View Full Version : Strobes what are they for
Dou you use your strobe on night dive underwater or do you use it for location on the surface?
I use them for every dive, that's if I remember to turn it on:D I find they are best during night dives particularly on the surface. I also have a small strobe that emits a red light which fits on to my mask. It gets annoying at times though apparently it is easier to see on any dive.
no hard or fast rules about them, they are simply for identifying a divers position above or below the water.
some wear them on their cylinders, chest of jacket, mask (new one on me, but if it works!).
i wear mine on my shoulder, strobe light facing behind me, it has a torch on the other end which i can use a a back up.
the strobe can be seen by divers :) if im in the water or helicopters :eek: if im on the surface, most importantly, it does not annoy me as its in my blind spot.
batteries; now thats another story!
dive granny
09-08-06, 18:38
I use mine too when I remember to switch it on. I like anything that makes me visable, like my luminous pink, purple and green suit.:) :)
Do u remember the last time u dived with someone on a night dive and they were using a strobe. I do It drove me mad, this flash all the time it killed my night vision and probably scared every creature and fish for 20m :mad:
Yup, that's the downside:( Stewart, the red strobe is small enough to clip onto the mask strap, I have worn it on my right hand side, gets annoying like I said, however it can be attached to the strap behind my head which makes it easier for my buddies to see and on the surface. I often see divers strap strobes to their ankles, maybe OK for those divers trailing behind, though not much cop on the surface.
ahem ... there's something you should all know. Ding has a thing about strobes ...
although i partly share it. Sometimes on a night dive it is cool to switch off all lights and let your eyes accustom. Especially if you want to play with any phosphorescence. Doesn't work if someone has a strobe ...
I used to use one, but stopped eventually 'cos I got fed up with the dingmeister nagging me to switch it off. Never missed it.
... anyway, if I have some sort of coniption on a night dive and sink lifeless to the seabed, you'll be able to find me by the light cannon ;)
ahem ... there's something you should all know. Ding has a thing about strobes ...
although i partly share it. Sometimes on a night dive it is cool to switch off all lights and let your eyes accustom. Especially if you want to play with any phosphorescence. Doesn't work if someone has a strobe ...
I used to use one, but stopped eventually 'cos I got fed up with the dingmeister nagging me to switch it off. Never missed it.
... anyway, if I have some sort of coniption on a night dive and sink lifeless to the seabed, you'll be able to find me by the light cannon ;)
If u diss on a night dive we will find u in the pub!!!!!
i do carry a strobe, but i dont use it unless seperated.
bleeding things are annoying.
how about a third option: "I don't have a strobe"
which is true in my case as I never replaced it when it flooded 2 years ago ...
Think u shoud get another one ---- good piece of safety kit ;)
craigdiver
14-08-06, 12:06
In my opinion...
Safety kit - yes on the surface in low light levels - great idea.
On a dive - pain in the ass - might as well shine your torch in my eyes every 20 seconds!
CraigDiver
Lizardland
14-08-06, 13:43
I hate them underwater, especially at night!!! They really wind me up :)
One thing I do like them for is marking a shot line, it's quite nice to see the flash when the vis is rubbish or the wreck is complicated.
I always figured my torch would be better to signal with in an emergency on the surface, it must be as bright as a strobe (18W HID) and lasts 9hrs.
Each to their own though. They do make a good signal device.
I have my strobe on my shoulder I reconed all I would use it for was to attract attension so if I was floating out at sea it would be seen from all directions. If I'm doing a deep wreck like lizardland I leave it 5m above the wreck to locate the shot line. ;)
how about a third option: "I don't have a strobe"
Yeah, I come in to this catergory. Need to get my finger out and buy one....
You guys ever used Glowsticks on a night dive? They work well....
You know the sort, the ones that you used to use at the last Rez gathering!
gogs
You guys ever used Glowsticks on a night dive? They work well....
You know the sort, the ones that you used to use at the last Rez gathering!
i generally cary one in my pocket, just in case every torch fails.
never happened, but always good to have.
i have a few hi-intensity ones which last for 30 minutes.
handy to pass to a buddy who forgot their torch, keeps them out of your face a little:rolleyes:
Lizardland
15-08-06, 00:46
You need to be careful with glowsticks. Once they are out the packet they start to age, older ones won't light properly.
I always wanted those big underwater flares that Jacques Cousteau used in his documentaries.
You need to be careful with glowsticks. Once they are out the packet they start to age, older ones won't light properly.
I always wanted those big underwater flares that Jacques Cousteau used in his documentaries.
What u want is a thermic lance nice and bright and cuts out portholes :eek:
What u want is a thermic lance nice and bright and cuts out portholes :eek:
Reminds me of an previous Eastwood member who built a lance in his workshop.... we were cutting 1 inch steel like butter. Pity his air consumption was about 500 litres/min :eek:
We had a plan to go into the Wallachia horizontally!
Hey Gord we need another option in the poll.
A strobe should only be used in a disco.
Ding owns that poll ... although he seems set on his 2 lousy options. How about, I have a strobe but i only use it __________
fill in the blank
bubblemaker
21-08-06, 10:41
i have a strobe.. i think it's somewhere at the bottom of my dive box... never really use it.. sometimes on night dives, or wrecks i don't know i'll attach it to my pony, but very rarely turn it on...
there is one member of our club though, who uses his all the time.
when we were diving at the Garvellachs (i think) my buddy and me were at about 38m..our esteemed diving officer was somewhere above us with his strobe on...i just happened to look up and saw his wee flasshing light and thought to myself.. hmm there's a plane... i wonder where they're off to...it seems that strobes and narcosis lead to very stupid thoughts...
If the viz is that bad then the strobe has it place, most of the time when mine is used Is when I put it on the line to mark the return point on a wreck dive. I tend to use a glo-tube, when its not flooded, or a chemical light.