New Apple Watch is a dive computer

[doctormike]

RIght, this version of Apple Satellite SOS doesn't work globally. And clearly, it's not as robust a solution as a dedicated PLB.

That having been said, the best camera is the one you have with you. And while I doubt that many vacation divers carry PLBs, some of them might carry an iPhone in a case for taking pictures. So that's where I see the benefit, assuming that they were diving in an area serviced by this coverage. Not as a replacement for a dedicated PLB for people who actually bring a PLB with them diving.

 

[brsnow]

Just to be clear - the iPhone 14 is NOT a PLB so should not be compared to or considered an alternative to one if diving in remote places globally - unless you don't mind not being rescued.

I recently bought an ACR RescueLink View and a DryFob case to carry it in. The RescueLink could not be easier to set up and test and I know it's network will work to actually notify SAR in the remote locations where I will carry it.

With respect to a flooded housing, it's no different than it would be to make sure the iPhone housing is unflooded - so that is a moot point. In fact, I'd have more faith in the simple, circular double o-rings on my DryFob than I would a phone housing that I'd be opening and closing every day to use my phone when not diving - more opportunity for contamination/leaks.

Relative to battery, it's good for at least 5 years if not used and has the battery EXP date on a sticker - so very easy to monitor that and address before bringing on a trip where you want to carry it (not something I'd carry in most locations btw). Also after ~ 2 years, every iPhone I've owned has had it's battery life go to sh_t - so I have much more faith in my PLB being charged and working for 24 hours or more when I need it to.

Finally, it also floats, so no worry about dropping it and losing it after I activate it.

Has to be exhausting

 

[Joneill]

Has to be exhausting

not at all - I like actual facts to be out there.

 

[Joneill]

RIght, this version of Apple Satellite SOS doesn't work globally. And clearly, it's not as robust a solution as a dedicated PLB.

That having been said, the best camera is the one you have with you. And while I doubt that many vacation divers carry PLBs, some of them might carry an iPhone in a case for taking pictures. So that's where I see the benefit, assuming that they were diving in an area serviced by this coverage. Not as a replacement for a dedicated PLB for people who actually bring a PLB with them diving.

agreed

 

[BoltSnap]

assuming that they were diving in an area serviced by this coverage.

That's a serious restriction and a killer assumption.

 

[doctormike]

That's a serious restriction and a killer assumption.

Why? People plan dive trips to Florida and end up drifting to the Maldives?

It's a limitation of a service. If you aren't in the area covered by the service, you don't use it.

How is that "a killer assumption"?

 

[BoltSnap]

Why? People plan dive trips to Florida and end up drifting to the Maldives?

It's a limitation of a service. If you aren't in the area covered by the service, you don't use it.

How is that "a killer assumption"?

If an emergency device has very restrictive limitations and isn't reliable, it can lead to wrong assumptions and potential harm when people are expecting it to work but it doesn't work. For an emergency device, I'd rather have something that is dependable and that has less restrictions.

When I need and take an alternate air source underwater, for example, I want a specialized equipment not one with stipulations and restrictions and limitations. I want a device that works at 10 meters and at 40 meters. (Do you want to start a discussion about SpareAir??? )

 

[doctormike]

If an emergency device has very restrictive limitations and isn't reliable, it can lead to wrong assumptions and potential harm when people are expecting it to work but it doesn't work. For an emergency device, I'd rather have something that is dependable and that has less restrictions.

When I need and take an alternate air source underwater, for example, I want a specialized equipment not one with stipulations and restrictions and limitations. I want a device that works at 10 meters and at 40 meters. (Do you want to start a discussion about SpareAir??? )

C'mon... you can't compare it to Spare Air. The limitation is geographic, and well known in advance. If you are diving in an area where it works, it works. If you aren't, it doesn't. It's not a surprise.

That's like saying that there is no point recommending Pasa Bon Pizza in Bonaire because they don't deliver to Cozumel.

As far as whether it's reliable or not, we haven't the slightest idea about that. We are just speculating that it might be a useful feature for someone who is already using it as an underwater camera or a dive computer. Maybe that's not you, but there certainly is a big market of people who might want that...

 

[BoltSnap]

Pasa Bon Pizza in Bonaire because they don't deliver to Cozumel.

Do they deliver to Libya????????????

Maybe that's not you, but there certainly is a big market of people who might want that...

You are right, I am not part of the target market for sure. I never and won't buy anything Macintrash. I am a Windows/Linux/Android diehard. Even if I were, God forbid, a Macintrash fan, I would buy a dedicated PLB for diving and for when I think I need one, same for a dive computer. For a watch, I've always used analog watches since I started wearing one 50 years ago (I was given a digital watch once when they first came out but it didn't last for long with me).


I know, I am in the wrong thread for sure, I lost my PLB. hahahahaha.

 

[doctormike]

Do they deliver to Libya????????????

LOL