Question Signal Device For Hard of Hearing Divers?

[SaltySiren]

I wasn't sure if this Q belongs here or in the disability forum, but I dive with someone who is hard of hearing and we often have trouble getting their attention underwater using traditional audible methods (tank tappers, shakers)

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this and has suggestions?

In the past, we have used flashlights, but the efficacy of that depends on the conditions underwater and distance. Someone at a scuba shop mentioned something called the "Buddy Watcher" which vibrates, which sounded great but after looking into it, it appears they are no longer in production. Does anyone know of any similar devices?

 

[SaltySiren]

I've never needed more than hands and a light to get another diver's attention. I've never carried a noisemaker for underwater. Sometimes I've resorted to a tap on the shoulder or tug on the fin.

Is there a dive light you use often / recommend?

 

[Doc]

Is there a dive light you use often / recommend?

After a lifetime of about 5ooo dives, i find this to work occasionally, sometimes, once on a while

I believe Trident labels it as “Fat Man”….

Kind of a single-use “gadget”

 

[Landau]

Is there a dive light you use often / recommend?

I dive mostly in cold / green / dark waters near Vancouver and have used a Light and Motion Sola 800 for over 400 dives. Wide/Narrow beams and 3 brightness levels. Works great for me.

Carrying a light on all dives, even in the tropics in the day, lets you find lots more critters tucked back in nooks and crannies.

The captain of the last boat I was on told us to shine our lights at him if he didn't spot us right away when we surfaced as he could spot that faster than an smb (which he wanted us to deploy as well)

 

[dmaziuk]

... Someone at a scuba shop mentioned something called the "Buddy Watcher" which vibrates, which sounded great but after looking into it, it appears they are no longer in production. Does anyone know of any similar devices?

Scream at DiveAlert: they bought the company and never re-started production. (I, for one, am not buying any of their products ever unless they bring the Buddy Watcher back.)

 

[ofg-1]

Signal Device For Hard of Hearing Divers?​

Pole spear?

 

[ImpotentSeaSnake]

Has anyone had a Dive Alert Plus V2 fail on them?

https://a.co/d/j2KAZD9

 

[tursiops]

Interesting thread, but there are some really annoying posts. Why someone wants to joke about or make fun of someone who is hard of hearing defeats me. It is a serious problem.
Only a few computers have vibration alerts, for example, most just give high-frequency beeps ---impossible to ehar if you've list your high-frequency hearing.
A dive is ruined if you must focus on your buddy 100% of the time.
I'm an U/W photographer, my wife is a fish surveyor. We ae often buddied, and usually not that far apart, but getting the other person's attention is not easy. She can hear a sound I make but if she is focused on some tiny blenny the sound is not heard. I can't hear her, period. What works? A very bright, very tight-beam light, swept back and forth across whatever we are focused on. I flash her surveyor's form and she sees it. She flashes my nudibranch and I see it. Works for us. except near the surfacw tiht lots of ambient light.

 

[bradlw]

A few weeks back in the pool, doing a refresher with my family's OW class. At one point, I saw the instructor not far away shaking away with a rattle stick. I heard none of it. Not even a hint. I have a mild to moderate hearing loss and wear aids, although in a lot of situations most folks wouldn't know it if I'm not wearing my aids. I can wing it pretty well...
I told the instructor when we were on the surface just so that she would know that I'm not ignoring her if she's trying to get my attention....