Subduck vs. Divealert

[divematt]

I know that Subduck is to alert those underwater, while Divealert is used to make plenty of noise above water, but if I just want one to do a fair job at both, which one makes more sense. Certainly the divealert must make some kind of noise under water?????? Does it make enough under water just to get your buddy's attention? Or do I go with Subduck and expect it to help out my whistle, and safety sausage when I'm up there at the end of the dive? Thanks!

 

[SDAnderson]

Who is it that you're trying to signal and why?

:spank:
Underwater, your buddy should never be more than a few feet away from you, close enough that you can get his attention with a loud "bnoorgle." Folks with sub-ducks and rattle-cans and other underwater noisemakers have a special place waiting for them in the next life, right next to the reef-grabbers.

:drown:
On the surface, should you get separated from your boat, you will want as much signalling capacity as you can get. Having spent some time in the water waiting for the boat to find me on more than one occasion, I don't dive without at least a surface marker. Additionally, on drift dives I take along a mirror, a whistle and, if the plan calls for fast currents or long distances from shore, a couple of dye packs.

:bang:
The DiveAlert is the more valuable tool of the two, but not by much. It will blow out your ears on the surface (really) and it has the added advantage of being nearly silent underwater, something we should all be striving for. I bought one and dragged it around for a couple of years, it now occupies a little patch on my Wall of Shame, where I put many of the dumb scuba toys I've wasted money on over the years. Spend your money on something worthwhile.

 

[Boogie711]

Well said, Reefraff... I'm a firm believer that both of those devices are what I colloquially refer to as a "tax on the gullible."

Right next to Air2's, split fins and spare airs.

 

[cyklon_300]

...it has the added advantage of being nearly silent underwater, something we should all be striving for.

One of the attractions of diving for many is the quiet found underwater...tank banging, alert honking/quacking, computer beeping really gets annoying.

If you have to call your buddy over with an audible device, you're either lazy or have too much separation distance.

 

[DandyDon]

I'll bang on my tank if I feel the need to attract the attention of a DM or anyone else out of reach, but try to not do that more than once in a week long trip. I like the quiet, too.

On the other hand, I do carry a Dive Alert. Don't use it unless I feel really needed, but I have it handy in case...

 

[chrpai]

It's so easy to attack everyone elses gear configuration that Boogie has missed the real flaw behind the Dive Alert. If you run out of air, it won't work. Its a good thing to have, but make sure you have a whistle.

 

[Paco]

Well said, Reefraff... I'm a firm believer that both of those devices are what I colloquially refer to as a "tax on the gullible."

Right next to Air2's, split fins and spare airs.

Ouch! I love my split fins.

 

[Warren_L]

I bought a sub duck a while back. Actually I find it quite useful when working with students. But when I'm just diving for diving, it stays in the bag.

 

[bnelson]

last night a DM candidate had a sub-duck (i think) during one of my pool sessions, it made me laugh

it wasn't too loud outside the water, and underwater it sounded funny, heh

 

[mempilot]

hahaha, ducks are funny