Flares are most commonly associated with above-water emergency signaling purposes. But specialized flares are designed to ignite and burn bright even when submerged underwater.
These waterproof flares provide an important way for divers, submarines, or maritime vessels to signal distress and communicate needs even when completely submerged. Notably, flares release extremely hot, burning chemicals illuminating an area, so understanding how they work and react underwater is key to using them effectively.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the basics of underwater flares, look at when they can be helpful for divers, and discuss precautions to take when using them during a dive.
Whether you’re an experienced diver or just starting, read on to learn more about the do’s and don’ts of underwater flares.
What Are Underwater Flares?
A diver may ask an important question: can you use flares underwater? Yes, divers commonly use these signaling devices, but safety must be prioritized before deploying them. This is because when the fluorescent agents are activated, they release intense, burning chemicals that can harm the surrounding area.
However, despite the potential hazards, freedivers may utilize flares to signal for help, mark a location, or add a touch of beauty to an underwater landscape.
Benefits of Underwater Flares
Having a safe way to create a bright visual locator signal while submerged provides several unique benefits:
- Provides emergency location marking and visibility for divers in distress, such as due to an equipment malfunction, becoming trapped or lost, or marking an underwater accident scene. This can expedite rescue.
- Navigation instrument backup – The trailed smoke and the firelight of the underwater flare serve as a reference device, using it for navigation in zero visibility conditions.
- Communication means for vessels – Using the same colored flares, we can send messages via codes to surfacing units.
- Distress beacon for marine accidents – It can guide rescue measures using visible flares, even in total water submersion.
The Automatic Identification System (AIS) feature allows one to continuously produce a glowing signal, enabling other vessels to trace even the completely invisible position of an object and draw attention. This gives the key and a lifesaving opportunity for safety and survival.
Types of Underwater Flares
There are a few common varieties of underwater flares:
- Reusable underwater flares offer multiple reactivation uses, providing more value over time. Reusable flares contain a striker, an ignition button, and replaceable light sticks. Popular options are the Orion AQL and Pains Wessex MDU-3.
- Disposable underwater flares – Single-use flares that burn for one continuous duration. Disposable models offer simplicity but have to be replaced after each use. The Dive Rite UF-4 is a top choice.
- Canister/Pistol flares – Designed like a pistol or torch, these house an internal flare that is mechanically ignited by a striker or lever. The Dive Rite Flare Gun is an example model.
- Marker buoys integrate a compact underwater flare with an inflatable surface buoy. When deployed, the buoy inflates and rises to the surface for visibility while the flare detaches and illuminates underwater. Great for marking locations.
When you choose an underwater flare, burn time, brightness, depth rating, activation method, size/weight, and cost are important things to compare.
The reusable ones are the best in terms of value, while disposable types have simpler usage. The military specification models provide the highest performance and durability.
How to Activate and Use Underwater Flares
You must stick to the manufacturer’s instructions to effectively use your underwater flare.
- Begin by closely inspecting the flare for any signs of damage and then checking out the system used to activate it to gauge how often it has been utilized. Remove all safety pins/caps/snaps so that they will operate properly.
- Next, submerge the flare beneath water since this is usually how single-use disposable flares ignite, whereas reusable flares may have buttons or strikers to activate them. Carry out these procedures to manage your underwater flare well while enjoying maritime travel.
- When you strike or plunge the flare down into the water, depending on whether you want it held in hand or secured on your equipment for position broadcasting. Do not grasp a hold on its body because it becomes too hot; instead, compress its lower part, which ensures no burns occur, or tie your belt/BC with a cord around that light.
- Another safety precaution is that isolating yourself along the axis of the magnetic field is not advised due to the high risk of a flare’s rupture due to rapid pressure changes. Abstain from turning on till after being completely underwater.
- When it comes to the length of a burst of light in water, within five minutes of pressure increases, it could be more than thirty minutes. This may depend mainly on the type of water or how much there is. In addition, even lighting lasts for a longer time.
Conclusion
Though underwater flares are sometimes necessary to promote safety, extreme care must be emphasized while using them when diving. Before one can light a flare as an emergency signal, such factors as visibility should be considered, and other divers’ positions relative to you are among those things that must be borne in mind.
While flares can save lives during crises, they must be appropriately employed. Anybody who fails to follow precise instructions given by fellow divers might end up being killed because these directions are very important.
You have to understand how flares ought to be employed before undertaking your diving experience; otherwise, the wrong practice would spoil the peace you expect from diving into something.
