You're Lost At Sea!! What Signal Devices Do You Have To Use - and Why Not?

[RAWalker]

I have all of the above. and dive with a combination of at least 3 at all times. I just saw an emergency GPS locator in a capsule that may be the next step. I think they should build it into a PDC the size of a watch. while they are at it I'd like a marine radio built in also. I'm sure I'll see it within a few years

 

[DandyDon]

I have all of the above. and dive with a combination of at least 3 at all times. I just saw an emergency GPS locator in a capsule that may be the next step. I think they should build it into a PDC the size of a watch. while they are at it I'd like a marine radio built in also. I'm sure I'll see it within a few years

Ok good, but I wouldn't dive without at least all 5; why do you cut to 3...?

Dive Alert Whistle started out at 20%, is now over 40%. I wonder if those voters all realize exactly what they're voted for, or do they really all have it?

 

[vladimir]

I have all of those listed plus the Pains-Wessex personal locator beacon somebody linked to above. Plus a bottle of water. I generally don't use any of them--the SMB occasionally--but I bring most of them.

 

[DwayneJ]

Absolutely no issue with accurate position and you have confidence its working as you can push the "ok" button anytime.

On an earlier post, Hickdive posted the following story:
Highlands Walker Rescued After 4000 Mile Rescue Alert (from The Herald )

 

[Diver Dennis]

I always carry a DSMB and a whistle but my camera strobes can be seen from a long way. I like the idea of a white plastic bag that you mentioned Don.

 

[almitywife]

5: Signal Mirror, Accessories: Signaling, Trident, Signal Mirror

what makes the mirror "unbreakable"? whats it made out of??

cheers

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

Well, I carry all of the above, but not the fresh water. Never really thought about it, I suppose. My ten year old daughter won't even dive if a newbie gets assigned to us on a boat and the newb doesn't have all his/her safety gear. When my 12 year old can explain why Every diver should have full safety gear, it makes you wonder how so many of us adults can be so stupid.

And from the bottom quote, I Loved the article. This statement alone proves we can all just get along if we want to..... :blinking:

"We have rescued a Danish tourist in the Scottish mountains following an emergency call from the USA, using a Royal Navy helicopter and co-ordinated by the Royal Air Force."

Absolutely no issue with accurate position and you have confidence its working as you can push the "ok" button anytime.

On an earlier post, Hickdive posted the following story:
Highlands Walker Rescued After 4000 Mile Rescue Alert (from The Herald )

 

[SlowRain]

I guess what you carry is a personal decision, and having said that, I will be the first to say I really don't care much what the next person thinks in regards to whether or not I am carrying too much. I think I said it before in the "snorkel or no snorkel" thread, the day that the next person's opinion becomes the major factor in my gear selection is the day I start looking for another pasttime.

So...I carry the following

Lift Bag (is rigged into my backplate, so it is always there anyway). A lift bag while a "must have" for tech diving or whatever, does not really serve as a signal device as they do not sit high enough out of the water to really be effective.
Storm whistle on harness

In a thigh pocket:
Yellow/Orange safety sausage (6')
OMS Dye Marker
Signal mirror (non-breakable lexan...available from REI...just keep it wrapped until use so it doesn't get scratched up to badly)
LED backup flashlight (always there day or night)
2 strobes
Finger spool w/ 150' line
Cylume stick

I guess in my mind that is enough, although if I were doing open ocean diving I would consider finding a place to put a container of fresh water. I don't carry all this stuff if for example we are doing some training in a quarry or other physically confined area, but I do if it is anywhere else. I have never been "lost", but have been on dives where the safety sausage was handy as a way to get the pickup boat over to us.

What I would LOVE to see is some sort of version of watch like the one made by Breitling for pilots. It has an incorporated emergency beacon that can be activated on the international emergency frequency. Granted it is not a cheap watch, but nothing by Breitling is...but certainly someone could probably make something similar for divers.

 

[seaducer]

what makes the mirror "unbreakable"? whats it made out of??

cheers

Most "unbreakable" mirrors I have seen were polished metal for the reflective surface.

I have everything on the list on every dive except for the Dive Alert.

Only once have I felt the need to signal the boat. Came up quite aways from the boat in Belize on a drift. Blew the whistle, waved the sausage, got a wave from the boat and settled into a nice relaxing float while they picked everybody else up and came over.

I suppose Dive Alert is a good thing, just never thought of buying one...

 

[vladimir]

what makes the mirror "unbreakable"? whats it made out of??

Most "unbreakable" mirrors I have seen were polished metal for the reflective surface.

Not the one pictured in Almity's post. I have it, and it's made of some sort of plastic (acrylic?).