PLBs Can Save Your Life

[Dan]

Based on the following article, I would only get an AIS MOB that also supports DSC signalling. The Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS is probably the best package for us divers, due to the clam shell design, depth rating and size. Very interesting to see what happens on the boat side in terms of receiving the AIS or DSC signals/alerts: Testing AIS MOB beacons, ACR's DSC feature especially - Panbo

That's the reason I get the Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS (MRG) and PLB1. You have 3 different distress alert signal, DSC, AIS & 406 MHz to launch. You can delay launching the 406 MHz until you don't see any boat on the horizon. Some smaller & old boats don't have AIS, but might have DSC.

I haven't seen any PLB nor PAB (Personal AIS Beacon or what they also call it AIS MOB beacon) that is designed for diver, except for MRG which is waterproof down to 425' (130m), small enough to fit in my BCD and have DIY replaceable batteries (two of 3 volt Lithium CR123A) and float. It's time for ACR or Ocean Signal or any other PLB maker to make similar clamshell design PLB for diver.

Another reason for having MRG for me is, I've been to several overseas liveaboards that loan MRG to their guest divers for quick rescue in case of getting lost at sea, especially in the countries with questionable SAR, such as Galapagos Master, Palau Aggressor II, Maldives Aggressor II, Argo (Cocos), Spoilsport (GBR), Nautilus Undersea (Socorro). That shows the practicality of having PAB on every divers for speedy rescue.

My next trip in September will be with Blue Manta to Ring of Fire, Banda Sea, Indonesia. They don't have PAB to loan to their guest divers, but they have AIS in the boat. So, I'll bring my MRG & PLB1 for that trip.

The next trip after that I will be in Raja Ampat, Indonesia in January 2020. Fortunately they have ENOS to loan to their guest divers. I might leave my MRG at home and just bring my PLB1 for that trip.

 

[seeker242]

Agreed, but there is no easy solution on how to attach the cap to the Custom Divers canister. The cap is also about 50% the size of the canister. So if after getting the PLB1 out and clipped to me, I lost the canister, the cap is just as good of a cup.

Here's an idea. Epoxy one of these, or something similar, to the bottom and one to the top and connect with some line.

SCHAEFER Oblong-Base Stainless-Steel Padeyes | West Marine

 

[tursiops]

Post #915 shows the bottom of the CD canister with a hose clamp and belt attachment. The top of the canister has a ring to allow a double-ender to clip it off. There is an additional heavy o-ring on the belt bungee to let the canister base be clipped off too.

 

[Dan]

Wouldn't the frenzy pops also be at risk of bursting at depth?

Last weekend we had a good weather with us and I went to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary with Fling Charters to test the fun pops. They all hold the pressure at depth (91 fsw) just fine.

 

[Dan]

Both of my custom-made PLB canisters are also doing fine, including the iPhone6 pouch that is supposedly waterproof only to 60 fsw (18 msw). You can see the pouch (which I use it for storing the PLB1 & MRG mounting accessories & miscellaneous small items) crushed shape under the water pressure at depth.

 

[Dan]

Last weekend we had a good weather with us and I went to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary with Fling Charters to test the fun pops. It hold the pressure at depth (91 fsw) just fine.

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For travelling overseas though, I would not carry these funpops due to weight concern. I would carry flat & collapsible water bottle that I can fill it out with water before I put it in my BCD pocket, like one of those made by Platypus® hydration packs, hydration systems, water bottles, water treatment and wine preservation.

The flat-collapsible water bottle has a clip that you can clip it to the PLB canister leash so in case you fumble it at sea , it won’t sink to the abyss.

 

[Joneill]

Last weekend we had a good weather with us and I went to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary with Fling Charters to test the fun pops. They all hold the pressure at depth (91 fsw) just fine.

View attachment 531496 View attachment 531497

Good to know - thanks for the follow-up!

 

[tridacna]

For travelling overseas though, I would not carry these funpops due to weight concern. I would carry flat & collapsible water bottle that I can fill it out with water before I put it in my BCD pocket, like one of those made by Platypus® hydration packs, hydration systems, water bottles, water treatment and wine preservation.

The flat-collapsible water bottle has a clip that you can clip it to the PLB canister leash so in case you fumble it at sea , it won’t sink to the abyss.

View attachment 531503

Wow Dan - all you need is a portable BBQ and you can have a picnic while waiting to be picked up!

 

[outofofficebrb]

Wow Dan - all you need is a portable BBQ and you can have a picnic while waiting to be picked up!

We laugh now but I bet he is now trying to figure out how to stick a jetboil or MSR backpacking stove with a custom modified grill attachment in his BC right now.

 

[Dan]

Kidding aside. Things evolve and practicality narrows things down to what is important to have for particular diving sites. For my upcoming trip Ring of Fire September 9-19, 2019 Banda Sea is a remote place in developing country with minimal SAR support. However, the liveaboard has AIS & DSC, which would be able to pick up my MRG signal. So my latest carryon in my BCD pockets would be:
Left side - PLB1, MRG & their accessories (including signal mirror & whistle) in a iPhone6 pouch, all tethered, as shown below.
Right side - DSMB with 3/4L Platypus collapsible water bottle which would be filled with drinking water.

So far they all fit nicely in there. I’ll update you all on any changes after the trip.