While diving is considered a very safe sport, safer than golf or horseback riding, there is some risk. You might not bring the following 11 scuba tools on every dive, however, in certain conditions, it would be wise to bring them.

1. Get yourself a Nautilus Lifeline

Open oceans, cold water, rough seas and strong currents are conditions that many divers love. A diver in these circumstances surfacing far away from the dive boat is at the mercy of the dive crew to spot them. It can happen the crew is not able to see and find the buddy team or group, and a search needs to be organized, often calling all boats and the coast guard for help.


Also read: What to do if you’re left behind in open water?

The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is an emergency system of communications between ships. In 2009, GMDSS made some modifications including the addition of Maritime Digital Selective Calling using VHF radio and GPS capabilities. Since then waterproof and depth proof versions are available for divers.

The Nautilus Lifeline is one of these devices; it allows divers when reaching the surface to call their dive boat to let them know they are safe and on the surface ready to be picked up.

The Nautilus Lifeline has three modes: Green, orange, and red. The green mode operates as a standard VHF radio you select the channel you want to use, and you can talk to others on your let’s such as the dive boat or other lifeline users.

The yellow button broadcasts on the VHF emergency channel, and the red sends an emergency message with your GPS location which can be picked up by VHF radio in the area.

2. Bring a line reel

The line reel is a required item for when you explore and penetrate sunken ship wrecks and cavern dives, however, it can be used in other situations too.

If you took a search and recovery specialty, you can see how it would be helpful when making a search pattern. One way that this can be used as a safety device is to locate your descent and ascent line in poor visibility.

As an example, let’s say you are diving a wreck with no mooring line. The dive boat drops anchor about 10 meters from the wreck, however, as you start down to the wreck you can tell that the visibility will make seeing the down line from the wreck difficult.

When you reach the depth, you attach the reel line to the down line and head to the wreck. Securing the reel to the wreck gives you a reference point and a way back to the down line.

3. Learn how to use your dive computer

Get to know your dive computer and it’s many functions. Your computer will warn you and will keep you up to date regarding all need to know info during a dive.

You’ll need to know how to take action to remain safe. Only reading through the computers instruction manual and testing out the features before going on a dive should be enough to get yourself acquainted with it.

4. Don’t go out without a snorkel

The use of a snorkel is pushed on us in the open water course as a safety device on the surface in case of waves or long swims. However, in some situations such as wreck diving, they are a safety hazard. Whether you take one should depend on your dive profile.

5. Learn how to use a DSMB

DSMB stands for delayed surface marker buoy and is commonly called a safety sausage because it’s essentially a long balloon in the shape of a sausage. The primary difference between an SMB and a DSMB is that the DSMB is designed to be filled underwater and released to the surface attached to a line.

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This article is published by The Scuba Page, the online magazine for Scuba Dive lovers around the world. The Scuba Page is part of RUSHKULT : the online booking platform for adventure sports. Visit the RUSHKULT platform to book your next Scuba Dive training, guided trip and accommodation.


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