Canadian diver and buddy rescued near Apo Island, Philippines

[outofofficebrb]

I used an old Sony camera case that I bought in eBay for $10. The case is smaller than 500ml water bottle & fit nicely in my BCD waist pocket.

I’ve carried it for diving for more that a year now, logging more than 130 dives with it in my BCD pocket. The latest depth I took it down to 147’ (44m). The PLB1 stayed dry. The clear case makes it easy if there is any leak or condensation in it,

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Thank you! I'm going to come pick your brain about this on WhatsApp....

 

[Dan]

Thank you! I'm going to come pick your brain about this on WhatsApp....

Anytime

BTW, it’s not just for diving, I carry it in my hiking pants and ski jacket. You never know when you get lost or injured in the woods or fall into a crevasse or got bulldozed by avalanche or there is no phone signal or your phone battery is dead. This little thing is your last line of communication for emergency. The battery is good / guaranteed for 7 years.

 

[flyboy08]

It does and more reason I’m going to get outfitted with all of the safety gear, as @Dan_T has done: SMB, mirror, whistle, Dive Alert, PLB, light and backup. I’m going to add “tether” to that list, based on this incident. And also the emergency blanket that @DandyDon (IIRC) always recommends. Heck I might also throw in a Nautilus Lifeline 2-way radio if I can get my hands on one.

These folks were “lucky” that the passing boat heard their screaming. If the crew on that boat were not paying attention, I’m not sure what the outcome would’ve been. The diver didn’t mention searching by the coast guard...hmmm.

Dang, just tether yourself to the boat and save all that weight and money!

 

[Dogbowl]

Dang, just tether yourself to the boat and save all that weight and money!

Haha, I like myself a lot and I can afford the safety gear. Just not all at the same time.

 

[DandyDon]

SMB, mirror, whistle, Dive Alert, PLB, light and backup. I’m going to add “tether” to that list

Yep, I carry all of that. I may get too old to carry all of my gear to the boat at once, but not yet. The pony & reg adds a lot, but it's the best buddy.

And also the emergency blanket that @DandyDon (IIRC) always recommends.

I do carry one of those in my dive bag to use on a boat if needed, as well as in my hiking pack and a couple in my car. I know that some have suggested one in a BC pocket, but I really don't think it would help in the water.

As for you, figure out some way to turn sea water into drinking water and carry that with you too.

Some have said they carry a quart bottle of water hung from their BC. I guess it would be damned nice to have if floating long.

PLB......my understanding is that they are not waterproof to the depths that recreational divers would go to.

No, you need a dive canister. I got the smaller of these: CANISTER for PLB: SCUBA Diver Emergency Locator Beacon/VHF Marine Radio. | eBay
Use silicone grease lightly on the o-ring.

I used an old Sony camera case that I bought in eBay for $10. The case is smaller than 500ml water bottle & fit nicely in my BCD waist pocket.

There are a number for sale on ebay, but you'd need to know the inside dimensions of what you buy. You might want to replace the o-ring now and then as well as apply silicone grease, but even if it leaks a little - the PLB should be water resistant. Get one that floats, and be sure the lanyard fits inside too.

Anytime

BTW, it’s not just for diving, I carry it in my hiking pants and ski jacket. You never know when you get lost or injured in the woods or fall into a crevasse or got bulldozed by avalanche or there is no phone signal or your phone battery is dead. This little thing is your last line of communication for emergency. The battery is good / guaranteed for 7 years.

And in my car as well.

Dang, just tether yourself to the boat and save all that weight and money!

So what part do you not think is a good idea. I hope they find your body whenever you go drifting.

 

[Dogbowl]

Yep, I carry all of that. I may get too old to carry all of my gear to the boat at once, but not yet. The pony & reg adds a lot, but it's the best buddy.


I do carry one of those in my dive bag to use on a boat if needed, as well as in my hiking pack and a couple in my car. I know that some have suggested one in a BC pocket, but I really don't think it would help in the water.


Some have said they carry a quart bottle of water hung from their BC. I guess it would be damned nice to have if floating long.


No, you need a dive canister. I got the smaller of these: CANISTER for PLB: SCUBA Diver Emergency Locator Beacon/VHF Marine Radio. | eBay
Use silicone grease lightly on the o-ring.


There are a number for sale on ebay, but you'd need to know the inside dimensions of what you buy. You might want to replace the o-ring now and then as well as apply silicone grease, but even if it leaks a little - the PLB should be water resistant. Get one that floats, and be sure the lanyard fits inside too.


And in my car as well.


So what part do you not think is a good idea. I hope they find your body whenever you go drifting.

@DandyDon , have we covered it all or are there other safety considerations we haven’t mentioned? Between you and @Dan_T , I think there’s much we can learn to put together a good safety kit.

 

[DandyDon]

@DandyDon , have we covered it all or are there other safety considerations we haven’t mentioned? Between you and @Dan_T , I think there’s much we can learn to put together a good safety kit.

I think that's a comprehensive list. Make sure the whistle is a All-Weather Safety Whistle Company - The Loudest Emergency Whistles as there are a lot of wimpy ones sold in dive shops.

I used an old Sony camera case that I bought in eBay for $10. The case is smaller than 500ml water bottle & fit nicely in my BCD waist pocket.

My ACR 2881 measures 1.6" x 1.9" x 4.5” and I'd want the lanyard to fit inside, too. It's difficult to find the camera dimensions for those cases, but of the ones I have found - it wouldn't fit.

It looks like you are carrying the smaller RescueMe PLB without the float pouch or lanyard. What if you drop it when you open the case?

 

[Dan]

Dang, just tether yourself to the boat and save all that weight and money!

I carry all my safety gears with me (6’ DSMB with spool, mirror, flashlight, whistle, DiveAlert, knife, PLB1) in all my dives, including camera, do I look like too bulky & overweighted? Not much money involved either on those safety gears (<$500).

 

[Dan]

I think that's a comprehensive list. Make sure the whistle is a All-Weather Safety Whistle Company - The Loudest Emergency Whistles as there are a lot of wimpy ones sold in dive shops.


My ACR 2881 measures 1.6" x 1.9" x 4.5” and I'd want the lanyard to fit inside, too. It's difficult to find the camera dimensions for those cases, but of the ones I have found - it wouldn't fit.

It looks like you are carrying the smaller RescueMe PLB without the float pouch or lanyard. What if you drop it when you open the case?

My camera case with PLB1 in it floats. I also put the PLB1 floating cover in the case with lanyard. See, below.

 

[outofofficebrb]

My camera case with PLB1 in it floats. I also put the PLB1 floating cover in the case with lanyard. See, below.

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I think I'm going to go with your exact solution. I'm loving it the more I look at the other options...especially the cannisters. Yikes on the price!