Safety Equipment - What do you take ?

[Dr Scuba]

Interested in what safety equipment divers take with them on extended dive trips ie Liveaboards. espicially personal eqipment you take with you on every dive ?

I am researching and talking to divers prior to writing a feature next month - dropme a line

Thanks


------------------
Dr Scuba aka Mal James
Dive Deep Dive Safe
Deeper Blue
Travel Editor
Firetalk 918217

 

[paulfulford]

I'm probably showing my inexperience (I'm Advanced Open Water with about 20 dives) and I tend to rely too much on the Divemaster and the only safety equipment I take would be a compass.

Probably won't help the survey much but I wonder what proportion of divers fall into the same category as me.

 

[Dr Scuba]

Thanks Paul
At least you have a compass , which is probably more than most experienced divers.
In your dives to date - have you ever dived in remote (cannot see the shore conditions)
dived in strong currents ? or felt exposed and wished you had had more equipment with you ?
If you want to either post a reply or email me direct it would be appreciated
Thanks

------------------
Dr Scuba aka Mal James
Dive Deep Dive Safe
Deeper Blue
Managing Editor
Firetalk 918217

 

[JACKRABBIT]

OUR CLUB BOATS NEVER GO OUT TO SEA WITH OUT
1. FIRST AID KIT
2. DISTRESS FLAIRS
3. VHF RADIO
4. PADDLES
5. LIFE JACKET FOR THE BOATMAN
6. COMPUSS
7. SPARE SMB’S
8. TOOLS FOR THE ENGINE
9. SPARE STARTER CORD
10. PUMP
ALSO WHEN I’M DIVING I CARRY A COMPUSS & A FOLD UP FLAG
These flags are a valuable piece of equipment and are very cheep, anyone who has been a boatman with 3 or 4 pairs of divers down, can testify they all go off in different directions, (all saying they were drifting with the current) and after an hour the distance between divers can be so far as to not be able to see their SMB’s let alone divers on the surface.

 

[mintel]

I am a Padi Rescue Diver, Three years and 70 dives inexperience. When diving in the UK I carry the following:
1. Knife
2. Compass
3. 3 Ltr Pony Cylinder
4. DSMB & Reel
5. Pocket Mask
I take all this with me, as well as the kitchen sink for diving in the UK or northern France, The only thing that I do not take when flying is the Pony Cylinder.

Hope that this helps

When diving abroad

 

[Dr Scuba]

Thanks Mintel

Do you take the pocket mask in water with you and did your training include hands on exercises in scenarios using a pocket mask?

Thanks
Dr Scuba

 

[Erik]

I have over 1000 dives, the majority in cold water with current (West coast Canada). I dive with a drysuit(survive for 3 or 4 days in cold water),knife, doubles or a pony bottle, 100 lb lift bag that serves as a deco line and 3' tall position marker, compass, and my common sense! Salud, Erik

 

[Russ]

Safety Gear

Dr. S.

I will answer this as a vacationing diver not an instructor:

Seaway Engineering Air Guard, tests air for Carbon Monoxide.
DAN Signaling Kit, has signal sausage and other stuff so I can be found when I drift off.
Hat, don’t laugh, a sun burned head is very bad.
Butt Pack First Aid Kit, for minor cuts scrapes etc.
DAN Insurance won’t leave home without it.

There are other destination specific things but, this stuff goes on every trip.

Russ

 

[58jeff]

In around 500 dives I have added & subtracted my basic kit when on vacation , this is what I currently dive with . Halcyon Signal tube ( the big one ) & a dive alert , home made signal mirror ( Stainless steel Polished ) Small knife , 4 aa cell flashlight in addition to my video camera ( don't dive on vacation without it )
JJ

 

[Kenneth]

Spare Air - if I plan to go more than 60 feet.
Dive computer - good to use one
Knife - must
Something extra to keep warm UW
Tiny torch


With the trip
Spare mask
Spare eyeglasses

 

[psteggle]

Hi,

Safety stuff I take with me on dives:-

"Techy dives"

Collapsible flag
2 x SMBs
2 x Reels
EPIRB
Spare mask
Knife
Double bladder wing (Not on CCR trips)
7 litre bale out of 40% Nitrox (On CCR trips)

"Holiday dives"

Collapsible flag
2 x SMB
2 x Reels
EPIRB
Spare mask
Spare regulators
Tools
Spare jacket inflator
Zip ties

 

[Morgan]

Around 100 dives.

On every dive on West Coast Canada:
- whistle
- safety sausage signal
- waterproof aerial flares
- mirror
- alternate mask

on boat or shore: Medical oxy tank and masks, 1st aid kit.
My own boat is equipped with usual Caost Guard requirements.

 

[chick]

I am a BSAC Instructor and Dive Leader - I have been diving for 8 years.

I always take:
Knife
Buddy Line
Delayed SMB and reel
Compass
Computer
Watch
3l Pony bottle
mini torch/strobe
slate

On a livaboard I would also pack a spare mask and a larger torch although I wouldnt necessarily take them on every dive.

 

[capt. nate]

A dive alert horn should be on every inflator hose. It greatly maximizes your chances of getting back on the boat. Every captain I know loves them cause you know for sure when divers are up.
If the boat doesn't have O2, you probably shouldn't be diving on it.

 

[Stuey]

Intersting array of equipment listed here. One thing missing that divers should have with them (though not in the water without specialised training) is OXYGEN !!!!!

Regs

Stuey

PS I carry ...

Spare Mask
spare fin strap
computer
water
compass
DSMB
3lt pony on dives > 18m (has contents guage)
2 torches of night dives
whistle
Knife

I used to carry a pocket mask but it deteriotes really quickly, so I dont now. I regulary (as an instructor) practice rescue skills with and without pocket masks.

How often if ever have you guys practiced rescue skills after certification ?

 

[RONEN NOY]

hi dr. s.
i always take with me :
small knife
safty sussege withe 6m line for safety stop under boat trafic
tourch
compass
whistle
also ,soon im going to get myself a small strobe.

have fun!!!

ronen
instructor , thailand

 

[Jurgen]

I am a PADI Instructor In South Africa. Whenever I do a dive trip, be it with students, casuals or Personally, I ensure that the following safety equipment is with me.

1. Emmergency Medical Oxygen equipment and either 1 5L or 10L 150 Bar Oxygen cylinder (Depending on time to nearest chamber)

2. Comprehensive First Aid Kit.

3. Shark Bite First AID Kit. (If the site/area has the potential for an injurous shark encounter(Very Rare))

4. Cell Phone.

5 Surface Marker Bouy and Reel.

6. Spare SMB (Bc Pocket type) and reel.

7. Compass, wistle, dive knife.

 

[lairdb]

Every dive:

DiveAlert
DSMB (and spool)
tiny Z-knife
shears
strobe
mirror
whistle
dye marker
compass

Depending on circumstances:

foil juice-pack
folding snorkel

--Laird

 

[wwwtimmcp]

I got certified padi in 82 and divemaster in 86, I carry
extra straps
2 knives
extra mask
extra regulator
silicone grease and sealer with a tube of aqua seal
suntan lotion and burn cream
sea sick medicine (I've never had it but who knows)
sea sting kit
tools for regs
band aids and 4x4 guaze with a roll of tape and electrical tape
aspirin,ibuprofen,tylenol,and any antibiotics I can get,cortasporin for ear infections, mycelex for same
assorted plugs and adapters for reg hoses
one big honking knife with a prybar tip cause I aint leaving no gold bar just cause it's wedged in some rock.
ear wash
q tips
tri sporin ointment
military bug repellant
mesh bag for lobster or goodies (read gold bar)
first aid kit with instructions (never trust anyone unless you're really sure they know what they're doing) I've been left to tend the wounded more than once by people that puke or cry themselves into uselessness.
fishing equipment (I may get stranded somewhere but I won't starve)

 

[iocara]

Hi 3 dives (Scotland), so far.

I will have completed my Open Water course by this Sunday, and guess what, no one has ever mentioned what you should take with you on a dive (apart from the obviouse kit you need to scub). I am planning 3 dives in two weeks, one with an instructor to gain confidence and cut the umbillical cord, and then 2 with my partner on our own(We are both at the same level).

I would have assumed that part of the course (PADI in our case) would be dedicated to the equipment you take with you once you receive your open water certification, after all you are free to dive with your buddy regardless of experience, and too be honest 4 dives in open water is not that many, and for beginners this can be rather dangerous, even if you are only a few meters from the surface.

At a guess I would take the following underwater with me:

Knife
Poney bottle
Sausage
torch
Whistle

Excuse my ignorance as there will be glaring mistakes, but all one can do is try and learn from people who have more experience, Oh and each seperate instructor we have had has told us completly different information about assembling the kit.....

Can any one point me in the direction of a site that helps the beginner, I mean should I stick a green L plate (People in Britain will know this) on my back to advise people that I have just passed, but still building up my confidence.

G )