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There are many different styles and sizes of diving knives and you should select the knife most appropriate for the diving you do (figure 2-44). For example, an underwater hunter might want a knife with a thin, sharp blade, while a wreck diver might want a heavy knife with a blunt tip for prying and pounding. All dive knives should be kept sharp and have their blades coated with a thin layer of oil when they are not in use. Even stainless-steel knives can rust if they are not properly maintained. Keep your dive knife in its sheath when it is not in use. Sheaths are usually made from plastic and can be mounted in different places including: • On the inside of your calf. • On the back of your instrument console. • On your BC pocket or shoulder strap. How and where you mount your knife depends on the design of the sheath, the size of the knife, and your individual preference. Gear Bags You need a gear bag to transport your gear to and from the dive site and keep it safe, clean, and out of the way at the site. Without a gear bag, it is difficult to handle your equipment and easy to drop delicate gear. On a charter dive boat, it is easy to lose your gear or have your gear accidentally picked up by other divers unless you have a bag to keep it in. You can use almost any heavy-duty nylon or canvas Chapter 2- Diving Equipment bag as a gear bag. Nylon is usually better because it does not rot or mildew as easily as canvas. Mesh bags or panels help any wet gear in the bag to dry. You should mark all your gear with some personal mark, and your bag with your name, address, and telephone number so it can easily be identified in case you accidentally leave it on a dive boat. Special gear bags are available at dive shops. These bags are the easiest to use for diving because they usually have special compartments for fins, regulators, and instruments. Many of the bags are padded for airline travel and even have wheels so they roll through airports or on wharves. Some of the bags have special dry compartments for your logbook, clothing, and other items you do not want to get wet. Dive Flags and Floats When you are diving, it is almost impossible for a boat or jet ski moving at high speeds to see your bubbles or for their operators to know you are in the area. To avoid an accident, you should use a special diver-down flag to let others know you are under water. The United States dive flag is a red flag with a white diagonal stripe running from the upper-inner corner to the lower-outer (fly) corner of the flag (figure 2-45). This flag must be flown from your surface support station or boat any time you have scuba divers in the area. Many states require, by law, that this flag be flown when divers are in the water. It is your obligation to stay within a set distance of the flag (no more than 30 Diving Equipment 43 FIGURE 2-44. SELECT THE KNIFE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THE DIVING YOU USUALLY DO. FIGURE 2-45. ALWAYS HAVE A DIVE FLAG FLYING WHEN DIVERS ARE IN THE WATER.


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