Three Surface Signaling Devices for Scuba Divers
$80; dan.org/store
Jon Whittle
Nothing is worse than being in trouble and being unable to call for help. These three signaling devices will make sure you can call in backup when you need it.
DAN Signaling Sausage
One of the great things about safety sausages is that they can be deployed while underwater, giving the boat time to get into position for pick up before divers break the surface. This bright orange SMB measures 6 feet tall and nearly 8 inches wide. Onlookers can just spot it a mile away and both sides of the SMB have a 2-inch-wide vertical reflective strip that flashes in the sun, increasing visibility. Radar reflector material sewn inside the tube adds bulk but enables radar-equipped vessels to spot it from ⅓ mile away. There is a mesh pouch with a Velcro seal at the bottom that can hold additional emergencies supplies.
$88.84; diveralert.com
Jon Whittle
Dive Alert Plus V.2
What do you do when you’re out of sight and you need help? Make some noise! This handy little device pops in between your low-pressure hose and power inflator to create a tank-powered air horn who’s powerful honk can be heard clearly a mile away. It doesn’t need a lot of air and is as loud on a full tank as it is on a nearly empty one, so it can work even when tank pressure falls too low for your regulator to deliver air. The sound can be deafeningly loud up close, so there is a lock to prevent accidentally squeezing the trigger. It also creates a quieter buzzing sound underwater that can be used to get your buddy’s attention.
$59.95; tek-tite.com
Jon Whittle
Tektit Mark-Lite Strobe
No one wants to lost at sea, especially at night. But for divers equipped with a light, the darkness can make you stick out like a lighthouse to rescuers. Any dive light will be better than none, but the rugged Mark-Lite is designed specifically with safety and rescue in mind. The high-powered LED strobe flashes twice a second in a 360-degree beam that can be seen up to 2 miles away on a clear night. The strobe switches on and off by twisting the head and can run for over 11 hours on standard alkaline AA batteries.
Compact and lightweight, the Mark-Lite can be stowed in a pocket until it’s needed and can easily be attached to an SMB or BC with the included Velcro strap and mounting slots.