Do you carry an emergency GPS distress signal when you dive?

+2 votes
asked Feb 23, 2017 in Scuba Diving by revgramza (1,095 points)
This is still new technology.  I imagine in 5-10 years all open water divers will carry GPS/VHS.  What's working today?

3 Answers

+1 vote
answered Feb 24, 2017 by ricom (175 points)
I haven't used one, but it does sound like a potential life-saver.  Currently, I rely on researching the dive shop I go out with to ensure they are reputable and won't leave a diver behind.  Most of the places I've been diving, you go to areas with multiple boats and they do a good gob in checking people on and off the boat.  Additionally, if you are diving with a guide, and truly using the buddy system, you are hopefully not going to get yourself into a situation where you are lost.  Finally, I always carry a safety sausage and whistle to ensure I can be heard and seen if I ever get too far away from the boat and do not feel like I can swim back in.  I imagine even if I had a GPS distress signal, I would still carry both of those items.
0 votes
answered Feb 23, 2017 by A_WakeSkate (70 points)

I do not. Most of my dives are within 2 or 3 miles from shore. If I get stranded I can swim back to shore (yes it would suck). I dive off of Juno beach and its pretty crowded most days; I don't think it would be hard to signal a boat. If you have / use a signaling device it wouldn't be vary hard to get someone or some things attention.

 I'm not saying that I wouldn't have one if I could afford one either...surprise

0 votes
answered Apr 26, 2017 by George1224 (5,147 points)
I don't, but but I do carry a safety sausage and light, a PADI whistle, and an old CD compact disc to be used like a mirror for signaling purposes. Its round, plastic, shiny, no sharp edges and fits nicely in the pocket of my BCD. Might sound strange but better safe than sorry.
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