PLBs and DSMBs

[Joneill]

No error. She's described as having 30 years of diving experience, but she took her kids to sea without a PLB. I would never do that. I take my kids, grandkids and great grand on many trips into the wilds, but never without it.

…But you appear to be an incredibly paranoid and compeletely risk-averse person.

Since I started diving in 2015, I have NEVER seen a diver with a PLB. I just got back from diving in 2 different parts of Fiji and not one diver on any of the boats that I was on had a PLB.

Carrying a PLB is not at all a common practice so I don’t know why you continue to think it is?

 

[Joneill]

I take your point, but people don’t have to disappear for it to be instructive. Offshore with no skiff and 6’ swells is an unhappy situation, and it’s not clear that the dive boat had sounded the alarm. A beacon could probably have reunited the divers with the skiff more quickly.

I don't see a PLB reuniting them faster in this case at all as, according to the article, they were drifting/swimming for only 50 minutes when they were able to signal the fishing boat with their SMB'S.

I support the use in PLB's and recently bought one to carry with me on my Raja Ampat LOB ion December - but I don't necessarily plan on always taking it with me in less remote locations.

 

[Joneill]

Why not? You have the PLB and canister so why not carry it on any trip, including remote land areas around? They're small and easy to carry,

I don't hike in remote areas and most places I dive have no significant currents and the risk of being lost/swept off is virtually non-existent. I take a risk assessment approach to most things in life and prep/act accordingly.

 

[kinoons]

I don’t believe that a PLB will help your boat find you if the boat lost you; I doubt they have the radio equipment to hone in on a beacon. The signal would go to whatever agency monitors the rescue signals in your area. Equipped rescue boats/helicopter would be the ones to pick you up. Maybe a boat with a radio that rescue reaches out to.

But if you’re truly lost there is absolutely value in a beacon. The more remote the area, the less likely a random boat will happen across your location, the more likely a PLB will help you.

 

[Dan]

I don’t believe that a PLB will help your boat find you if the boat lost you; I doubt they have the radio equipment to hone in on a beacon. The signal would go to whatever agency monitors the rescue signals in your area. Equipped rescue boats/helicopter would be the ones to pick you up. Maybe a boat with a radio that rescue reaches out to.

But if you’re truly lost there is absolutely value in a beacon. The more remote the area, the less likely a random boat will happen across your location, the more likely a PLB will help you.

That’s why I carry PLB & PAB. PLB for signaling straight up to the SAR satellites with 5 watts of 406 MHz. PAB on the other hand is line of sight VHF marine radio MOB (Man Over Board) signal to other boats equipped with DSC or AIS.

 

[Dan]

This is my PAB (Pernsonal AIS Beacon).

 

[Dan]

I’m heading to Cocos tomorrow. Argo will loan me free of charge a Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS when I’m diving with them, so I don’t need to carry mine.

 

[DandyDon]

I don’t believe that a PLB will help your boat find you if the boat lost you; I doubt they have the radio equipment to hone in on a beacon. The signal would go to whatever agency monitors the rescue signals in your area. Equipped rescue boats/helicopter would be the ones to pick you up. Maybe a boat with a radio that rescue reaches out to.

But if you’re truly lost there is absolutely value in a beacon. The more remote the area, the less likely a random boat will happen across your location, the more likely a PLB will help you.

Correct, in that the alert that goes to the satellites would send messages to your agency. If registered in the US, then to NOAA, who will call your registered contacts. If they know your schedule, that may help expedite local efforts. If the boat radios local authorities that you're missing but have the PLB, that too will help. If the members of that team effort work together, it all helps. The Coast Guard boats and helicopters can also search for your homing signal and radio others when you are located.

 

[Dan]

If I launch my 6’ DSMB at depth, say 60’ (20m), it will expand and erect straight up, especially when you keep enough tension on the line

 

[Joneill]

Yes, have both, large one in my tech shorts and the one above on a bolt snap.
Do not always dive with 2, only when the conditions call for both or just one.
Both come on every trip , also a mirror and brass whistle and flashing strobe light.
Is this 'overkill'?

Not at all - as you said, you let the conditions guide you!