Who actually used a "safety sausage"

[beir]

For those of you drifting w/ a marker, what type are you using? I'm picturing a 6' red sausage cruising along the water....is this what you're using, or is there something lower profile that you use regularly & have a 6' sausage for when you need to be found quite aways from the boat?

(Looking to purchase something...seems there're a bunch of different types....)

Jim

Here's a link to one that's similar to the one I use....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1300&item=3690562187&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

It's easy to stow away.

 

[ScubaDadMiami]

The weather turned nasty while we were underwater, causing the boat's anchorline to snap. We surfaced into fog, low visibility and large, breaking waves (it was calm and clear before the dive--this kind of thing happens in South Florida in the Summer).

By inflating my sausage, the boat saw the bag over the tops of the waves and due to the color. Lots of people asked me where I got it on the ride back in that day.

Funny, they had been pointing and laughing on the ride out because of my over preparedness. :11ztongue

 

[perpet1]

Every year there are divers left behind on charters. Some are lucky and get picked up others are not. I would rather have the sausage and not need it then need it and not have it. This is not instilled fear, if you read the real incident reports these things really happen.

Pete

 

[Mako Mark]

essential part of equipment on any drift dive. I rarely do a dive without one

(except cave dives, they dont work so good there)

 

[saltwater taffy]

Used one in the Red Sea. When we surfaced the waves were very high. I inflated my safety sausage and the zodiac was right there. Never dive without one.

SWT

 

[Scubaguy62]

With no intentions of hi-jacking the thread, which color is preferrable, red or neon yellow???? BTW, mine is always attached to my BC.

 

[Charlie99]

Some UK trials showed that a yellow flag was the best color for visibility.

Unfortunately, in some areas a yellow DSMB is interpreted as "emergency below", so make sure the boat Captain knows you will be using yellow or fluorescent yellow-green.

Diver location trials report

 

[Curt Bowen]

We use them on every deep wreck dive that is in high current. For decompression we just pop the bag from around 100 feet and drift with the current while we decompress and the boat follows.

 

[scott11]

I'm reading a thread about the best place to secure a safety sausage to your bc and I got to thinking. :06: I've done many dives and have never actually seen someone use one. I am SURE there are divers out there who have needed to use one.

Fill me in.

Tell me what type of circumstance required the use of the sausage. What happened? What would you do to prevent it?Also, what was the result.

Boat diving in Thailand they are required. It will let the boats know where you are during the safety stop so they don't pass over you. Great for being seen when you surface.

It's a good idea to put a weight on the end of the string so it hangs straight down and does not wrap around you.

Do not hang on the string tightly when you inflate it or it will rocket propel you to the surface. Seen this happen a couple times.

 

[RobinG]

Red Sea--Egyptian crew. Briefed to go no deeeper than the cable attached to the reef as a safety measure (and because of high current, grab hold of the cable and then ascend). You guessed it--no cable (but signs of wehre it had noce been...) Three of us then caught in a VERY rapid upcurrent and popped onto the surface (oh boy). We could se the crew smoking and joking on the deck, not expecting anyone to surface so soon. Popped that sausage and drifted almsot out of sight before they saw the sausage and came to get us. Of course, their pick up was almost as dangerous as being left to drift but that's another tale.

In Palau, I had a wetsuit with an electric pink sleeve. Came up off the first drift in the wrong place, moving fast, and stuck my arm in the air(even with my short stubby arms it was like having a sausage!) and the crew saw us instantly.

Robin