The whistle is the reliable tool that lets team members communicate when surrounding noise or lack of visual contact makes conversation impossible. It’s an essential accessory from the very start of the activity.
Our advice
- The whistle should be quickly and easily accessible, and attached to you to avoid the risk of losing it. Warning: it is strongly discouraged to attach it with a cord loop around your neck, which could cause strangulation if it gets caught in the descender during a rappel
- Some pea whistles stop working once wet: make sure yours still works even when damp
- Referee or mountain whistles generally meet these requirements
The universal communication code
- STOP: 1 blast
- OK: 2 blasts
- OFF BELAY: 3 blasts
In the field, you may need to set additional codes to respond to a specific situation. It is therefore important to:
- Make sure all team members know these codes
- Make sure everyone has a whistle, especially for the first team member’s descent
- Blow the blasts distinctly to avoid any ambiguity
- Whistle back the order you heard, to confirm the number of blasts perceived
These codes are given as general guidelines: each group may have its own conventions. Be sure to check them whenever you join a new team!
Find the rest of the necessary gear in our complete canyoning equipment guide.
