Tracking device for skiing and diving

[Snoweman]

If it's for an avalanche, then the best thing would be an airbag backpack. A PLB won't do crap if you're buried, even if you can reach it and activate it (and most likely won't be able to if your buried in snow).

A nautilus lifeline won't help in the mountains, as it is only on boat navigation frequencies.

A whistle may be the best, simple solution to both problems - assuming the person is on the "surface" in both situations.

 

[Snoweman]

We got matching his n’ hers for Valentine# Day....


Breitling Emergency - Swiss watch with distress beacon

Steve Fosset owned an early version of this watch. According to Wikipedia, he wasn't wearing it when he crashed. We will never know if that made a difference in his death, if he wasn't wearing it.

 

[m.taylor]

Mostly non scuba related tangent incoming.

If it's for an avalanche, then the best thing would be an airbag backpack. A PLB won't do crap if you're buried, even if you can reach it and activate it (and most likely won't be able to if your buried in snow).

An airbag doesn't hurt, however recent thoughts bring up the fact that the amazing statistics on survival rates from European studies don't translate perfectly across the pond. My thoughts on why this is is that we have more skiing at and below treeline, and that this leads to more fatalities due to trauma than asphyxiation. If you have only one thing when backcountry skiing, it should be avalanche safety education. That then teaches you that you need to carry equipment for self and companion rescue, and for the love of god wear a helmet and travel in a group. I don't want to have to come find your body with my dog.

On a more relevant note, probably the best personal locator unit around right now for land based SAR is the Garmin Inreach. It is a two way messenger, so you can communicate with a rescue operation and give some details on your situation. I can't see why you couldn't use it in a marine environment besides it possibly not being too suitable for submersion. You can also text your wife/girlfriend or anyone else on your list if you are running late or forgot to get milk.