Best Search and Rescue colour.

[Aquatic Mammal]

Having heard differing views of which hi-viz colour stands out best in the sea I opted for a lime green hood as all seemed to agree the orange was lost first and I heard the yellow gets dirty quicker.

Opinions please, which colour would you choose to ensure you are rescued quickly or simply not lost by your surface cover?

[Helen F H]

Try looking here - Diver location trials

I have a 6ft orange SMB with SOLAS tape around the top.

In my limited experience - yellow is best. Can be seen from miles away. However, many technical divers use a yellow blob as an SOS so be careful you dont get a cylinder dropped on your head if you use one in certain circles.

Worst colour - white. Up here we have creel buoys which are lovingly known as "stealth buoys" as they bloody hide in anything but a flat calm sea and then appear 10m off your bow.

[David G]

Either the RN Rescue guys or the Coastguard helicopter people did a report on this a while back......

From my recollection it seemed that the direction of viewing had an impact on the best colour.

I recollect that the helicopter folks prefered the dayglo lime green but I'd have to try to find the article.............

David.

[G man]

all my kit is black, If I die I'm going to look cool.

Ive got a big torch though.

G.

[Mark Chase]

Black is apparently the easiest to see from a boat, hence the fact lobster pot flags are black.

Orange in better than Yellow when viewed from a boat

Yellow is better from the air.

In diving we use Orange (red) for general SMBs (which have to be picked up by the boat) and preferably we only use Yellow SMBs for emergencies (lost at sea counts as an emergency)


As for Hood Color? If you want to wear a lime green hood M8 go for it. We all need a laugh God knows i should know I had lime green countalungs

ATB

Mark Chase

[Sparky750]

I'm with G-Man, dying but looking bloody good whilst doing it

[Aquatic Mammal]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

As for Hood Color? If you want to wear a lime green hood M8 go for it. We all need a laugh God knows i should know I had lime green countalungs

ATB

Mark Chase

Of course the BEST thing about my lime green dayglo hood is that when I'm wearing it, I can't see it!!!!!!!

[Roobydoo]

Originally Posted by G man

all my kit is black, If I die I'm going to look cool.

Ive got a big torch though.

G.

This always makes me chuckle..... If I am ever in a situation, I want the WHOLE WORLD to know where I am so try to avoid black... (tongue in cheek, before people get their backs up on a friday night!!)

My opinion is that hi viz yellow is the best, but as has already been stated, it depends on the circumstnces.

Working here in the Caribbean, there is no unofficial colour code - people just use what they have, so having spent the last 5 years diving in UK, it took me a while to adjust to seeing yellow blobs from time to time and not assume he worst.....

[Hazel W]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

Black is apparently the easiest to see from a boat, hence the fact lobster pot flags are black.

Black shows up in contrast very well.....when its not bad weather which is fine for the fishermen as they dont try to lift creels in bad weather.

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

Orange in better than Yellow when viewed from a boat

Not true ...sorry Mark dayglow yellow is significantly better in most light and weather conditions than dayglow orange (up to one third better according to HSE trials) and is less likly to be confused with fishing bouys

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

Yellow is better from the air.

True



Hazel

[frosty the snowman]

How about pink? Queen Scallops suit is visible from Mars.