

How about a hat? It might sound funny but if you think you might be stuck floating in the open ocean for several hours covering your head might prevent some bad burns. Of course, it all depends on rather you have room-can't carry everything and signaling devices are more important.

Are you kidding me? I don't plan to get stuck floating in the ocean. Just thought that since I always borrow BCD etc, I might need to get a couple of small tools that will improve my chances, if I end up in an emergency situation.

If it's not a joke, I think that a hat will be lower on my priority list. I have pretty thick hair, and I think the thirst will take me first, if I am left alone in the ocean. Of course a hat could come in handy then, but I am not sure a BCD will have that much room.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Some great suggestions here already. I only disagree with one...skip the need to bang on your tank. If you need to bang on your tank to get a buddies attention then you or your buddy have likely already done something wrong (too far away from your buddy or a buddy who doesn't make frequent eye contact etc...) and therefore increase your need for those new safety items you are asking about. Tank banging is for DM's trying to herd a cattle boat full of divers too far away or too numerous to communicate with individually.

Safety starts with you and your actions, not your gear. Your safety gear is used in response to your and other's actions generally. Act responsibly and you typically won't need that safety gear. As you dive more and read more you will find that almost all dive accidents can be prevented so try to gear your dive philosophy towards accident prevention instead of accident response, not that response isn't important, but that's another discussion.

Happy diving! I do suggest that DAN kit mentioned above. It has everything in one package and can be easily added and taken away from a rental BC in one move. This is important and will save you from forgetting some small item left on a rental BC. Plus, you will always know where your stuff is regardless of the BC you use. Add shears and a compass to that and you are set. I suggest shears over a knife.

 

[Maggy]

Thanks Scubadobadoo (I like that name)!

I will look into the DAN kit. Hopefully I can get it in Europe, as it's harder for me to order things from the US, because of the customs fee, shipping costs etc. I'm not really sure how much it cost. But I'll check that up. It sounds VERY convenient to add on/remove on a rental BCD. Just that kind of kit I am looking for.

I am always very careful and safety aware and understand that it's my actions that are most important. The reason I asked this, is because I read a thread on the Mexico forum, about an incident on a dive boat, where the captain of the boat lost track of the divers, and they ended up far away from the boat (current) and the DM had trouble to get them discovered, because his signaling device was very small. So I kind of thought that it's MY responsibility to equip myself so that I can be found/released etc if something happend and don't have to put all my trust in a DM.

Even if I always dive with a DM or instructor, you just never know. At the moment I don't have a buddy, as my husband don't dive, so I always go with a dive operator. And the ones I have been going with so far, always have a DM/instructor to lead the dive. But one day, I might just be experienced enough, to do a shore dive with a buddy (if I found one;-), and then there is no one there but me and my buddy to rely on.

Thanks, I really appreciate your replies.