Safety sausages and other essential safety gear

[nimoh]

Bottom line is if you keep protesting against getting a whistle we are going to have to kick you out of the male dive club and search you for a mangina, as resisting the accumulation of gobs of dive equipment whether you need it or not is a direct violation of the man club rules. - you've been warned...

please don't throw me out (or worse)....I own several whistles as part of my accumulation of gobs of dive equipment

 

[Mike]

okay good, I will send out the all clear signal.

 

[MeraSonnet]

I'm relieved the men divers here are clear about what defines a real man.

---------- Post added January 29th, 2013 at 06:39 PM ----------

That comment was tongue in cheek and appreciative at the same time, BTW, not intended bratty. Interesting to note as a woman diver, my approach is different... not better not lesser. My bliss is to dive with what I need but unencumbered with anything else or extra-- lean and mean and slim and efficient with uncomplication that is not necessary. When I dive, I feel sublime and very present in the moment. So I want to add gear only to the point I am effective and safe and a good asset to my dive group and myself, and not further. Interesting different approaches. But that is what makes the world go round. It's all good. I've spent 25 years of my adult life in the company of a few wonderful men who I recognized find their joy to a large part in the gear and using the gear (whether sailing, kiyaking, backpacking, or scuba, etc.). Can appreciate that, even if I don't share that myself.

 

[freewillie]

okay good, I will send out the all clear signal.

And all you will have to do is whistle!

 

[Dsix36]

That comment was tongue in cheek and appreciative at the same time, BTW, not intended bratty. Interesting to note as a woman diver, my approach is different... not better not lesser. My bliss is to dive with what I need but unencumbered with anything else or extra-- lean and mean and slim and efficient with uncomplication that is not necessary. When I dive, I feel sublime and very present in the moment. So I want to add gear only to the point I am effective and safe and a good asset to my dive group and myself, and not further. Interesting different approaches. But that is what makes the world go round. It's all good. I've spent 25 years of my adult life in the company of a few wonderful men who I recognized find their joy to a large part in the gear and using the gear (whether sailing, kiyaking, backpacking, or scuba, etc.). Can appreciate that, even if I don't share that myself.

<humor disclaimer>

You will soon be bombarded by PM's, emails, and posts in an attempt to gain your companionship as a full time dive buddy/significant other by many single guys. They will see the glorious opportunity that you provide by not wanting masses of dive gear. They will be able to acquire all the masses of gear as a "you won't have to carry it, I will" philosophy. The idea of not having to buy twice the amount of gear, one for each of you, will bring the hoards of selfish men your way.

The only reason that I am offering this word of warning and not "after" you is that I am already head over heels for my girlfriend. Best of luck with the stampede.

</humor disclaimer>

 

[MeraSonnet]

<humor disclaimer>

You will soon be bombarded by PM's, emails, and posts in an attempt to gain your companionship as a full time dive buddy/significant other by many single guys. They will see the glorious opportunity that you provide by not wanting masses of dive gear. They will be able to acquire all the masses of gear as a "you won't have to carry it, I will" philosophy. The idea of not having to buy twice the amount of gear, one for each of you, will bring the hoards of selfish men your way.

The only reason that I am offering this word of warning and not "after" you is that I am already head over heels for my girlfriend. Best of luck with the stampede.

</humor disclaimer>

No. Oh no. That was not what I was saying. LOL!!!!!! I am getting the d*** safety gear essentials I need to get and carry and KNOW how to use. And will not be relying on someone to carry my stuff for me or deploy such at whatever opportunity. I waxed too much in thought and philosophy. Durn Scubaboard expression opportunity. [Must not do that.]

Why did you guys have to turn my question about essential safety gear into a diver-silverback-let's-bang-our-chests scenario? Oh wait... GEAR... is involved. Okay, deep breath. Never mind... I have good info here, and am moving on....

 

[Mike]

I'm picturing you as Jacqueline Bisset in the movie The Deep. A tank and a T-shirt...

 

[BDSC]

I'm picturing you as Jacqueline Bisset in the movie The Deep. A tank and a T-shirt...

Soon to be a wet t-shirt.

 

[TomZ]

Lots of good info here. As far as DSMB's, I'm on my second one. The first one didn't have the features I needed. The current one is 6' tall, has an oral inflate tube, "duckbill" bottom fill and an overpressure relief valve (OPV). The thing I like best about using it, is on ascent. I'll normally shoot it from 30'-40', remaining slightly negative, and reel myself up slowly with the finger spool. At 15' just hang and relax, then slowly reel up to the surface. If you're ever caught in a downwelling (I have been), you can send the DSMB up as a way to provide controlled lift (reeling yourself up), as opposed to ascending too quickly, over-inflating your BC.

Like most here I carry the DSMB, Storm Whistle, Diver Alert, signal mirror, and cutting tools (Tribolite only when in Cozumel). Even in marine sanctuaries you can run into fishing line. During Invasion last year our DM cut a fishing line mess that was still attached to a ray (surprise!).

 

[fnfalman]

I'm relieved the men divers here are clear about what defines a real man.

---------- Post added January 29th, 2013 at 06:39 PM ----------

That comment was tongue in cheek and appreciative at the same time, BTW, not intended bratty. Interesting to note as a woman diver, my approach is different... not better not lesser. My bliss is to dive with what I need but unencumbered with anything else or extra-- lean and mean and slim and efficient with uncomplication that is not necessary. When I dive, I feel sublime and very present in the moment. So I want to add gear only to the point I am effective and safe and a good asset to my dive group and myself, and not further. Interesting different approaches. But that is what makes the world go round. It's all good. I've spent 25 years of my adult life in the company of a few wonderful men who I recognized find their joy to a large part in the gear and using the gear (whether sailing, kiyaking, backpacking, or scuba, etc.). Can appreciate that, even if I don't share that myself.

That's because you're a woman and have no appreciation for tools, gears and equipment like men.

If we need one, we'd buy three. Yes, this thing is three times the cost but it's THAT much better than the one that we just bought six months ago. We also don't leave anything stock. It ain't done right until we have modified it.

---------- Post added January 30th, 2013 at 01:38 PM ----------

I just think that a mirror would be more effective for getting their attention

Not when they're looking the other way. There's a reason why your ears are pointed sideway instead of forward or backward.