Crush
Contributor
Is anyone aware of a system that could be deployed from depth which would indicate diver(s) in distress below the surface? Preferably not something as expensive as underwater voice communication? Perhaps a modified SMB?
To those who would immediately criticize that I am looking for a technological solution to a situation which might be avoided through better training or gear, you are right. I am, however, working with the premise that sometimes sh!+ happens, regardless of preparation or training. Now that it has been stated, posts such as "you should never run into an XXX or YYY situation" need not appear in this thread.
For the purposes of two hypothetical examples of where such a diver in distress below system might be useful, consider:
1. You and your dive buddy are near the end of your dive. Your buddy becomes badly tangled in unanticipated fishing line and you are having a hard time freeing the him/her without yourself becoming similarly ensnared. It would be useful to be able to send up a diver in distress below system while you continue to free and reassure your buddy. That way, divers at the surface might be able to descend and offer assistance and additional air. Perhaps you could write a brief description of the problem on your spare slate and send it up on your SMB (allowing others to follow the line down to you), only who would ever think to look for a slate attached to your SMB?
2. Near the end of your dive you and your buddy become separated in poor vis. You search for 1 minute then begin your ascent to the surface. During that ascent you experience a reverse squeeze. On one hand you should ascend because your buddy might be in trouble and you have an obligation to notify others on the surface. On the other hand, if you push the ascent and your eardrum ruptures, the resulting virtigo (in, say, cold water) might pose a threat to you. Again, a slate attached to an SMB would be a great way of not only notifying those on the surface immediately of your missing buddy, but also of alerting them to your squeeze.
Has anyone else considered such a system? Are there any viable potential solutions?
Thanks
To those who would immediately criticize that I am looking for a technological solution to a situation which might be avoided through better training or gear, you are right. I am, however, working with the premise that sometimes sh!+ happens, regardless of preparation or training. Now that it has been stated, posts such as "you should never run into an XXX or YYY situation" need not appear in this thread.
For the purposes of two hypothetical examples of where such a diver in distress below system might be useful, consider:
1. You and your dive buddy are near the end of your dive. Your buddy becomes badly tangled in unanticipated fishing line and you are having a hard time freeing the him/her without yourself becoming similarly ensnared. It would be useful to be able to send up a diver in distress below system while you continue to free and reassure your buddy. That way, divers at the surface might be able to descend and offer assistance and additional air. Perhaps you could write a brief description of the problem on your spare slate and send it up on your SMB (allowing others to follow the line down to you), only who would ever think to look for a slate attached to your SMB?
2. Near the end of your dive you and your buddy become separated in poor vis. You search for 1 minute then begin your ascent to the surface. During that ascent you experience a reverse squeeze. On one hand you should ascend because your buddy might be in trouble and you have an obligation to notify others on the surface. On the other hand, if you push the ascent and your eardrum ruptures, the resulting virtigo (in, say, cold water) might pose a threat to you. Again, a slate attached to an SMB would be a great way of not only notifying those on the surface immediately of your missing buddy, but also of alerting them to your squeeze.
Has anyone else considered such a system? Are there any viable potential solutions?
Thanks