Important Safety Gear For Scuba Divers

[@Olof123]

Not sure what kind of relationship you have with your coastguard station but I can promise you that since its new tech they’ll probably haven’t trained much on diver rescue with gps (been around ages in the boating world) but maybe if you walk in to their station and present your an instructor and ask if they wanted to do a training drill. They might surprise you and say yes!

[@269Ski]

Would be a great training video for all if you could do a live scenario with the coastguard.

[@andrewgillis3073]

USCG is very cooperative about training. But I wonder what the depth rating on the marine rescue GPS is. Will it work after a couple hours of deep diving?

[@ahugenerd.]

One quick tip I would add is that if you choose an SMB that has an eyelet at the top, you can attach your strobe there, effectively raising your strobe light way above the water. Really helps increase your dusk and nighttime visibility!

[@Yggdrasil42]

And you can use a double-ender to connect the eyelet at the top with the loop at the bottom into a Life Ring float if you put it under your arms. For a bit of extra flotation when needed.

Apeks DSMB is rather well thought regarding that

[@leehouston4395]

Another less technical item in my ‘safety pouch’ is a bandana. I spent close to an hour floating on the surface in Egypt as our boat responded to an emergency with another boat. As someone who is, let’s say follicly challenged, any longer in the baking sun could have had its own consequences.

[@harambeexpress]

I always dive with a good. Sun protection is a big deal for me, especially in Australia. Sooo much better to not be burned and then get sick for multiple days while you heal. I heard that some people in Asia have camelback bladders with water in their BCDs. I might consider that this summer.

[@Teampegleg]

It should be mentioned that the Inreach (and PLBs which are similar) they communicate with satellites and send a message to the live saving agency in that area. While the Nautilus sends a message to near by vessels. So if you are in the middle of no where, including inland an Inreach or PLB is the better option. But in busy shipping lanes like South Florida the Nautilus will probably be faster. Also another good option for nighttime rescue is a green laser, in testing it was found to be more visible than strobes. But you have to be up and active to use it.

[@ericramosmd]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I love the floracein idea!!! We used floracein strips to check for corneal abrasions with a black light.

[@dyverdn]

Storm brand whistles are great. Longest range of whistles over open water. Can also be blown and heard under water with practice. Permanent attachment to my BCD.

[@VienPajo]

Thank you for mentioning this. I was searching for a whistle as a new diver - I just made the purchase.

[@mattbowlin8105]

James, great video and always enjoy seeing what others are doing for safety gear. This stuff seems basic and sometimes overkill, but having been the person pulling people out of the water for 23 years, nothing is overkill in the moment. As far as testing the Nautilus, that’s a bit tricky because it works off AIS/DSC (Automatic Identification System/ Digital Selective Calling) and will not only alert the CG but every boat with AIS properly installed in about 30-40NM radius. Unfortunately this kind of thing happens all the time and sends assets on false calls. If you want more information on how this works the best contact for you would be the USCG District Seven Public Affairs office, or USCG Sector Miami Public Affairs. They should be more than happy to work with you and provide you with answers and other means of how show how exactly these types of electronic signaling devices work. If you need help reaching these offices or any POCs please let me know and I’ll point you in the right direction. Thanks again for the great dive content and helping keep this sport safe as possible.

[@optionchuc1]

James, I say do this.. that way you can do several at the same time, safely! Keep up the good work!

[@JorgeMachado-z6c]

Great video, has a dive guide i carry all of them and all 110% useful. I have the frist version of the nautilus, that as a programmable VHF Chanel that is very useful to talk to your support boat and as last resort you can also activete the gps energy location. Dive safe, dive often 👌

[@stefanteodorowski9297]

I am an owner of a nautilus life line. The Funktion is that you have a blue button to turn it on. With the yellow button you can deploy a test signal. I tested it and it gives a signal to the gps plotter on the boat. You can program it that way, that in the first 30 min it only calls your boat, than all around. If you have a real emergency than you have to pull the cover from the red button. An antenna flips out and you are now able to push the red button. I didn’t test this😂

[@Yggdrasil42]

Exactly. The local mode is nice for dive boats. I've heard some liveaboard provide them to their divers so they can recover them after a drift dive.

[@alluraromel392]

I also have the dreaded Dive Alert on my BCD. It is responsible for diverting 1 of 2 dumbass boats coming for me and my dive buddy two weeks ago in Pompano Beach while waiting for boat pickup. We had to dive to avoid the 2nd boat. It’s has also helped a lost dive buddy reconnect with me on the Spiegel Grove before having to surface. My buddy was very thankful for my “quacking” as he reconnected with me on my way to the downline. He had stopped to look at something and failed to signal me with his tank banger. When he looked up, I was gone and he couldn’t spot my Pink fins, but he heard the “Quack”. Another buddy and I use it shark tooth diving, as the water is extremely low viz, we will quack 3 short times to alert our buddy to surface so we can communicate. Otherwise we just surface and dive on each other’s surface marker to reconnect. We don’t teather to each other when hunting teeth because we hunt in a rock field and would tangle the teather.

[@yechielrechtschaffen5257]

I bought a DSMB,for me and my daughter, just by listening to james videos. James Convinced me this is a must. A life saver. And yes I use it when diving near boats. There were dive sites I wouldn't dive in, and now I deploy the dsmb and dive them. Thanks james

[@iwanz118]

I have a garmin inreach mini 2 & its been great as a tracker when I go off onmy own off road adventures or sailing. They do a dive case for it and I can imagine it would work very well if needed. Thankfully, I've never had to hit the sos button. The service is subscription based, so not sure for those that just go out for a dive infrequently.

[@ClintGilliam]

Just did my AOW and some extra dives in Puerta Galera. Beautiful dives! Have a good time.

[@foxmillcrew]

The InReach is a much more robust safety communicator for several reasons. 1: It utilizes the Iridium satellite network to provide coverage nearly anywhere in the world. You can take it diving, hiking, flying. 2: The SOS provides your distress call to a local SAR team in your area and gives you the ability to text your SAR crew. 3: you can preprogram phone numbers and text messages to quickly reach your boat captain or a person on land. Handy if you need to tell your boat “hey I’m over here!” 4: Rechargeable, internal battery. The Nautilus uses disposable batteries and does not have a good battery life indicator. 5: The water proof Inreach case uses two o-ring seals and is very durable. The Nautilus uses a single seal to protect against water egress which is held in place with two plastic threaded screws. I had my Nautilus flood and then bought an Inreach. The main downsides of the Inreach are purchase cost and the monthly subscription cost.

[@kellybrady4229]

Well, you're not wrong, however the benefit of a marine radio-based device like the Nautilus is that nearby boats, as well as the Coast Guard get the alert instantly and are the closest, fastest resources able to respond. The Coast Guard's Rescue 21 system will alert and show a directional vector from their station(s) to you. Likely there are also tow boats, local marine patrol,/police/fire or even other military assets that are in a position to respond. For planning purposes, InReach signaling via Iridium can take up to 5 minutes, but in rare cases up to an hour. Then Garmin has to relay the rescue to local assets to review and effect the rescue. So, having both devices would be ideal. I'd agree the InReach might ultimately have the highest success rate, but the Nautilus might have the *fastest* time to get you picked up out of the water. Of course, if you also go backpacking or hiking, the InReach is going to be useful whereas the Nautilus won't be. (former Coast Guard Auxiliary boat crew & vessel examiner)

[@mattvish2591]

I got a Lifeline after I experienced that two groups from our boat got lost. Luckily, they were found, but it took almost two hours. It's easy for the captain to lose track when there are many groups and boats out. James, you should make a video on how to survive when lost at sea... get rid of the gear and try to swim against the current to shore... clear, don't do that! The Nautilus costs a bit more than $200; the batteries are user replaceable and last for 5 years. It's a no-brainer to bring it on any boat dive.

[@mattvish2591]

Btw James, there is also an UW casing for the Garmin InReach... the safest practice is actually to bring both.

[@OrenNoah]

I carry all of those on every dive, including my old-school Nautilus which also has voice communication. They're in my left thigh pocket.

[@harambeexpress]

As for the Garmin In-Reach Mini I think it's a great device. If it had a radio function like the Nautilus it would be perfect - but it's already awesome. It is also useful on land and for other uses like marking or navigating to dive sites, weather information, SMS messaging, etc. There are multiple examples of people being rescued using them and the Garmin service so I have faith. The dive case for the In-Reach Mini is good. Rugged, small, hasn't leaked, easy to attach a bolt snap to. The battery holds a charge really well. I turn it on to check it and top up the charge every few months. At one of my local dive spots a guy was saying that he got sucked out to sea one time during a particularly strong tide. He got spotted by a boat, but it was a close call. So it pays to carry a Nautilus or In-Reach anywhere where there might be currents that can take you to sea. I also carry a whistle and DSMB. I might carry a signal mirror when I come across one I like. I have been meaning to get a strobe. I've been justifying not having one by always diving with a torch or multiple torches at night. I've got some Cylum sticks in my save a dive kit for in-case someone asks... I'll get one very soon.

[@Yggdrasil42]

DAN sells a good mirror on their webshop.

[@skyDragon-ri9mv]

Hey James, I hope you enjoy my country on your dive trip to Puerto Galera!

[@NZ.Garner]

Another good tip that should work, if you are diving with a iPhone 14 or 15 as your camera in a hosing, you could take it out and hit the SOS via satellite function.

[@cinemastratv]

I would take Garmin InReach Mini (2) with the waterproof case and DSMB. Should be enough for most of the situations. And don't forget your DAN and Garmin insurance ofcourse.

[@dtt3426]

you forgot the flashlight as a signaling device. i carry a dsmb on every dive, when i look around only 20% of us do. the only issue i have is a number of dm will not let you deploy it. just for practice after your safety stop. ps i have a squaker. i tell the dm before hand in case i get lost on the dive. i only press it to test it.

[@Divewith.G.M_Official_Channel]

Also if you get the other signaling device you don't just get to signal with it but you can also talk to your family and friends with it.

[@RickC_]

I have some OMS Dye markers that are at least 15 years old, so they have been around for a while.

[@Chogogo717]

I should have read down the questions before I asked. Thanks for the info!!!

[@USOTPC]

Remember, Flouroscene was always spelled SHARK REPELLENT by our dads! Wink, nos😮

[@pauljacobsen1937]

Unfortunately DAN is out of stock of their SMB which James was showing. Hopefully DAN will restock these as they have been out of tock for a while. Mine just fell apart when I was rinsing it after 10 days in Bonaire. The inflate tube, which is plastic, broke off the SMB. Glad I didn't need it, but now I need another before my next trip. Also I need to add that to my check list before a trip to verify the SMB is in good condition. I like the DAN SMB because of the mesh part that allows you to stow the mirror, whistle, and strobe in one package.

[@elwizo]

Maybe Destin from @SmarterEveryDay can connect you to the coast guard to figure out how to test the Nautilus

[@Sgyozo]

Also good to have shiny fins, i used it once, when we were on a drift dive and didn't surface where the boat was waiting, and he didn't see us. Wasn't an emergency though, we could just swim there, but divers are lazy. :D

[@anonnymowse]

What if a shark thinks your shiny fins are little fish just waiting to be eaten?

[@Sgyozo]

Probably nothing, probably he bites my feet off, then i'd lose consciousness because of the pain, if not, a little bit later due to the blood loss through the veins and arteries of my legs.@@anonnymowse

[@alandickson7991]

Hi James, I think that when your subscribers are asking for a test, they are asking for you to dive with it to depth to make sure it doesn't leak, to comment on battery life between re charges and to comment on whether it is negative or positively buoyant in sea water and by how much. From your description, it seems like a submersible Personal Locator Beacon.

[@LaskerMario]

I have the Nautilus system (well, technically four that I carry/maintain for my dive buddies between trips) and I can attest that none of them have ever leaked. They are slightly positively buoyant. The battery life is good because the system is turned off unless you turn it on, but like any battery-powered device it's best to change out the batteries every year or two anyway. Also the battery is a very unusual one (CR123A) so make sure to buy those in advance--I once was running around Puerto Ayora in the Galapagos trying to find some before a trip! The setup involves an app that you want to download before you get to whatever remote location you are traveling to with the Nautilus.

[@jeremiahperez8071]

I have my nautilus gps on a bolt snap on one of my D rings whenever I dive in the Gulf of Mexico.

[@harambeexpress]

Get tech shorts and then clip it off inside a pocket. Gear flapping about in the open isn't great.

[@dmartinez4683]

Hey James, thanks for another great video. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe your Garmin Descent mk2 has subscription-based sat-communication capabilities, just like any of the other Garmin InReach ecosystem trinkets. If it is so, that's an additional safety device in your belt.

[@DaveStern2]

hey, not James, but the garmin watches do NOT have that capability. they can connect via bluetooth to the garmin inreach mini devices (that James mentioned) to trigger the SOS when the inreach is also above water, powered on and previously paird via bluetooth to the watch. but the watch / dive computer can't do this on its own.

[@dmartinez4683]

@@DaveStern2 Thanks a lot for your reply. I stand corrected, then. This was not clear to me from Garmin's website.

[@DaveStern2]

@@dmartinez4683 yup I just didn't want someone to think that their watch might have sat com if it doesn't and then think they are covered in an emergency situation, would be a bad time to find that out (which is why all the practice and training beforehand anyway). safe diving!

[@MrCybernick]

You can use an old CD instead of a mirror. I wouldnt dive in the sea with out an SMB or DSMB ...👌

[@Antoniosaricoss]

Yellow button is for testing battery without sending a distress signal. This distress signal is Man Overboard detectable by any ship.

[@cristianconrads9109]

SMBs are mandatory here where I dive

[@KevinReynolds21]

I feel that a snorkel is a peice of saftey equiptment as well

[@Yggdrasil42]

A roll-up snorkel is quite compact and can easily be put in a pouch.

[@alluraromel392]

I received the Nautilus radio as a Xmas gift in 2019. I take it with me when diving and two weekends ago the device flooded during my 3 tank dive in Pompano Beach, FL. Not sure why as I nearly stripped the screws taking it apart to empty the water. I need to find my box and check the maintenance requirements, something tells me there is an o ring that needs lube maintenance to keep the seal. @James any suggestions as to why the housing failed? No noticeable cracks and the water didn’t drain when out of the water.

[@CoolBrittany90210]

And O2 silicone grease on that o ring

[@lukem2889]

Whistle is on my inflator hose 👍

[@Sucralose2]

the gps radio buttons do exactly what they say they do, they transmit pre-programmed signals. Who rescues you really depends on whose in the area. It could be an amateur with a radio and a boat or someone like the coast guard. As to the cost of the rescue, as long as it's a genuine rescue, it won't really matter.

[@oneheartneverfade]

When will you go to the philippines sir? I will join

[@LukaSterbic]

Standing by on one-six

[@markhinkle2451]

Contract your local amateur radio club they can tell you how to test and can probably test it for you. They can tell you frequency and signal strength.

[@harambeexpress]

No it's illegal to activate safety beacons when not in an emergency in most countries... The radio club would tell you that too.

[@hbzeke]

Can’t you just ask the coast guard how you can test the nautilus?

[@Chinesefoodrocks1521]

I was thinking this. I’m sure they’d be happy to help.

[@Rich-fg9vj]

Just don't refer to an SMB as a safety sausage to a female customer. It may cause laughter beyond the ability to breathe. She became my wife.... True story! LOL

[@valise1794]

Big hands omg

[@geemac44]

As usual James, highly informative for newbies and you reinforce the importance carrying appropriate safety gear. How many times have you or someone doing the predive check, asked for everyone to hold up their SMB and finger spool, only to have a few scrambling through their kit to find their SMB and finger spool🤷‍♂️then further blank looks and/or scrambling when asked to show their whistle🤦‍♂️Have a fun dive trip with the 21 diving adventurers👌Safe bottom and surface time to all🤙🤿

[@Wei-Lun]

The waterproof case of Nautilus Lifeline GPS is very flimsy

[@Chogogo717]

What about putting it in a Light Monkey PLB canister? It’s good for 150m. There are a few other high end manufactures out there that make canisters that can survive a deep dive.

@@Chogogo717that Light Monkey one is crazy expensive. I’d go Custom Divers all the way, even though it is also pretty expensive…