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#1600
 Save a Dive Kit
lerpy - 9/21/2011 1:46 PM
Category: Equipment
Replies: 7


Putting together a save a dive kit and looking for input from others based on what is in theirs, that little something that no one thinks of until it happens to them. I have the baiscs, couple of extra hoses, o rings, picks, lube, silicone, mask strap, zip ties, fin strap, extra mouth piece and a few tools.


As well I am thinking of getting one of those "dive multi-tool" that have the special tools for diving, any thoughts on those.
#8074
Rich-D-Fish - 9/21/2011 2:09 PM
The one item I use most often to save a dive, either for myself or a buddy, is a used Pressure & Depth gauge. I picked up a used one from my LDS when they were upgrading all their rental equipment for $40. It’s big and not pretty, but it always works! Most of the time if my computer battery dies I have a spare battery. But not always. And many a relieved divebuddy has been grateful that I had a spare for them to borrow. Hand tight works. Don’t even need tools.
#21214
LatitudeAdjustment - 9/24/2011 6:02 PM


Duct tape, glue, batteries in every size you use, a bike tube patch kit with glue, not the peel and stick for fixing fish hook holes in BC’s, wings or drysuit.


For those with intergrated 2nds, pack the original inflator in the save-a-dive. IF your 2nd fails a resort or liveaboard can probably rent/loan you a 2nd but then you will also be diving with a strange rented BC and have you seen those rental BC’s!


For international travelers, a copy of your passport main page! That won’t save the dive but it will make getting home easier.
#2788
meltonart - 9/27/2011 11:37 PM
If you dive a computer have a backup and analog pressure/depth gauge. I don’t have one currently but am adding to my gear/kit asap. I estimate about 90% of all the missed dives I’ve seen on boats have been related to computer problems.
#21214
LatitudeAdjustment - 9/28/2011 10:34 AM


From meltonart: If you dive a computer have a backup and analog pressure/depth gauge. I don’t have one currently but am adding to my gear/kit asap. I estimate about 90% of all the missed dives I’ve seen on boats have been related to computer problems.




 If you have a back up computer it needs to go with you on repetative dives, not sit in the save-a-dive kit. Both need to be using the same profile and both need to be set for the same % o2. Problem is I have had both die on the same dive :(


If you have a back up gauge you need to have the tables with you too and know how to use them!
#1600
Subscribed
lerpy - 9/30/2011 4:41 AM
I have thought about picking up an inexpensive computer as a back-up, not a bad idea. I do always carry tables and plan my dive with tables based on max depth/max time at depth just to be on the safe side that if my computer failed I would know how long I have to get out of the water.
#2245
MDW - 1/05/2012 8:20 AM
My save a dive kit for shore diving (rivers, lakes, quarries, caves) is to have an extra of everything. This is feasible for shore diving because it all fits in the bed of my truck. For example, if I plan to do a long dive on doubles in a dry suit, I will actually pack an extra set of tanks, regs, BP, wing, fins, and a wetsuit in the truck in addition to the usual backup mask, spare reel, and tools and parts that make up a traditional SAD kit. If I am planning to do 3 single tank dives in a day, I may take a fourth tank, extra suit, fins, etc. This has come in handy on several occasions when I decided to do an extra dive, discovered a tank drained in transit, ripped a seal on my suit, or when one of my buddies forgot some gear or needed an extra tank to do an additional dive with me.

As for boat dives, I like to set up separate sets of tanks for the 2 dives with separate wings and BP attached to each. I’ll usually just take 1 set of regs and move it from tank to tank between dives. This is mainly to reduce the work I need to do between dives (avoid seasickness), more than for the redundancy of the extra gear, but it does also allow me to use that extra stuff on both setups if something fails on one.

Now, when traveling, none of this is really feasible due to space and weight constraints, so my core SAD kit consists of an extra 2nd stage with an adapter to fit a LP inflater hose, and LP inflater hose (can be used as spare inflater or with spare 2nd stage), spare mask (prescription - can’t see without it), multi-tool, DAN card, tables, a few O-rings, extra SPG, deco tables (air, 32, 36 & 40), and some bungee.

I just got a new DR Nitek Trio, so my old Nitek Duo will now become a backup computer, which I will have set in gauge mode so I don’t have to wear it on all dives but can switch to it and tables if the Trio dies (replaces analog depth gauge in SAD kit). I may also choose to always take it on dives with me so I can whip it out mid-dive if the primary fails.
#205
smileyg - 5/20/2012 6:17 AM
Thanks for the copy of front page on passport, thought about most the other things but didn’t think about that possible tragedy.