A lost diver is every captain's nightmare scenario. My diving often takes place in relatively shallow water, but with fair to strong currents and surface chop. this combination can make following bubbles difficult, and the diver's time underwater might vary anywhere from a few minutes, to nearly an hour.

One of my worst fears is that my diver(s) comes up after only a few minutes, but is well downcurrent and misses the boat. The guys in the boat don't know he is up, and continue to hold station around the marker buoy. All the while, the diver(s) drift further downcurrent.

Does anyone here carry a handheld vhf when they dive? The prices have come way down, to the point that even a gps/radio combination is reasonable. My primary concerns are:

1. What case / bag do you use to keep it waterproof at depth.
2. Personal experience (good or bad) with specific models
3. Clarify the distinction between the various "waterproof" ratings.

Any other constructive thoughts, either for or against carrying a radio, would be appreciated.

not sure of your standing on the other board but tony has all that stuff and describes it.

Thanks. I checked Tony's previous posts, but I was just curious if anyone else carries one.

Has anyone used one of these?
http://www.keepitdrycase.com/smalwatprofv.html

IF they really are watertight to the depth they claim (245'!), then they would make it easy to stuff a small handheld radio or EPIRB into a BC pocket, or attach it to a dive float, etc, without the need for a bulky and rigid hard case. The clear plastic would make it easy to see if a small amount of water was leaking into the bag. Though dry, the radio would still be sugjected to water pressure, so I don't know if that would be a problem. The simplicity is attractive, but at the same time leaves me skeptical.

Comments?

I am guessing that is a static 245' of pressure. When I first started diving, I had a watch rated to 100'. It leaked in 15' because of the dynamic pressure created when moving your arm around underwater.

I have been trying to figure out a way to carry a hand held as well, without being a nusance during diving. I don't think I would trust a plastic bag, right now I can not even get a flash light that won't flood. I have though about taking a D size flash light, pull the guts out and stick a radio and GPS in it and clip it to my BC. I thought I found the right light but, I got 2 and both flooded. I'm still thinking about going that route.