daz(Offline)

What is the DIR stance on strobes?

Daz

JohnKendall(Offline)

Well Personally I quite like them in nightclubs, particularly when the DJ is playing house music.

J

Bob Cooper(Offline)

Strobes can have their uses. When attached to a shotline about 5-10m above the wreck (depending on vis), they can be used to reference the shotline on those occasions when you *must* return to the shot (when using a station or a lazy shot for example).

Notice I said "reference" the shot, not "find the shot".

If you swim or scooter away from the shot and are not 100% sure you can navigate the wreck, it's often useful to turn around 180 degrees and swim/scooter back the way you came. If you see a string of strobes blinking at you, you know the exact location of the shot. This can give some added confidence on these dives.

Strobes attached to divers (which people tend to do in UK) are a PITA and serve no useful purpose.

I don't agree with the use of strobes in nightclubs when the DJ is playing house. Strobes should only ne used in conjunction with Hip-Hop/Rap.

;-)

Bob

Phil O(Offline)

John into House ...Bob into Hip Hop/Rap???

I'm learning so much tonight.

Personally, I believe the strobe may induce epeleptic episodes so firmly believe that nightclubs should stick to the Mecca type mirror ball for lighting ... and the music should of course be Northern Soul with none of that funk shite

__________________
Phil

GLOC (Online)

And there was me thinking you lot were talking about camera strobes, doh!

Gareth

mstroeck(Offline)

Well, I misread the title as "******s", expecting one very ugly thread as I clicked it...

ericfine50 (Online)

I have one of the firefly strobes. Keep it in my gear bag, have only dove with it once or twice. But, I see the need for it to reference the down line in crappy viz.

clarktenk(Offline)

I just picked one up and thought it might come in handy one day when open ocean diving in the event the unthinkable happens and I get lost at sea. I can't really see this happening to me off hand but I can't really see myself having 2 succesive light failures either and I still carry 2 backups just in case murphy is ever really messing with me.

So I slapped a clip on the strobe ad figure I'll throw it in the old pocket next time I am open ocean diving. Other than that it will probably take up residence in the old gear bag.

Clare Gledhill(Offline)

OK!

I'll own up - I went diving with Daz yesterday and he managed to attach a stobe on the last dive to the back of my twins which then flashed merrily all the way round the dive - without me spotting it.

Thanks Daz... I suppose it is OK to look like a Christmas tree in December after all :D

Apart from that we had a good day out, I had a good play with swapping stages, laying line and such like.

At one point, Daz swam down into the cabin, and as I prepared to follow him (an incredible squish with two stages) I got knocked flat by an open water diver swimming over the top. I looked up and his buddy was clearly intent on following him. I made a clear and simple guesture which indicated that this may not be a wise move on his part and he, wisely, altered his course!

I bought a new xerotherm arctic and gave Daz a really good laugh when I couldn't sink - but hey, it's warm. Shutdowns wearing this and the DUI 400 were interesting but just about achieveable.

So, a good day out - although Daz has clearly thrown down the gauntlet for the next time we dive.

__________________

Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk

ellisn(Offline)

I take a strobe in my pocket if there is a risk of being 'lost at sea', would only use on the surface to aid being found by rescue services. Never been used so far.... touch wood

Neil