Beacon, PLB, Emergency Tracking Device Recommendations

[ktfarrier]

Hi everyone, I have been through most, if not all of the past threads about PLBs/Beacon devices, scouring endlessly to try and figure out which device (or devices) would be the best fit for me, and I am hoping someone with more experience can help shed light on what has or what hasn't worked for them in the past and what may work for me moving forward.

Obviously this is the one device that I hope I never have to use, but want to be very mindful with my purchase, as it can hopefully one day save my life if I am ever faced with having to use it.

My three options that I have researched and have found fit my diving style (and can be easily attached to my bp/w, or tech shorts pockets):

1. Nautilus nexGen Lifeline - no subscription (free to use), 5 year lifespan, user changeable batteries, self contained - noted to have a very small range, only works with newer boat radios, and may have issues with flooding.
2. ResQLink View PLB - no subscription (free to use), 5 year lifespan - battery change ONLY at authorized service centers, will require purchase of separate depth-rated casing, larger than the other two devices, but still okay for travel.
3. Garmin In Reach Mini - self contained in its own dive case, can send courtesy (non-emergency) messages to friends/family - monthly subscription, denied in certain countries.

A little about my diving goals for the future:

2026: Roatan in January and Philippines for 6 weeks, boat/shore diving, 50% macro/muck diving, 50% open water, currents nil to medium.

2027: Indonesia for possible DM training (if not DM, just regular fun diving) - Komodo, Raja Ampat, Gili, possible liveaboard, currents moderate to intermediate.

2028: Mikomoto and/or Maldives, possible liveaboard, currents moderate.

2029: Socorro liveaboard, currents moderate to intermediate.

2030: Galapagos liveaboard, currents moderate to intermediate.

In between my goal dives, I boat dive in medium to intermediate currents in Central America, with a boat close by. I don't often engage in other outdoor activities such as hiking/skiing, so I would be using these devices ONLY for diving.

Tldr; After all of my research, I come to ScubaBoard to ask you for your personal experience with PLB/beacons/emergency tracking devices and what your opinion may be and what you have learned along the way.

Thank you!

 

[tursiops]

So long as all the liveaboards you use are relatively modern and relatively up-scale, the Nautilus is probably the most useful. All "flloding" I'm aware of is due to user error (like dirty gaskets and opening it underwater).
For any non-large-liveaboards and shore diving and day-boats the Nautilus might be useless.
You need to ask each operator; there are no global answers.

The PLB is tried-and-true, and could be good *almost* anywhere, but not everywhere. National S&R services vary in quality, availability, and timeliness.
Similarly, the Garmin suffers from its access to the same S&R services, plus any others that it might try and use. The unit is smaller, which is good, but has that dang subscription thing, which is not.

A numbe of people on SB seem to either compromise (and set as a primary criterion the size of the device) on the Garmin. Others want a little redundancy and carry the Nautilus AND a PLB. (I'm one of them.) More use cases are covered, I figure.

 

[Jcp2]

Battery for ACR Resqlink PLB-375 PLB – P/N BBR-A3-06-2703

Replacement battery pack for ACR ResQlink and ResQlink+ model PLB-375. Replaces Part Number: A3-06-2703 This battery pack consists of brand new cells and wiring connector. Plug and Play replaceme…

beaconbatteryreplacement.com

You could replace the battery yourself, same as you replace battery in dive computer or dive light.

 

[Dan]

From reviewing your diving goals for the future, Nautilus nexGen Lifeline (nGL) would be your best one to have. Before you go on a liveaboard, tell your boat captain that you have nGL and work with him to test it and check if your nGL MMSI shows up in his AIS monitor.

I did this a couple weeks ago when I went diving with Blue Manta in Banda Sea,

Trip Report Post in thread 'Banda Sea 14-22 September 2025'

Saturday at 3:41 PM

At one time we were dropped right on top of schooling hammerheads. I was following one of them, filming it and happened to look to my right side and there was one swimming next to me. My dive buddy behind me, burst out a big bubble, laughing.

• Dan

• 
• 

My nGL’s MMSI 972692409 showed up on his AIS monitor during testing it (pointed by the red arrow in the picture, below).

That gives assurance that your nGL works and its battery is good. When the captain sees that MMSI pops up in his AIS monitor, later on, during the dive excursions, he knows that you are lost at sea and need his rescue.

Do bring spare batteries, just in case.

Good luck!

 

[tursiops]

From reviewing your diving goals for the future, Nautilus nexGen Lifeline (nGL) would be your best one to have. Before you go on a liveaboard, tell your boat captain that you have nGL and work with him to test it and check if your nGL MMSI shows up in his AIS monitor.

I did this a couple weeks ago when I went diving with Blue Manta in Banda Sea,

Trip Report Post in thread 'Banda Sea 14-22 September 2025'

Saturday at 3:41 PM

At one time we were dropped right on top of schooling hammerheads. I was following one of them, filming it and happened to look to my right side and there was one swimming next to me. My dive buddy behind me, burst out a big bubble, laughing.

• Dan

• 
• 

My nGL’s MMSI 972692409 showed up on his AIS monitor during testing it (pointed by the red arrow in the picture, below).

View attachment 920309

That gives assurance that your nGL works and its battery is good. When the captain sees that MMSI pops up in his AIS monitor, later on, during the dive excursions, he knows that you are lost at sea and need his rescue.

Do bring spare batteries, just in case.

Good luck!

I agree completely, for diving major liveaboards. But useless for shore diving and small boat/pangas diving, which he also does.

 

[Dan]

I agree completely, for diving major liveaboards. But useless for shore diving and small boat/pangas diving, which he also does.

Personally, I carry both nGL & PLB1.

 

[ktfarrier]

So long as all the liveaboards you use are relatively modern and relatively up-scale, the Nautilus is probably the most useful. All "flloding" I'm aware of is due to user error (like dirty gaskets and opening it underwater).
For any non-large-liveaboards and shore diving and day-boats the Nautilus might be useless.
You need to ask each operator; there are no global answers.

The PLB is tried-and-true, and could be good *almost* anywhere, but not everywhere. National S&R services vary in quality, availability, and timeliness.
Similarly, the Garmin suffers from its access to the same S&R services, plus any others that it might try and use. The unit is smaller, which is good, but has that dang subscription thing, which is not.

A numbe of people on SB seem to either compromise (and set as a primary criterion the size of the device) on the Garmin. Others want a little redundancy and carry the Nautilus AND a PLB. (I'm one of them.) More use cases are covered, I figure.

Thank you so much for your reply! The Garmin actually went on super sale within the last few days (End of September 2025) for their birthday sale, so I snagged that, as well as a Nautilus at a good price. I guess I'm a redundant diver? Is that a thing? Ha. I feel better with extra options I suppose. Now I'm looking for a spare computer (I have a Garmin G1), any recommendations? Appreciate it! -K

 

[ktfarrier]

From reviewing your diving goals for the future, Nautilus nexGen Lifeline (nGL) would be your best one to have. Before you go on a liveaboard, tell your boat captain that you have nGL and work with him to test it and check if your nGL MMSI shows up in his AIS monitor.

I did this a couple weeks ago when I went diving with Blue Manta in Banda Sea,

Trip Report Post in thread 'Banda Sea 14-22 September 2025'

Saturday at 3:41 PM

At one time we were dropped right on top of schooling hammerheads. I was following one of them, filming it and happened to look to my right side and there was one swimming next to me. My dive buddy behind me, burst out a big bubble, laughing.

• Dan

• 
• 

My nGL’s MMSI 972692409 showed up on his AIS monitor during testing it (pointed by the red arrow in the picture, below).

View attachment 920309

That gives assurance that your nGL works and its battery is good. When the captain sees that MMSI pops up in his AIS monitor, later on, during the dive excursions, he knows that you are lost at sea and need his rescue.

Do bring spare batteries, just in case.

Good luck!

This is an amazing idea, thank you for your recommendation, will do. Cheers -K

 

[ktfarrier]

Personally, I carry both nGL & PLB1.

View attachment 920325

Thank you kindly for the visual of your setup. I also see a strobe, a whistle and the Nautilus winder attached. Can you explain to me what sort of string apparatus you have to attach them all together? Where do you normally clip this unit on your BCD? Thanks -K

 

[Dan]

Thank you kindly for the visual of your setup. I also see a strobe, a whistle and the Nautilus winder attached. Can you explain to me what sort of string apparatus you have to attach them all together? Where do you normally clip this unit on your BCD? Thanks -K

When you are in the water, you want every item is attached to you on a leash to prevent from fumbling and losing your safety devices to the abyss, when a big wave hits you.

So I use these quick release QD loop connector adapter to connect all of the items to the leash, clip the end of the leash to D-ring of BCD waist pocket, stuff in all of the safety devices into the waist pocket and zip up the pocket.

https://a.co/d/3kv0rA9

When I need them, I just unzip the waist pocket and pull out the leash and grab on the device I need to launch.