Even if you are diving on the clearest of days and the calmest of sea it is possible to rise to the surface and discover that you can not see your boat. Even though this would be a situation that could have been avoided it happens and actually a lot more often than people think that it happens. During these situations it is advisable to have an surface signaling device with you or you may not be in a good position to be seen.
A few years ago I was employed by a dive school in the Egyptian Red Sea region and it was my task to take out groups of divers on a RIB to get access to some of the stunning dive sites that are in the area. There are some evil surface currents in that area and I had a well oiled routine for getting my divers off the RIB and into the water. Everyone would get onto the RIB and the Dive Boat would take us to the area we wanted to dive where on a pre arranged signal all the divers would roll off the RIB into the sea. I had a lot of experience in these waters and for this very reason I always had a surface signaling device with me.
You know that once below the waves and you go into that trance that you leave the normal day to day world behind you. All attention moves to the wildlife below in the crystal blue waters as a thousand different species look on with probably the same wonder we look at them. As all divers are aware time just evaporates when you are in that watery deep and in no time at all it is always time to rise above and meet the RIB so we can get back to the Dive boat.
On one occasion we surfaced a short distance behind the RIB as the driver was intently looking in the other direction for us. The surface current was running surprisingly fast and even as we called out and whistled to gain the drivers attention we began to drift away. It was typical November Red Sea weather and the strong wind added speed to our drift whilst whipping up the surface into small cresting waves. Even so I fully expected that when Ahmo eventually turned in our direction he would spot us. Suffice to say he didn’t. I couldn’t believe it. He briefly cast a glance around a full three hundred and sixty degrees before going back to intently concentrating his gaze on the spot where he expected us to surface.
By now I realized that we could soon be in serious trouble. I had three French and two Swedish divers and was responsible for their safety. Fortunately I had got into the habit of carrying a surface signaling device with me for just such situations. Once it was hoisted well above our heads, the yellow flag fluttering loudly in the wind, it was just a matter of waiting. The boat grew smaller and smaller as we drifted further and further away. I began to wonder if we would lose sight of the RIB but then I heard the engine revving and it turned towards us at speed. It turns out that Ahmo couldn’t see our heads above the choppy surface but my dive flag was immediately noticeable. Actually even if you lose sight of an inflatable, if you have something like a telescopic flag (preferably a yellow flag) you can be seen up to 3 kilometers away. So they can see you even if you cant see them.
It was some time ago that this actually happened and the surface signaling device I had with me that day was a homemade attempt that consisted of a plastic tubing and some bungee cord. I have to say that it was very primitive and always fell off my tank, but at the time there was no alternative.
Having the appropriate safety equipment can be crucial when things start to go wrong. As a result of the repeated instances of divers going missing, some never to be found, a dive flag is now a compulsory bit of kit for every scuba diver using the Red Sea Maine Reserve.
About the Author:
There is a new revolutionary dive flag available that has been advised by the writer of this article PADI Dive Master Will Kerfoot.
Don’t be at risk get the right kit
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