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A diver in normal or emergency situations can quickly locate equipment maintained within this area' such as critical life support equipment.
For example, many of us have our octopus mounted in the wrong place. Often, we see the octopus second stage mounted at the very bottom of the BCD. Your octopus regulator should be mounted within your Triangle of Life for easy access by yourself or your dive buddy.
Many times we have seen divers who let their octopus regulator float free along side of them during a dive. This vital piece of equipment will be hard to locate in a panicky situation during an emergency.
A free-floating regulator can also be a hazard to the very environment that we dive to enjoy. All too often, an inconsiderate diver will swim by colorful coral formations, being careful not to touch them, but wipe them out by dragging his trailing octopus over the coral as he passes by .
An octopus should be secured in an octo-keeper and clipped to the divers BCD within the Triangle of Life for both the safety of the divers and the environment.
There are some other helpful pieces of equipment that divers may wish to include within their Triangle of Life such as:
· Dive Knife and / or Sea Snips. Fighting off a Great White is generally not why you carry a dive knife. But being able to free yourself from an entanglement with nearly invisible fishing line can be just as life saving. Sea Snips can be a good alternative and will also cut through metal fishing leaders better than a dive knife. Experienced divers will typically carry two dive knives, keeping one as a backup.
· Flashlights. During night dives, well-equipped divers typically carry both a large primary and a smaller secondary (backup) flashlight. However, carrying a smaller flashlight during the day can prove very helpful for peering under a dimly lit coral formation. Like the octopus regulator, a flashlight should not be allowed to float free on a tethered line. Use of a retractable lanyard or coiled retractor will keep the flashlight ready for use, but snuggled next to the diver.
· Your Dive Console can also benefit from the use of a coiled retractor or retractable lanyard. Like your octopus regulator, keep your dive console within your triangle and don't allow it to float free.
· A Compass is a must for the experienced diver. If your compass is not installed in your dive console, attach it to your BCD, within your Triangle of Life, with a coiled retractor.
· Surface Signaling devices, such as a diver's whistle and a Come-2-Me Signal Sausage, are other good candidates for finding a home within the Triangle of Life.
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