5 Devices To Add Safety & Fun To Scuba Diving

Standard scuba diving equipments like mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, regulator, tanks and wet/dry suit can be yours or rented ones. BUT there are a few non-standard equipments or devices that could and will add more value to your safety and fun when you carry one of them.

These devices, generally, will not be readily available for rental at most dive centres, dive resorts or liveabords.

Here are 5 devices that you can buy and carry around with you. They are small, lightweight and compact. So, they wont take much space of your bag or BCD pockets or pouches.

1. Surface Marker Buoy (aka Safety Float or Tube or Balloon)

SMB, as the name suggest, is use on the surface as an indicator/marker to send signal to dive boats, or rather the boatman/captain, that you are back at the surface and need picking up.

SMB can also be used as a marker to pinpoint location of divers so that a dive boat can follow them especially in places where big waves or strong current is constantly present.

2. Dive Alert/Horn (underwater & surface)

It’s a small and compact device that you attach directly in between the power inflator and the Low Pressure inflator hose of your regulator.

Dive alert or dive horn comes in different design. Some are designed to function underwater and some for surface use only. There are also 2-in-1 dive alert/dive horns.

This air pressure activated device, although small in size, will massively help divers in emergency situations. Dive horn is one of the most favourite signalling devices among many divers due to the powerful sound it produces. Some of this device can be heard a kilometre away or even more.

3. Dive Light (aka dive lamp, torch light)

Many divers carry diving lights on every dive and, oh ya, of course during night dive excursions.

Dive lights come in different designs, sizes, materials and colours. No matter what, for the sake of this article, we are concentrating on those compact but bright, lightweight and easy to go into your BCD pockets or pouches.

This type of dive lights can be for normal use during the dive and the most important part is as a signalling device – underwater as well as on the surface.

Underwater: to get other divers attention especially in a low visibility or dark water – in cases where you got separated from the group.

Surface: to send signal to the boat once you are back on the surface. In the worse case scenario, a dive light is vital to send signal to any boats if you have been drifted away and you need to get rescued.

4. Dive Knife

A dive knife should be used as a tool and NOT intended to be used as a weapon. You’ve learnt this during you Open Water Diver course. But anyway; that’s common sense.

Again, dive knives come in various sizes, colours and materials. Get a knife that is compact and easy to mount onto your BCD or regulator hoses. Some divers prefer a strap-on knife where they strap the knife sheath on the inside of the lower leg or thigh. It’s your choice.

Divers need knife to cut fishing lines or nets and to saw if necessary. So choose one with a sharp, serrated edge.

5. Dive Pointer: Stainless Steel

This kind of accessory is not common (for sale) in any dive shops so the only way to get hold of one is to get it custom made just for you. There is another type of pointer, which is the battery-activated laser pointer, but its use is limited to pointing things out only.

A simple diving pointer is usually made of a stainless steel rod, about a foot long – depending on your preferences. You can drill a hole or make a ring-like at one end so that you can attach a retainer for your wrist or BCD.

A dive pointer is used to point out underwater creatures or as an underwater signalling device to get other diver’s attention. You should NEVER use your dive pointer to poke any fish or coral or even other divers – NEVER!

Dive pointer is rated as the cheapest piece of underwater signalling device. And reliable too. It is hard to find a Divemaster/dive guide without dive pointer nowadays. It’s not a written rule but they just “can’t” dive without one.

A word of CAUTION: there are dive shops/centres or resorts that BANNED the use of diving pointers when diving with them. Just be considerate if you are not permitted to dive with your dive pointer in any of those “affected” areas.

There are many divers out there who are taking it for granted when it comes to these small but effective signalling devices. They are depending too much on their dive guides or Divemasters/Instructors to provide and look after their safety while they carry on with their dives. Some are just plain ignorant about the importance of carrying at least one or more of these signalling devices.

Here is the fact, SOMETIMES or there will be time, things just DON’T go according to the plan! Anything can happen in the open sea or lake or river – where ever. The dive site you are diving at could suddenly turn “unfriendly” due to big waves, strong wind, strong current, bad visibility etc.

When you are caught in an emergency situation, a signalling device will come very handy. Most important of all is; these devices can help save your life.

These 5 recommended devices are the most commonly used by many dive guides or instructors. These people dive almost every day and had logged thousands of dives – the expert in the field of scuba diving. They know through experience that on one dive or another, carrying one of these signalling devices, will contribute to the safety of their diving and on top of that add more fun to diving.

Make your decision. They are cheap, small, lightweight and compact making them easy to carry around. Take time to add these devices to your diving equipment list. Or you can carry only these devices on your diving trips next time if you are planning to rent the rest of the standard gears. Remember to bring one (if possible more) of these devices on your next dive.

Related posts:

1. The Scuba Diving Roadmap: Explained
2. Scuba Diving FAQs: The Non-Divers’ Curiosities (Part-1)
3. Scuba Diving FAQs: The Non-Divers’ Curiosities (Part-4)