Personal safety equipment

Equipment that can help you survive in the water, particularly the open ocean, is pretty well known. All should be waterproof to a high standard. Some of this equipment overlaps with life raft equipment. This list may seem excessive, but these are commonly regarded as standard safety equipment for operating on the ocean. Many lives would be saved if they were more widely carried.

Personal Floatation Device (PFD)

Life jacket doesn't necessarily apply as a name since many are now inflatable like the ones on airliners. Inflatables are compact, light and comfortable but more expensive. They may be a little less durable than foam life vests. Many inflatables deploy automatically. Some don't.

Survival suit

A foam suit or waterproof clothing system that covers everything except your face. Essential in waters outside the tropics, since hypothermia can kill you in some hours. Somewhat similar to a diver's drysuit, a survival suit can replace a PFD.

Whistle

Especially in waves or in the dark, it's really hard to see people in the water. A whistle can help locating someone, assuming the user is able to use it.

Signal mirror

In daylight, a signal mirror can be used to signal rescue aircraft.

Flashlight or strobe

Strobes usually attach to the vest and can be seen for 3 to 5 nautical miles. Essential at night. Many are automatically activated.

Handheld marine transceiver

Like a high powered walkie talkie that transmits on national and usually international marine radio frequencies.

EPIRB or PLB

These are satellite transmitters that send your position to international rescue organizations like the Coast Guard. The ocean is really large and finding one person on it can be nearly impossible. Having a device that transmits your position improves the likelihood of rescue greatly. PLBs have already saved the lives of many stranded/injured hikers, including in remote parts of Alaska. In other words, they work on land too. They probably work in more locations than radios since they communicate with space-based satellites, not ground- or aircraft-based radios. For anyone on the open ocean an EPIRB or PLB should be considered essential, at least if you want to be found.

Satellite phone

Generally works world wide. Expensive.

Some things not included

A cell phone may work near large cities or seasteads, but is generally useless on the high seas. A FRS or GMRS radio may be more useful for short range communications.