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

[Thalassamania]

I would think flares and smoke generators would be fire hazards on a plane? From TSA: Camping

I'm not suggesting that anyone ignore the rule, just saying "DUH!" if you know what I mean. I've clearly got to rethink this, but it does point out just how effective the current baggage screening is, "DUH!"

 

[seaducer]

Currently I use the same pouch and it contains: strobe, small flashlight, 2 x red rocket flare, 2 x hand flare, 2 x red smoke, 2 x dye packs, signal mirror, safety sausage, and whistle.

That is the same mirror I have for my backpack, and is a great mirror to learn how to use. I have the DAN tag mirror for diving.

I really like the quarter though, nice if you wash up on some deserted island with no cell reception you can still call for help

 

[Dig]

I carry a strobe in addition to some other common things. Almost the same kind of strobe I carried on a aircraft carrier flight deck...sometimes people got blown overboard, the strobes were visable even during the day from a good distance. And getting tossed over at night without a strobe would not have ended well regardless of whatever other stuff you carried.....


Dan

 

[Thalassamania]

That is the same mirror I have for my backpack, and is a great mirror to learn how to use. I have the DAN tag mirror for diving.

I really like the quarter though, nice if you wash up on some deserted island with no cell reception you can still call for help

Actually the quarter is a screwdriver to remove my license plate and get at the spare key.

 

[Gene_Hobbs]

Thought it might be worth pointing this thread from a few months ago out in case someone missed it.

Best signalling equipment searchers point view

 

[DandyDon]

Thought it might be worth pointing this thread from a few months ago out in case someone missed it.

Best signalling equipment searchers point view

Great idea, thanks!

 

[bfw]

An EPIRG

 

[Noboundaries]

Found this website for the pyrotechnics and marine radios. I bet if you put the smoke flares and Sky Blazers in a small Otter Box (good to 100') for protection. Put a small hand held JI67 submersible standard VHF radio in another Otter Box. You could carry one box and your buddy could carry the other. As the dive boat started to disappear in the distance you could call them up and say "Hey guys, missing anyone?" Then "turn around and look for the flares and smoke."

Way better than spending hours and hours floating at sea wondering if you're going to be found.

West Marine: West Marine Search Tool

 

[Diver Dennis]

An EPIRG

Here are just a couple of EPIRBs, waterproof down to 5M so you would have to use a waterproof cannister for these, see the first link but there are others available that are oil filled and waterproof to 100m. Best to get the GPS one for about $100 more.

Pains Wessex Fastfind Plus 406 PLB EPIRB

Sea Marshall Personal Location Beacon (epirb)-Divers

McMurdo PLB's

 

[cruiser]

I'm adding the whitle above to my stash.

After reading about divers getting left behind by the dive boat, I'm thinking about taking a bottle of water along, maybe fastening it at the neck with some string contraption.