Side-scan sonar for drowning victims

[Mark Michaud SELAUSAR]

I purchased this Humminbird 797c2 Side-scan sonar unit a few years ago. I have used it satisfactorily to locate, vehicles, boats, boat motors, etc. I have wondered until today if it would be useful in finding a body. This is a low frequency side-scan and not a clear as a tow fish on smaller items.

While diving for a friend, today, I decided to find out. His sons sunk a Newton pirogue which was not cheap. He knew the area it was in but not exactly where. I brought my side-scan and my boat and located the pirogue in a few minutes. It is high and right of the body? I marked the spot with an anchor (50 lb shackle) and a float using it as my working line.. The anchor is never right on as I am past an object when I see it. But it is close as you can see.

I went to the bottom of the work-line and layed there having told Willie to make a pass by and mark it if he sees me. When I got back to the surface, after floating the pirogue, he told me I was clear as day on the monitor. Although I was much alive, the image was clear. It should remain the same of otherwise.

When I returned home I found that to be true. I will be doing deeper scans to see how far this will work. Another reasonably priced tool has proven to be useful. This can help to keep from putting divers overboard too early and wearing out your resources. FWIW. Mark

 

[rustyshakelford]

we have one at work and use it to locate bodies before putting the divers in the water. it is very similar to yours and with some tuning is very accurate and offers a great pic

brett

 

[Nemrod]

My wife can see me with our 987. N

 

[Upstate Scuba OWI]

We use the Humminbird 1198C SI Combo for our recoveries, with seven recoveries under it in the last three years since we went with Humminbird.

 

[Gary D.]

We're going out Side Scanning again today.

 

[Boater Dan]

Happy Scanning! Sometimes it fun to just do this to see how much crap you can find!!!! We located 3 vehicles the first day we were using our unit. The PD all refused to pull the vehicles as they did not want to get saddled with the expense of the tow vehicle!

 

[Upstate Scuba OWI]

Our second Humminbird 1198 SI Combo with the optional 1kw Transducer arrived and installed yesterday. If your budget worried read more.... Doing my own research I found the Dive Rescue International was the most cost effective unit. I submitted to the county purchasing person to get it from DRI. However the county person was able to contact West Marine and open a Wholesale account with them. By doing so we were able to get the basic 1198 SI unit for $2200, the high powered 1 kw transducer for $353.18, and additional 30 ft transducer cable for $51.17 after shipping our final bill was $2614.30. I love DRI but there are even cheaper ways to get a Humminbird model.

 

[oneshotshooter]

Our second Humminbird 1198 SI Combo with the optional 1kw Transducer arrived and installed yesterday. If your budget worried read more.... Doing my own research I found the Dive Rescue International was the most cost effective unit. I submitted to the county purchasing person to get it from DRI. However the county person was able to contact West Marine and open a Wholesale account with them. By doing so we were able to get the basic 1198 SI unit for $2200, the high powered 1 kw transducer for $353.18, and additional 30 ft transducer cable for $51.17 after shipping our final bill was $2614.30. I love DRI but there are even cheaper ways to get a Humminbird model.

We got ours from dive rescue international. I'm not sure how much the actual saving was for you, but they have went above and beyond on the service. They have walked us through numerous technical/training issues and have vast amounts of experience in doing what we do. For us paying a few extra bucks up front has been a good investment. They even sent us a loaner unit to try before we bought one!

 

[Upstate Scuba OWI]

New Side Scan Pictures



Side Scan pictures of Outtake of the local nuclear plant taken with the 1198c Humminbird.

 

[Upstate Scuba OWI]

other side scan pics



The first three photo's in the group are far range setting of divers and their bubbles, and the last is an old bridge