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We did research with the Coast Guard a few years ago regarding personal distress markers (lights) used for locating someone who may have falled overboard or was lost in a small boat. We had several dummies (not graduate students this time) in life jackets and some in small boats 15 or so miles offshore at night with the Coast Guard helicopters searching for them. Some were wearing single-cell flashlight type marker lights; some were wearing cylume stick lights; and others were wearing strobe light markers. The Coast Guard searchers used night vision glasses in addition to plain eyesight to try to locate the dummies in distress. Even with a relatively mild sea (apx. 2ft) the ONLY EFFECTIVE distress marker (you guessed it) was a strobe light. The flashlight and cylume markers were no good. We would retrieve the dummies in the morning and toss them in the drink the next night. This went on for about a week. Based on these findings we immediately went out and purchased dozens of rather expensive strobe lights and required everyone to have a working one tied to their body when on deck of our research vessel after dark. We encouraged the wearing of one anytime on deck even during the day in calm seas. Similarly anytime I am diving where there may be a chance of being blown off a wreck and lost at sea (the Doria is a good example) I always carry a strobe. If the strobe is not depth rated, put it in a small empty light housing; add a couple of flares if you wish. I remember a situation in Hawaii when the Coast Guard I believe was conducting research using piegons to locate people adrift in life jackets. Apparently the eye of the piegon is very sensitive to yellow and orange?? The piegon was strapped under the body of the helicopter in a housing and had keys to peck at (one left, one center, one right) that were connected to lights in the cockpit. I think I remember this story correctly but it's been a while. If the piegon spotted the lifejacket color to the left, it would peck at the left key and the pilot would change course accordingly. 'Similarly for the other headings. During the tests the helicopter developed problems and had to land in the water (apparently it was a floater). No one had thought about this scenario and the $10,000 piegon drowned. So much for rescue at sea research. This is the etc. part. Just my two cents worth, Doug Chapman
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