In case you get lost... Fair chance you will be found using Nautilus Lifeline

[Spearfishing Cozumel]

With all respect to people that got lost scuba diving. Read my post about the Nautilus Lifeline. This little thing can avoid situations like the island faces a couple of times a year...... A diver got lost and could not be found. Safety can be so easy. We use it freediving/spearfishing. I think you (scuba diver or scuba company) should buy one if you take your own safety, or the safety from others seriously. Really.
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Leo

Keep Spearfishing Safe! Nautilus Lifeline! | Spearfishing Today

 

[Peter_C]

The question is other than the marine patrol, how many dive boats have DSC equipped radios, tied into a GPS? Can some of the dive ops answer that please? (I may have missed it in past posts.)

FWIW I have an Icom M504 DSC equipped radio with a nice 8 ft antenna, tied into a Garmin GPS, on my little 14 ft Zodiac. The setup allows me to send and receive DSC calls. It was installed not only for our safety but the safety of fellow boaters, and divers.

A PLB like the Resqlink + and a canister are also a good, if not better, option, for only marginally more money, at roughly $375. A Nautilus is $300, and throw in a little more if you want the case.

 

[Mike]

That's what I have Peter. I wouldn't risk my life on a Nautilus with all it's short-comings. All I'd consider it is a link in a chain of safety, like a mirror, a SMB, or a whistle is. Each might work under certain circumstance. But a PLB is the end all, when it's all said and done, you're screwed, guaranteed life saver.

 

[theduckguru]

PLB is a great tool. Guaranteed life saver? Not hardly. Rescues take time and enviromental factors can kill you during that time. Rescue in the third world can take a lot of time.

http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=641591#.UPxYrtR5mSM

 

[Peter_C]

Mike, was I about correct on my pricing for the PLB? I can find them for $260 shipped, and the canister should be around $110 shipped right?

The only downfalls to the PLB are it is larger, and won't fit in a pocket as well. Attaching it to your kit is an option, but what if the boat sinks (It did happen near Coz), or you have to ditch your gear? If you hit the find me button you are going to trigger a global resource to find you which is great, you will be found, except a Nautilus might just allow you to hail your boat or a passing by boat and request a lift.

 

[cvchief]

Well that sat PLB is a great nuclear option. On the other hand, I can call the boat on my nautilus radio if by chance I get left floating without waiting. I would never think of tripping the nuke for that.

In case of a real emergency, one would also figure that there will be a cruise ship in port. I bet those big fellas would pick it up for quite a way. How long do you float before you hit the nuclear option? Heck, I would think I would give them a chance to find me first. What if there was some emergency on the surface that pulled my boat away? Or what if I came up with a minor dive emergency? I can call the boat and tell him we have a problem. Wouldn't trip the nuke for that.

Can you test a PLB? Apparently like all electronics, some of them fail too.

I guess I look at the Nautulis as a convenient option. I can use it anytime I want for any minor reason. Heck, I keep trying to deploy it and call the boat on the chat channel before he sees me. Hard to beat him though. It is useful. If I got lost, I figure the search will easy pick up my VHF. The helicopters should have a much great range of reception than a land or boat based antenna. Maybe not the 100 percent of the sat system, but I figure pretty close.

I am not saying that I would tell you to choose the VHF over the sat, but I would say it is still a good option for Cozumel.

 

[Mike]

Naw, not going there.

Yes. A PLB can be tested. Yes, the pricing given was about right, but size is not, it can easily fit in a pocket.

 

[cvchief]

Naw, not going there.

Yes. A PLB can be tested. Yes, the pricing given was about right, but size is not, it can easily fit in a pocket.

Just when I tried to quote you, you edited. How long does it take for a PLB alert to be answered? Who gets it and where to they send it and how many steps does it go through before the Navy gets it. If you have a medicial emergency, might a lifeline get a faster response? I can tell you when I sent my lifeline back to the factory, I got a quick call from Puget Sound US Coast Guard station. My little Lifeline malfunctioned on the factory bench apparently and LITE up the screens in the US and Canada. The Coastie I talked to really wanted to find a way to shut it down as it was hammering them with every alert. Still, I got nothing bad to say about the Sat PLBs. I just think the lifeline isn't as unreliable as you think. Too bad no one has ever checked them in Cozumel......

Several months ago we purchased several Nautilus Lifeline UW GPS/Radios. The purpose was for locating our dive groups in difficult conditions such as might occur at Barracuda or when we dive the Eastside. We know many places can be very lonely and that was before the recent sinking! Our main purpose was to be able to contact a floating boat (that is why we always have two boats out on the Eastside) thus the 3 mile limitation as specified was not too worrisome for us.

The question had been raised here about the range of transmission so we have done some tests

From a diver in the water to one of our smaller boats with elevated antennae the range is about 3 miles which is as specified. From a diver in the water at the north end of Barracuda to our 75 foot antennae at the downtown Aldora office we can be heard at the office--but we cannot hear back to the water. Since the Harbor Master and Mexican Navy have taller antennae, we presume that they also should be able to receive an emergency alert or mayday from distant places, including the middle of the channel.

We are thus pretty well satisfied with the devices and have our DMs carry them on all dives to remote places.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[Mike]

Just when I tried to quote you, you edited. How long does it take for a PLB alert to be answered? Who gets it and where to they send it and how many steps does it go through before the Navy gets it. If you have a medicial emergency, might a lifeline get a faster response? I can tell you when I sent my lifeline back to the factory, I got a quick call from Puget Sound US Coast Guard station. My little Lifeline malfunctioned on the factory bench apparently and LITE up the screens in the US and Canada. The Coastie I talked to really wanted to find a way to shut it down as it was hammering them with every alert. Still, I got nothing bad to say about the Sat PLBs. I just think the lifeline isn't as unreliable as you think. Too bad no one has ever checked them in Cozumel......

I'm too quick, HA!

Hey, the Nautilus is what it is. You've pointed out some good uses for it that don't fall under life saving and made good points in those regards. Let me just be simple and concise in that I personally would not stake my life on one, I believe there are better products for those situations.

 

[cvchief]

I'm too quick, HA!

Hey, the Nautilus is what it is. You've pointed out some good uses for it that don't fall under life saving and made good points in those regards. Let me just be simple and concise in that I personally would not stake my life on one, I believe there are better products for those situations.

Hey, that is sure a good point. I guess it is a fine line. Should I get lost and swept out to sea for a while, I would darn sure wish I had a PLB. But how long do you wait? Like that bit a little while back when a boat got lost and left a DM and group floating for what 30 minutes? Would you have punched the PLB or no? I guess I look at it like a cell phone. That is all I carry on land, because it is more useful most of the time. Of course if I wrecked my car way out in the boonies with bad reception, I might wish I had a PLB there, since you can use them on land. Of course my wife will kill me if I get a PLB too. I do like the Batman style diving. I want a BCD FULL of all kinds of cool toys and gadgets. I remember at Palancar pier looking in a panga and seeing a BCD with all the gadgets hanging on their strings drying. Must have a been a hundred pounds of STUFF. I thought now that is COOL!