Dive Alert

[bfisher]

Hi folks,

Ya know, I been reading a few threads here and there about people getting left behind when the boat goes back to shore, or we'll say, just misplaced due to various mishaps. Sometimes it's inept dive crews, which usually get weeded out. Sometimes it's diver error and sometimes it just happens.

Being a relatively new diver (certified in 1969) I just purchased a Dive Alert for attachment to my LP hose. I don't know. Maybe I'm just getting cautious and want to make sure I have the equipment to help save my life. Maybe I'm getting scared I might die on the surface. It really doesn't matter. At $50 or a bit less it's cheap life insurance as far as I'm concerned.

Has anybody else ever given these things a look? It's like a little air horn that connects between your LP hose and inflator hose.

[Web Monkey]

I have one, and actually used it once in Coz when I came up early on a drift dive and the boat didn't see me.

It works great!

Check it and make sure you have the one where the instructions say to submerge your head while using it (they aren't kidding). There are a couple of underwater versions that sound like a duck quacking, and are worthless on the surface.

The one you want makes a horrible very loud high-piched screech that will make you deaf for a while if set off near your head.

Terry





Hi folks,

Ya know, I been reading a few threads here and there about people getting left behind when the boat goes back to shore, or we'll say, just misplaced due to various mishaps. Sometimes it's inept dive crews, which usually get weeded out. Sometimes it's diver error and sometimes it just happens.

Being a relatively new diver (certified in 1969) I just purchased a Dive Alert for attachment to my LP hose. I don't know. Maybe I'm just getting cautious and want to make sure I have the equipment to help save my life. Maybe I'm getting scared I might die on the surface. It really doesn't matter. At $50 or a bit less it's cheap life insurance as far as I'm concerned.

Has anybody else ever given these things a look? It's like a little air horn that connects between your LP hose and inflator hose.

[Lukiedukie]

I will be picking one up before my trip to the gulf. I do not think I will need it but you never know.

[my1ocean]

I don't think it's a bad idea at all. Just don't test it before your dive with a boatload of people. They're loud and such a maneuver would certainly tag you as a novice, certified in '69 or not.

I must agree with you. Sometimes things just happen that you can't predict. However, I think if you're conscientious about whom you chose to book your diving with, even in other countries, you can greatly reduce your chances for mishap. I'm not suggesting the purchase of a Dive Alert is overboard, absolutely not at all. I'm just suggesting a preventative approach.

cheers!

[Al Mialkovsky]

I had one but I took it off. I didn't like the additional stiffness it added to my hose.

[Michael Schlink]

I have had one for years and have used it several times to get the boats attention, how critical it was we'll never know because the boat heard the "whistle" and came and picked me up. Some boats require them and I won't dive without one. I also carry a cyalume, fox whistle, and mirror.

[Diver Dennis]

Don't forget your SMB.

[Guba]

Hey, LukieDukie
It's not a bad idea in the Gulf. It can get a bit rough at times. Also, be sure to have your "safety sausage". If you don't have one, the crew will provide one, though. In fact, they'll insist that you hand over your C-card and give you one, if you don't have your own. Of course, they'll trade back at the end of the trip.
Getting left behind on the trip you're about to take would be a NEAR impossibility. They'll log you in the water, log you out, check on you 15 minutes later and even do another head count before leaving the site. They are extremely careful.
Still, it is possible to come up away from the boat. Having the whistle and sausage will make it a lot easier for the crew to come get you with the Zodiac should this happen. Will you be on the Fling or Spree?

[fairybasslet]

I had one but I took it off. I didn't like the additional stiffness it added to my hose.
I agree, but I didn't take mine off. I have an Air2 and the Dive Alert makes it really hard to use. I suppose I could get an octopus and solve that problem, but then I would miss out on the ostracism from Air2 haters.:D

[tribaltim]

Aren't most instructors suppose to have them or not?

[Web Monkey]

I agree, but I didn't take mine off. I have an Air2 and the Dive Alert makes it really hard to use. I suppose I could get an octopus and solve that problem, but then I would miss out on the ostracism from Air2 haters.:D

You can connect it to your Drysuit hose. I you're not diving dry, you can clip the hose and horn off to a d-ring.

Terry

[Charlie59]

Buy one and use it when drift diving for sure and ocean diving as you will. I have no doubt they work, but would agree good to have safety sausage and mirror too.

Do what I do, first in, third back.

Safe diving

[Charlie59]

In case I didn't say, I have one that I have used successfully

[fairybasslet]

You can connect it to your Drysuit hose. I you're not diving dry, you can clip the hose and horn off to a d-ring.

Terry I'm not following you.

[ArcticDiver]

Diver Alert is Good.

A Sausage/SMB is Good

A RescueLaser is Good. Regular laser pointers difuse too much to be useful and aren't sealed to take diving. The RescueLaser projects a straight line that stays coherent for miles. At least one model will handle any depth short of 150', or so.

Like a signaling mirror there is a knack to using the RescueLaser. But it is easily learned. That red beam does get one's attention!

[JS1scuba]

[QUOTE=my1ocean]I don't think it's a bad idea at all. Just don't test it before your dive with a boatload of people. They're loud and such a maneuver would certainly tag you as a novice, certified in '69 or not.
QUOTE]


I have been using the Dive Alert made by Ideations since 1992. If it's not connected its in my pocket for easy attachment should I need it. As to testing it before the dive, here is what I do.

1. I ask the crew if they know what it is? If they do i ask them to tell me.
2. If they don't I explain what the device is and how it works
3. I sound the sucker off so they are clear what it is and what it means.

A saftey device is USELESS unless the people who need to hear it know what it is. Think about it -- how many times have you been someplace and heard an alarm or a siren and then looked the other way? While the Dive Alert is probably the single most significant device we have unless they know you have one and WILL use one it's useless.

ASSUME nothing with boat crews. Assume even less if you don't tell them what you want.

Develop a signal system that includes both the DIVE ALERT and a SURFACE MARKER sound is good but sight and sound is better. Bag up first then on the surface -- three long blasts for alerting them that you are there but need a pick up -- -rapid blasts need help etc -- you get the point ..... A signal mirror is also helpful to have.


Good Luck

[TeddyDiver]

I'm not following you.

Drysuit hose = extra LP hose, similar to hose you connect to your BC...
Great idea from Web Monkey! I will use it for the horn next time diving in warm waters. Anyway I never take the drysuit hose away when diving with WS..

[fairybasslet]

Drysuit hose = extra LP hose, similar to hose you connect to your BC...
Great idea from Web Monkey! I will use it for the horn next time diving in warm waters. Anyway I never take the drysuit hose away when diving with WS..

I understood the drysuit part, not the part after: " you can clip the hose and horn off to a d-ring." How will it work if it's not connected to the hose on my bc? Or do I just attach it at the surface if I need it?

[JRScuba]

I use the MiniHammerhead. Works above and below the water.

Highly recommend it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Charlie99]

Drysuit hose = extra LP hose, similar to hose you connect to your BC...
Great idea from Web Monkey! I will use it for the horn next time diving in warm waters. Anyway I never take the drysuit hose away when diving with WS..To paraphrase FairyBasslet -- "HUH?!?"

The DiveAlert works nicely inline with the BCD or wing power inflator. If you are so concerned about eliminating failure points that you choose not to leave it connected inline, then you shouldn't be diving with a drysuit hose still connected when diving with a wetsuit. Having the extra hose connected and relying upon the end fitting to not leak is a lot more prone to a failure that causes loss of gas than is connecting the Dive Alert inline.

In an emergency you may be assisting another diver and stopping to fiddle around and connect the Dive Alert is something that you shouldn't be wasting time doing.

[Al Mialkovsky]

Aren't most instructors suppose to have them or not?
We don't have to have them.

[Web Monkey]

I understood the drysuit part, not the part after: " you can clip the hose and horn off to a d-ring." How will it work if it's not connected to the hose on my bc? Or do I just attach it at the surface if I need it?

It fits on the drysuit hose regardless of whether you're wearing a drysuit.

If you're not wearing a drysuit, you can zip-tie a snap-bolt to the air horn, to clip it off to your BC so it doesn't flop around and catch on things and drag in the sand.

Terry

[Santa]

Just, please, don't use it u.w. to say "look - another lionfish".

[TeddyDiver]

To paraphrase FairyBasslet -- "HUH?!?"

The DiveAlert works nicely inline with the BCD or wing power inflator. If you are so concerned about eliminating failure points that you choose not to leave it connected inline, then you shouldn't be diving with a drysuit hose still connected when diving with a wetsuit. Having the extra hose connected and relying upon the end fitting to not leak is a lot more prone to a failure that causes loss of gas than is connecting the Dive Alert inline.

In an emergency you may be assisting another diver and stopping to fiddle around and connect the Dive Alert is something that you shouldn't be wasting time doing.

I'm not so concerned about possibility of leak of the unused hose, and Dive Alert would be ready connected to it so what's the HUH about? I'm not doing any Cave or Tec Diving on holidays, just normal Rec diving and compared to Ice diving and Freeflow under ice it's no big deal having leaking LP hose anyway.:D

[fairybasslet]

I don't have a dry suit, so I don't have a dry suit hose. I bought the surface dive alert, not the uw quacker, in case I need to get a boat's attention. I also have a mirror, a sausage and a smb. Also a whistle. I believe in redundancy.:D
So, I still don't know how to get around the stiffness the DA makes of the hose. Unless there is no way around it, which I think I can live with.

[bfisher]

I'm quite surprised to find such interest in the Dive Alert. It shows that some people are really safety conscious. Good for you all. A couple guys got off track a bit talking about dry suits, but I find that educational as well, although I do not own nore plan to dive cold.

I like a couple suggestions about briefing the boat crew about it's use. Good suggestion. I'll remember that.

I'd like to add that although I'm fairly new to diving (again) I got my first cert in 1969. Safequards such as in place today were not much required. Oh, we had the buddy system and limited NDC depths and times, but there is much more emphasis on safety today.

Because of a 30+ year layoff I took a full course again a couple years ago. I'm almost 59 now and care to live long enough to run myself out of money. I'm right at 100 dives for 2 years and all of them in the warm waters of Florida and south. One of these days I'm going to move that way just to cut down on airfare.

I'm aware that most all dive ops do a log-in prior to diving and most all do so after the dive, too. There is always that one that may screw up. Who knows. Or it might be me---goodness.

Long life and good diving to all. Thankyou.

[Web Monkey]

I'm quite surprised to find such interest in the Dive Alert. It shows that some people are really safety conscious. Good for you all. A couple guys got off track a bit talking about dry suits, but I find that educational as well, although I do not own nore plan to dive cold.


If you're referring to my post, I think you missed the point. It has nothing to do with drysuits.

You don't need to have a drysuit to have a drysuit hose. It's just a place to plug in an air-powered device, like having a cigarrete lighter outlet in your car when you don't smoke, but do have a cell phone with a 12v power cord.
I recommended putting it on the drysuit hose instead of the BC inflator hose because it makes oral inflation and breathing off an Air-2 more difficult (it makes about 6" of the corrugated BC hose non-bendable).Terry

[TxHockeyGuy]

I also have an Air2 (Tusa Duo Air) and have a Dive Alert connected to it. I ran into the same problem as fairybasslet with my hose being too stiff. It was very difficult to breath on my octo until I removed the LP inflator hose from my shoulder velcro loop. This allows the LP inflator hose to move freely but with the BC hose still in the shoulder velcro loop it keeps everything where it needs to be. It's still not perfect, no Air2 configuration is in my opinion, but I still like the idea of one less hose and always knowing where my octo is. But please, lets not start another pro/con air2 thread.

[bfisher]

If you're referring to my post, I think you missed the point. It has nothing to do with drysuits.

You don't need to have a drysuit to have a drysuit hose. It's just a place to plug in an air-powered device, like having a cigarrete lighter outlet in your car when you don't smoke, but do have a cell phone with a 12v power cord.
I recommended putting it on the drysuit hose instead of the BC inflator hose because it makes oral inflation and breathing off an Air-2 more difficult (it makes about 6" of the corrugated BC hose non-bendable).Terry


Gotcha!!!!!!!!! I understand better now. Never thought of that.

[highlandfarmwv]

I know I am stupid, but what is an smb?

[Jcsgt]

surface marker buoy

[Storm]

I've never seen nor heard a Dive Alert, so please bear this in mind when I ask the followng questions.

My wife and I keep Fox 40 Whistles attached to our BCDs, and carry both a bright orange SMB (with a Pelicam minin flasher) and lime green sausage and signal mirror for surface signalling. When boating/diving in big water, I carry a set of small pencil flares in a dry canister. With all of these, just what's the cost benefit of having the Dive Alert?

Is not a good loud pealess whistle, just as good?

[Jim Lapenta]

Over flat seas a dive alert can be heard over a mile. Even in chop it still goes alot further than a whistle and a whistle can be mistaken for a natural sound by some. A dive alert makes the most godawful squeal and people just go what the ****was that!! and start looking. I have a divealert on my inflator and also hook up a hammerhead to the drysuit hose when working with students. It gets their attention underwater quick. The surface dive alert underwater sounds more like a loud fart. Not good for much except dirty looks. I also just got the new DAN smb with the storm whistle, lightstick, and signal mirror.

[chewie]

it should be part of your safety equipment as a signaling device. you'd never know if you'd drift off-course or get swept away by a current. :)

[ianr33]

Another cool use for a dive alert is to inflate a closed circuit lift bag/sausage. Just put the valve in the horn of the dive alert and press the button. Works Great

[Storm]

I've just started looking into signalling devices. There are a few out there. Has anyone done a comparison test betwenn the various models?

[SteveAD]

One thing that must be considered is that any tank powered signaller is dependant on tank pressure. I will admit that the dive alert is a bit louder than a good whistle, but the whistle seems more failsafe to me. I would advise that any dive alert users carry a whistle as a backup. I know some people will say "you shouldn't run out of air" but hey, sh** happens! thats why we're talking about signallers in the first place.

[bfisher]

surface marker buoy

Gees, I was thingking it was a Submersible Music Box.

[Damselfish]

I've just started looking into signalling devices. There are a few out there. Has anyone done a comparison test between the various models?
Don't recall any comparisons. But there have been a couple threads discussing the SubAlert, a device which is supposed to work above and below water, but apparently doesn't work well on the surface which is the part you really care about. (The quacking noises made by the UW versions don't seem to get the attention of the person you want, while somehow annoying everyone else.)


I have a DiveAlert and it works great, though I haven't had a need to use it for real. (I also feel no need to explain to any boat crew what the loud noise might mean any more than I would feel the need to explain a whistle.)

I found using a shorter inflator hose (shorter by the length of the unit obviously) makes the whole thing behave better, might help with the stiffness problem.

[PaulChristenson]

I've never seen nor heard a Dive Alert, so please bear this in mind when I ask the followng questions.

My wife and I keep Fox 40 Whistles attached to our BCDs, and carry both a bright orange SMB (with a Pelicam minin flasher) and lime green sausage and signal mirror for surface signalling. When boating/diving in big water, I carry a set of small pencil flares in a dry canister. With all of these, just what's the cost benefit of having the Dive Alert?

Is not a good loud pealess whistle, just as good?

http://www.divealert.com/

[fairybasslet]

One thing that must be considered is that any tank powered signaller is dependant on tank pressure. I will admit that the dive alert is a bit louder than a good whistle, but the whistle seems more failsafe to me. I would advise that any dive alert users carry a whistle as a backup. I know some people will say "you shouldn't run out of air" but hey, sh** happens! thats why we're talking about signallers in the first place.

Good point. I forget at what psi they said it stops being useful. 300 maybe? Good idea to have a whistle and visual devices too.

[Debay777]

I understood the drysuit part, not the part after: " you can clip the hose and horn off to a d-ring." How will it work if it's not connected to the hose on my bc? Or do I just attach it at the surface if I need it?............................................... .......................................ok, on a dry suit there is an extra hose that is exactly like or very similar to the LP hose that goes to your BC. IF you are diving in a wet suit and leave the dry suit hose attached to your regulator, just attach the horn to the dry suit hose and then clip it to your bc. its out of the way, doesnt interfere with your inflator hose, and is not jammed in your pocket in the event of an emergency. Another fine point that was brought up though is the fact that having a hose end exposed is another failure point to lose your life support air. its a gamble. 99.9% of the time that fitting shouldnt or wont leak. but that .1% can kill you. If I was a dry suit diver or was going to use a dry suit hose for an air horn, I would search out a plug to seal off the female end of the horn. at least you would have a semi sealed and safer hose end.