tank banger

[dallasdivergirl]

Signaling Devices, Tubes, Dive Alert

Check out this link. It shows the items being discussed

[chace_nicole]

I'm hearing waste of money & annoying. What is considered a 'good' signaling device. I am a pretty new diver that doesn't have a signaling device yet & want to make a good choice. Safety sausage? suggestions please.

[gibson1525]

i for one find the tank banger an essential piece of dive equipment. in fact i carry 2 on every dive if one breaks or if people start to ignore just one banger i can use both to get peoples attention.

they work extremely well as i've noticed that i can get divers to come over that were so far away i couldn't even see them. after they swim 200' to reach me they are always pleased to see the squirrel fish that i have discovered.

one diver was so impressed that he came over and cut one off my tank so that he could have one for himself. i didn't mind that much since i had a few extras on the boat for just such an occasion.

[dallasdivergirl]

Originally Posted by chace_nicole

I'm hearing waste of money & annoying. What is considered a 'good' signaling device. I am a pretty new diver that doesn't have a signaling device yet & want to make a good choice. Safety sausage? suggestions please.

The devices being discussed at the moment are underwater signaling. The safety sausage, mirror, whistle are for surface signaling for a boat or rescue.

I like having a simple d ring or snap to use for underwater signaling. You can unclip it from your bc and reach around and tap your tank. A knife can do the same thing. The underwater signaling is mostly for attracting your buddy's attention to show them something. It's not a necessary item.

[chace_nicole]

Originally Posted by dallasdivergirl

The devices being discussed at the moment are underwater signaling. The safety sausage, mirror, whistle are for surface signaling for a boat or rescue.

I like having a simple d ring or snap to use for underwater signaling. You can unclip it from your bc and reach around and tap your tank. A knife can do the same thing. The underwater signaling is mostly for attracting your buddy's attention to show them something. It's not a necessary item.

ahhh..thank you, I was confused

[diversteve]

Originally Posted by moosicman

what in the world is this.....???

If you want one, it's already attached to the butt end of your knife...

I think the sub-ducks are hysterical. A dive buddy has one - not too many things sound like that. Always gets me to look.

For some reason I'm oblivious to tank bangers. My regular buddy has one and several times he's told me he was banging away like crazy to get my attention without waving - didn't want to scare off the fish.

A DM in Cayman told us he carried a shiny Craftsman wrench as a tank banger. Till something took it from him mid-bang - he thinks it might've been a barracuda. Now he carries a dull steel pipe...

[BobbyWombat]

But chace's question is valid: what is a good way to signal your buddy?

I can think of a couple:

1. Wave (only works if you have a good buddy that checks on you. This only intermittently works for me)
2. Flashlight, wave it on the ground where your buddy is looking.
3. Caribiner suggestion....kinda like a tank banger I guess.

What else? How does a newbie get thier buddy's attention without annoying everyone in the ocean?

[gibson1525]

1-2 bangs fine a few times throughout the dive. 10 bangs every time you see a fish is just annoying and unnecessary.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by BobbyWombat

But chace's question is valid: what is a good way to signal your buddy?

I can think of a couple:

1. Wave (only works if you have a good buddy that checks on you. This only intermittently works for me)
2. Flashlight, wave it on the ground where your buddy is looking.
3. Caribiner suggestion....kinda like a tank banger I guess.

What else? How does a newbie get thier buddy's attention without annoying everyone in the ocean?

Stay close enough to your buddy to be able to get to them with a fin kick. Touch them to get their attention.

[Tableleg]

Originally Posted by gibson1525

they are always pleased to see the squirrel fish that i have discovered.

It's funny you bring up this experience. The one and only time I have ever found a squirrel fish, I could find anything to bang on my tank to get my buddy attention. Needless to say a tank banger went on my to-get list as I was telling everyone of my fish after the dive was over.