Imagine surfacing from a pleasant scuba dive only to discover that your dive boat is nowhere to be seen. This may seem like an unlikely scenario but it is surprising how often this actually happens. If you don't have an emergency signaling device then you could be in serious trouble.

When I was employed as a diving instructor around the Egyptian region of the Red Sea it was my responsibility to take groups out in a RIB so that it was easier to get to some outstanding dive sites. Due to the ongoing issue of surface currents we had a well practiced drill that friends joked made my dives look like a team of navy seals going out on a mission (no idea what that looks like personally). Each diver would be in their full kit ready to enter the water and the main boat would tow the RIB to the spot of choice for that day, divers were told that when I signaled that was the moment to roll back off the RIB. Being experienced in these waters I knew the environment very well and because of this I always had an emergency signaling device with me.

You know that once below the waves and you go into that trance that you leave the normal day to day world behind you. All attention moves to the wildlife below in the crystal blue waters as a thousand different species look on with probably the same wonder we look at them. As all divers are aware time just evaporates when you are in that watery deep and in no time at all it is always time to rise above and meet the RIB so we can get back to the Dive boat.

One dive sticks out in my mind where we came to the surface behind the RIB and it was obvious very quickly that the driver was not looking in our direction. There was a fairly strong surface current which was faster then normal and the November winds were along with the weather starting to create some cresting waves, even though all of this did not exactly go in our favor I was certain that Ahmo would eventually spot us. Even though he looked in our direction more than once he still couldn't see us as we would have expected that he would.

By now I realized that we could soon be in serious trouble. I had three French and two Swedish divers and was responsible for their safety. Fortunately I had got into the habit of carrying a surface signaling device with me for just such situations. Once it was hoisted well above our heads, the yellow flag fluttering loudly in the wind, it was just a matter of waiting. The boat grew smaller and smaller as we drifted further and further away. I began to wonder if we would lose sight of the RIB but then I heard the engine revving and it turned towards us at speed. It turns out that Ahmo couldn't see our heads above the choppy surface but my dive flag was immediately noticeable. Actually even if you lose sight of an inflatable, if you have something like a telescopic flag (preferably a yellow flag) you can be seen up to 3 kilometers away. So they can see you even if you cant see them.

It was some time ago that this actually happened and the dive flag I had with me that day was a homemade attempt that consisted of a plastic tubing and some bungee cord. I have to say that it was very primitive and always fell off my tank, but at the time there was no alternative.

Ensuring that you have the right scuba safety equipment can not only help you remain safe but also help to keep you alive should you find yourself in a situation that requires it. The number of divers participating in the sport is growing every year and the number that go missing is also on the increase. Don't be at risk get the right kit.