OK my turn.  There have been countless national news stories and interviews about the couple left in Australian open water for 16 hours.  There are 2 sides to the story, the couples’ and the dive operators’, and as we know the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.  This is not about who is right or wrong, but what steps you can do as a diver or snorkeler to help save yourself and/or your buddy.

First, try and ditch your weights to stay neutrally buoyant.  

• Take a deep breath and try to relax
• Keep your regulator or snorkel in your mouth
• Keep your BCD or snorkel vest inflated
• Keep your mask and fins on
• Use any safety you have
• Take another deep breath 

Let’s look as some safety equipment that might have made a difference.  According to the stories the couple had a 6-foot safety sausage and a whistle. What else could have made a difference?  First a small flashlight could have illuminated the sausage at night.  A Dive Alert Signaling Device attached to your BCD can be heard for up to a mile.  A DAN Tag with your personnel information and a signaling mirror or maybe a chemical lightstick, to get the attention of the helicopter above. 

I am sure you might have another safety device or suggestions to share with our readers.  Let us know.  As divers, snorkelers or swimmers we look out for each other.