Text message tool while diving

PCDiver · 8th October 2007, 06:03

Quote: (Originally Posted by decoweenie)

I was thinking about something to pass the time during long deco. I am tired of listening to music and stealing dive gears...

On one of our local training dives I managed to snatch one SMB, one reel and car keys ... all of the same OC guy. I was considering going for his doubles but he probably would have noticed that.

kieranu · 8th October 2007, 06:09

Might be a useful tool if relatively inexpensive, but I'm guessing it won't be. The website indicates that it has built-in decompression so if its priced competitively (e.g similar to the Oceanic VR3 / Suunto D9) and doesn't implode at 30m may be pretty good. Potential drawback is it appears that messages need to be preset and can't be created underwater.

Edit: so far as I can see their website doesn't even work in Firefox, which is pretty poor

Ben Field · 8th October 2007, 07:44

Forget the texting rubbish, if the SOS and Finder teatures worked I'd want one.

grandizer52 · 8th October 2007, 09:03

get a water proof case for your blackberry or sidekick, and you got it covered

**PhilSiswick** · 8th October 2007, 09:05

If it wants to achieve its primary objective of preventing deaths and injuries by allowing divers to communicate with the surface when they get into distress, it needs the diving equivalent of a dead-mans handle.

Its a great idea, but having to select a message to send on a separate device while I'm dealing with an emergency isn't high on my list of priorities.

Cheers,

decoweenie · 8th October 2007, 09:10

Quote: (Originally Posted by grandizer52)

get a water proof case for your blackberry or sidekick, and you got it covered

How deep does YOUR blackberry work underwater ?

decoweenie · 8th October 2007, 09:19

Quote: (Originally Posted by PhilSiswick)

...it needs the diving equivalent of a dead-mans handle.

I think we all interpret the intended usage of something like this differently.

However, I don't believe it was meant as a "save-me! I have a freeflow and don't know how to handle it" device, but more of a communication device to send message like (please bear with my simple wordy examples):

I had a free-flow and lost 1/2 of my 50% before I stopped it, please send gas.
I surfaced behind the boat and got caught in the current. Now I am about 1km down current and could barely the boat.
I lost my buddy when we ascend and have dropped both DSMB's, but I am going up the anchor line so be on the look out for my buddy

That's my idea...

plus the usual text messing around with your buddies on deco.

**PhilSiswick** · 8th October 2007, 09:27

Quote: (Originally Posted by decoweenie)

I think we all interpret the intended usage of something like this differently.

However, I don't believe it was meant as a "save-me! I have a freeflow and don't know how to handle it" device, but more of a communication device to send message like (please bear with my simple wordy examples):

I had a free-flow and lost 1/2 of my 50% before I stopped it, please send gas.
I surfaced behind the boat and got caught in the current. Now I am about 1km down current and could barely the boat.
I lost my buddy when we ascend and have dropped both DSMB's, but I am going up the anchor line so be on the look out for my buddy

That's my idea...

plus the usual text messing around with your buddies on deco.

Agree and I think your examples are the most likely uses are the ones you describe. The expectations set by the following led me to my comments:

While it would be an over-simplification to say that the victims’ lives may have been saved if their distress had been noticed and responded to more quickly, it is an incontrovertible fact that safety issues are a paramount concern for any diver. The capability to contact a fellow diver or the surface ship when something goes wrong, within seconds, may literally make the difference between life and death.

Cheers,

Scubascooby · 8th October 2007, 10:18

My idea was much simpler. An audio and ultrasound morse-code sender. Ok you can't send long messages but useful for those awkward words that can't be done with dive signals. The device would be really simple.

The other thought was learn alphabetic sign language:

BSL / British Sign Language finger spelling alphabet tutorial.

I used to know a deaf diver and still know most of the symbols.

lizardland · 8th October 2007, 10:33

Quote: (Originally Posted by Scubascooby)

My idea was much simpler. An audio and ultrasound morse-code sender. Ok you can't send long messages but useful for those awkward words that can't be done with dive signals. The device would be really simple.

There are pretty decent acoustic modems available and quite small. I can't remember the exact figures but i remember looking at them at Oceanology in 2002 and thinking it was better than the dialup modem I was using at home. I'm sure 5 years down the line that they are a lot smaller and a lot faster now.

Cheers,

Stuart

8th October 2007, 06:03	#11 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 972	Re: Text message tool while diving Quote: (Originally Posted by decoweenie) I was thinking about something to pass the time during long deco. I am tired of listening to music and stealing dive gears... On one of our local training dives I managed to snatch one SMB, one reel and car keys ... all of the same OC guy. I was considering going for his doubles but he probably would have noticed that.
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8th October 2007, 06:09	#12 (permalink)
kieranu Apprentice Meg Pilot Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: WA, Australia Posts: 235	Re: Text message tool while diving Might be a useful tool if relatively inexpensive, but I'm guessing it won't be. The website indicates that it has built-in decompression so if its priced competitively (e.g similar to the Oceanic VR3 / Suunto D9) and doesn't implode at 30m may be pretty good. Potential drawback is it appears that messages need to be preset and can't be created underwater. Edit: so far as I can see their website doesn't even work in Firefox, which is pretty poor Last edited by kieranu : 8th October 2007 at 06:20.
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8th October 2007, 07:44	#13 (permalink)
Ben Field CK+Shearwater Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, England Posts: 1,621	Re: Text message tool while diving Forget the texting rubbish, if the SOS and Finder teatures worked I'd want one. __________________ Know your PPO2, Pre-breath, Use checklists, Validate cells at 6mtrs, Use pure O2 at or near surface, Use a BOV, Don't dive Solo, Change Slime and Cells as recommended by Manufacturer and RTFM! Beware Fridge Suck! www.hugsac.org.uk
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8th October 2007, 09:03	#14 (permalink)
grandizer52 Sport Kiss & Shearwater Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Sport Kiss Classic Kiss MK 15.X Other CCR Home Build Join Date: May 2006 Location: pearl city hawaii EARTH moving to Iscandar Posts: 254	Re: Text message tool while diving get a water proof case for your blackberry or sidekick, and you got it covered
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8th October 2007, 09:05	#15 (permalink)
PhilSiswick Phil Siswick, Tango Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 996	Re: Text message tool while diving If it wants to achieve its primary objective of preventing deaths and injuries by allowing divers to communicate with the surface when they get into distress, it needs the diving equivalent of a dead-mans handle. Its a great idea, but having to select a message to send on a separate device while I'm dealing with an emergency isn't high on my list of priorities. Cheers, __________________ Phil (WSKD 0001) I have always felt that the dive I am on is not nearly important as the dives I plan to be on the rest of my life. Tom Rose, 2007 The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure thing boat never gets far from shore. Charles A. Lindbergh www.hugsac.org.uk
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8th October 2007, 09:10	#16 (permalink)
decoweenie Crash Test Dummy Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cairo Posts: 5,487	Re: Text message tool while diving Quote: (Originally Posted by grandizer52) get a water proof case for your blackberry or sidekick, and you got it covered How deep does YOUR blackberry work underwater ?
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8th October 2007, 09:19	#17 (permalink)
decoweenie Crash Test Dummy Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cairo Posts: 5,487	Re: Text message tool while diving Quote: (Originally Posted by PhilSiswick) ...it needs the diving equivalent of a dead-mans handle. I think we all interpret the intended usage of something like this differently. However, I don't believe it was meant as a "save-me! I have a freeflow and don't know how to handle it" device, but more of a communication device to send message like (please bear with my simple wordy examples): I had a free-flow and lost 1/2 of my 50% before I stopped it, please send gas. I surfaced behind the boat and got caught in the current. Now I am about 1km down current and could barely the boat. I lost my buddy when we ascend and have dropped both DSMB's, but I am going up the anchor line so be on the look out for my buddy That's my idea... plus the usual text messing around with your buddies on deco.
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8th October 2007, 09:27	#18 (permalink)
PhilSiswick Phil Siswick, Tango Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 996	Re: Text message tool while diving Quote: (Originally Posted by decoweenie) I think we all interpret the intended usage of something like this differently. However, I don't believe it was meant as a "save-me! I have a freeflow and don't know how to handle it" device, but more of a communication device to send message like (please bear with my simple wordy examples): I had a free-flow and lost 1/2 of my 50% before I stopped it, please send gas. I surfaced behind the boat and got caught in the current. Now I am about 1km down current and could barely the boat. I lost my buddy when we ascend and have dropped both DSMB's, but I am going up the anchor line so be on the look out for my buddy That's my idea... plus the usual text messing around with your buddies on deco. Agree and I think your examples are the most likely uses are the ones you describe. The expectations set by the following led me to my comments: While it would be an over-simplification to say that the victims’ lives may have been saved if their distress had been noticed and responded to more quickly, it is an incontrovertible fact that safety issues are a paramount concern for any diver. The capability to contact a fellow diver or the surface ship when something goes wrong, within seconds, may literally make the difference between life and death. Cheers, __________________ Phil (WSKD 0001) I have always felt that the dive I am on is not nearly important as the dives I plan to be on the rest of my life. Tom Rose, 2007 The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure thing boat never gets far from shore. Charles A. Lindbergh www.hugsac.org.uk
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8th October 2007, 10:18	#19 (permalink)
Scubascooby Better Off Out of the EU Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Great Britain Posts: 387	Re: Text message tool while diving My idea was much simpler. An audio and ultrasound morse-code sender. Ok you can't send long messages but useful for those awkward words that can't be done with dive signals. The device would be really simple. The other thought was learn alphabetic sign language: BSL / British Sign Language finger spelling alphabet tutorial. I used to know a deaf diver and still know most of the symbols. __________________ "dove" is NOT the past tense of "dive" Better off OUT of the EU ! www.hugsac.org.uk
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8th October 2007, 10:33	#20 (permalink)
lizardland Yak Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North... Posts: 1,304	Re: Text message tool while diving Quote: (Originally Posted by Scubascooby) My idea was much simpler. An audio and ultrasound morse-code sender. Ok you can't send long messages but useful for those awkward words that can't be done with dive signals. The device would be really simple. There are pretty decent acoustic modems available and quite small. I can't remember the exact figures but i remember looking at them at Oceanology in 2002 and thinking it was better than the dialup modem I was using at home. I'm sure 5 years down the line that they are a lot smaller and a lot faster now. Cheers, Stuart __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk Azerbaijani Association of Technical Divers Publicity Officer and Goat Wrangler
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