PLBs Can Save Your Life

[ggunn]

How is it overkill and who said PAB/PLB's eliminate risk? Like the SMB you refer to, they are just more tools to assist in finding you when things "go south" - so they help to minimize risk, not eliminate it.

Whether such a device significantly mitigates risk depends on the diver and the dive. Military fighter pilots all have parachutes when they fly but passengers on commercial flights do not. Yes, I wear my seat belt when I drive, but the odds of me being in a traffic accident are much higher than my odds of being lost at sea; I won't be buying one. YMMV.

 

[W W Meixner]

Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS is a PAB, not PLB, i.e., you won't be sending signal all the way to SAR satellites for SAR team to be alerted and mobilized for your rescue. PAB would send VHF AIS & DSC "man overboard" signal to nearby boat. However, having PAB is still better than nothing. I have both (PAB & PLB).

Dan...

Thanks...I'll make a correction...

Warren

 

[Joneill]

Whether such a device significantly mitigates risk depends on the diver and the dive. Military fighter pilots all have parachutes when they fly but passengers on commercial flights do not. Yes, I wear my seat belt when I drive, but the odds of me being in a traffic accident are much higher than my odds of being lost at sea; I won't be buying one. YMMV.

No one said you have to buy one - just suggesting that folks should consider their value when they evaluate their risk mitigation plans (based on where they dive, how they dive and who they dive with, etc.,).

When my life is on the line, I don't really focus on the the odds of an issue occurring in my decisions - it's more about the possibility of it occurring! I don't want to be that guy lost at sea without a PAB/PLB thinking "Wow, what were the odds of this happening? I wish I had a PAB/PLB!"". I just bought a Poweball Lottery ticket for the miniscule possibility that I might win... yet, the likelihood is almost zero!

Of course, all of these are personal choices, but we all eventually have to live with our decisions in life! I'd rather be overly cautious than sorry...

BTW - military pilots have parachutes when they fly as the aircraft have ejection seats or egress methods to bail out and they have been trained extensively on how to use them - that is not the case with commercial aircraft or passengers - nor is it really practical to implement.

 

[Dan]

We are already paying the SAR team in terms of the income tax that we file every year. The services is available for everyone to utilize. Why not take advantage of it?

Rescued at Sea: Who Foots the Bill?

"...as with the Coast Guard the National Park Service, which also spends millions a year in SAR costs, does not charge those who are rescued. The taxpayers absorb those costs..."

Another words, finding divers, who are lost at sea, sooner would save SAR cost and in the end this would help us as tax payers from having to absorb more and more those costs.

 

[-JD-]

Re: deep-submersible cases ...

I looked at the various Sony Marine Pack housings and none of the ones seem to be particularly amenable to the ResQLink 400 sized devices.

In looking about for alternatives, I found these 60m-rated housings for iPhones: iPhone housings / https://meikon.com.hk/collections/underwater-waterproof-case-for-iphone-6-6plus-7-7plus. One of them may work, gutted of all of the buttons and stuff, but it is not ideal to have to rework and the dimensions are sub-optimal if it actually fits.

I decided to take a flyer and have reached out to them to see if they would consider producing a stripped-down clamshell case with appropriate mounting and interior/exterior lanyard provisions. I think it could be relatively low-cost for them to produce without the inserts, buttons and lens/ports; while using their standard hinges and locks. It should also be applicable for other, more-general uses while diving/snorkeling/boating.

 

[letterboy]

While I usually enjoy your posts and more often than not agree with them, allow me to disagree rather forcefully on this.

99.9% (or more) of my diving is in conditions where carrying a PLB or an EPIRB would be serious overkill. In those scenarios, gettting lost at sea would be one of my minor concerns. Sure, there are other issues to handle, but just because of that I prefer to do an informed risk analysis and carry the most relevant equipment.

I bet many do the same dive Cameron did and have said and will conti ie to say it's overkill.

It's overkill until it's not.

At that point its life or death. Your life your death.

I am not a big supporter of making anything required or forcing something on someone. I/we can only provide tools that a person can choose to use, or not to use.

 

[johndiver999]

Carrying an electronic beacon might be overkill for some geographic areas.

If the diver has dependable support staff who will actually activate the EMS system in a short period of time and there is an effective EMS system available at that location, then I would think that having good surface markers for daytime signaling and light(s) for nighttime signaling would be pretty effective.

I always try to carry a working dive light for scuba diving as part of my safety equipment. There are now inexpensive and very compact LED lights on the market that can be carried specifically for emergencies with very little trouble.

 

[-JD-]

Re: Artex PLBs

The ResQLink 400/425s (425 = ResQLink View) are replacing the ResQLink/ResQLink+ correct?

What about the AquaLink/AquaLink Views. They are bulkier and $$, but 25% more powerful with something like an additional 45% of operational time. More power and time is attractive ...

 

[Storker]

I bet many do the same dive Cameron did and have said and will conti ie to say it's overkill.

The projection is strong in this one, young padowan.

While some dives are such that carrying a PLB or an EPRIB is a pretty damned good idea, quite a few others aren't. Some dives are very benign, some carry certain risks, some carry quite other risks. For some dives, getting lost at sea is a minuscule risk, while other risks may be very relevant. Where I dive he the most, being swept to sea isn't a risk at all. There may well be other risks, though.

 

[kristen8416]

As far as I know, Light Monkey does not have a specific part number for their PLB canisters but if you look on their site you can find descriptions of their canisters.

We’re waiting to hear back from a Light Monkey dealer on pricing and have pricing from one ACR dealer. Please PM me if you want me to share the pricing I have.

So far I have a total of 7 people with firm interest with another 3 or 4 with partial interest. If you’re interested in getting in please PM me and I’ll add you to the list. As I’m still gathering Interest, we’re not sure how payment/shipping will be worked out.

I’m still working my way through this entire thread, so not sure if I’m pre-emptive here, but I’m interested in 2 for my husband and I. I think I’ve settled on the PLB 400 and open so far on the housing.