SS sonar makes another find

[Gary D.]

Below are the articles from a drowning 80 miles to the northwest of us in Washington. They searched with their SS sonar and divers but turned up empty. At their request we took our Sonar unit and ROV over to assist.

After a briefing and grid set up we did a test and tune the equipment pass roughly ½ mile long. Made a 180 degree turn and made a real run and there he was waiting for us to pick him up half way down our grid line. Made a few other passes at different angles to confirm the contact. Dropped our target and marker about 13’ away from our victim then made one more adjustment and got the marker just slightly over 6’ away from him.

We called in the local divers and they made the recovery. We offered to use the ROV but they wanted the recovery experience.

Driving time 2 hours each way. Search time 48 minutes. Water depth was only 48’ with a very silty bottom that didn’t make a difference for the SS but the divers said he was almost hidden in it and was hard to see.

Angler drowns in Stevens County lake - Spokesman.com - April 30, 2012

Man Drowns Trying To Save Fishing Rod In Stevens County Lake

---------- Post added May 2nd, 2012 at 06:10 PM ----------
http://www.khq.com/category/195686/...d=7129073&topVideoCatNo=187690&autoStart=true
Here's the final video;
Crews locate body in Waitts Lake | KREM.com Spokane

Waitts Lake is only around 450 acres so I think we raised the lake level when we launched the beast.

 

[Omni Dive]

Nice work Gary and Team.

 

[Jared0425]

What type of sidescan do you use on your team?

 

[Gary D.]

Marine Sonic with both 600 and 900 fish with 1000', 300' and 150' cables so we can go portable if we need it.

Side Scan Sonar Systems - Marine Sonic Technology, Ltd.

 

[Jared0425]

That's a good sonar for what you are doing. I like working with our Klein unit, but it is more complicated and much more expensive. Ever use a Kongsburg sweeping sonar?

 

[Gary D.]

We haven't used either one of those units but more expensive doesn't mean better. We have half a million tied up as it is so we need to train as much as possible to make it all worthwhile. If your not good at operating and reading it the units can be useless no matter what the cost.

 

[Jared0425]

The Konsburg unit is good for tracking divers in real time (sorta). It works better in lower visibility when a diver is trying to get a bearing on a victim or object (considering if he has coms). Problem is, time and efficiency. New multi beam sonars mounted on boats and ROVs relay instant movements of divers. Konsburg quality lacks definition in areas also. Klein unit is expensive, works great if used properly. It is easy DIY field repair if you know what you are doing unlike the sealed MarineSonic system. Quality imagining varies from user to user also. But I agree with you more expensive does not mean better though.