Own a dive float? You may want to make sure your name and contact information are on it, just to be on the safe side.
Case in point: A diver in Hawaii lost his dive float late last week, but he made it back to shore without a problem.
A U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat, however, found the float adrift while doing routine training in Maalea Bay last Friday and wound up conducting a search.
The diver apparently saw his gear broadcasted on the local news and was able to retrieve it from Coast Guard Station Maui, according to a Coast Guard statement:
“The Coast Guard advises the public to label all watercraft and equipment with contact information in order to quickly account for owners and prevent any unnecessary searches.
“Through the Operation Paddle Smart program, the Coast Guard offers a free ‘If Found’ decal to be placed in a visible location on watercraft. The information on the sticker can allow response entities to quickly identify the vessel’s owner and aid in search and rescue planners in determining the best course of action.”
If divers want to be more creative, there are options.
Earlier this year, St. Pete Beach, Forida-based Diver-ID.com introduced its own underwater dive decal. As DeeperBlue.com reported in January:
“Enter the Diver-ID, a highly adhesive, highly reflective, highly visible, hand-crafted vinyl decal which can be customized with any message the diver desires. These dual layered vinyl decals apply easily and adhere well in marine environments, having been designed to last at least until a scuba tank’s need for their required hydrostatic testing every five years.”
