Your thoughts on PLBs

[cdiver2]

well, let me put it this way.

given the kind of diving i do here in Florida, i am not going to rush out and buy
one any time soon.

but, as i have said, i can see how its uses (in a limited number of scenarios) can
be very....er...useful....

my biggest issue is the mindset (and i am not pointing fingers at anyone) that
opts for a gadget as a solution when the real solution is to change diving habits
and practices.

i would change those first before getting the gadget.

and yes... there ARE some (a few) scenarios where the gadget makes sense.

I agree and would hope the likelihood of ever needing one is slim as you said especially the kind of diving you do, but I would remind you that the scene I described in post #3 was in Florida. When I surfaced and saw the boat a 39' Sea Ray with fly bridge a dot in the distance my first thoughts were oh s**t there never going to see us, and I can tell you there were a lot of worried faces on the boat when it picked us up.

My main concern for considering one is the remote spots that we do go to around the world. Don't get me wrong I would like a new PC faster more memory or a better slide scanner or a safety device that would work anywhere in the world. Given that we do travel to these parts I think it would be more prudent of me to go with safety.

 

[TwoTanks]

<Snip>

4. Boat sinks! Again, happened in '04 in SE Asia, another boat in vicinity was able to pick up divers.

Now, I admit, this would be a very good reason to have the device.
But, the boat should have one, bigger, and with more range, so mine
would be unecessary. If the boat don't have it, I don't dive with them.

<Snip>

as i said in my earlier post, i don't object to the device as a last-ditch
safety measure. what i obejct to is thinking that you can rely on the
gadget and forego the responsibility that you as a diver must take for
your own safety.

Just out of curiosity, are you saying that you check for an EPIRB on every dive boat you use and if they don't have one you head back to the hotel? How about buddies you dive with do they have EPIRBS?

That asked, The only time I would really want one would be if I was diving in the middle of nowhere like Palau or Galapagos where I could miss land if I swam for it.
I have never done a dive so far from land that I couldn't reach it, if my life depended on it. If I am way out from land I always take a compass heading to land just in case.

There are also cases of small countries taking no action when they are told of an EPIRB activation off of their shores. Not divers, but missing sail boats.

TT

 

[H2Andy]

Just out of curiosity, are you saying that you check for an EPIRB on every
dive boat you use and if they don't have one you head back to the hotel?

if the boat is going more than 10 miles or so off shore, yes. no EPIRB,
no dive for me.

thankfully, my dive vacations thus far have been to Bonaire and Grand
Cayman, so this wasn't an issue (very short boat rides, within sight of
land the whole time).

also, here in North Florida we go to about 10 miles, and all the reputable boats have EPIRB.

How about buddies you dive with do they have EPIRBS?

my life sucks real bad. i don't have any buddies with boats to ride
with.

however... if they were going to less than 10 miles or so off-shore, i
would be ok with no EPIRB.

 

[mempilot]

however... if they were going to less than 10 miles or so off-shore, i
would be ok with no EPIRB.

What's with the 10 miles everyone keeps mentioning? Ever fly over the open water in an aircraft trying to spot something floating on the surface. 10 miles is huge.

For those of you that think you are going to swim 10 miles back into shore, you are either Navy Seals or dilusional.

 

[TwoTanks]

What's with the 10 miles everyone keeps mentioning? Ever fly over the open water in an aircraft trying to spot something floating on the surface. 10 miles is huge.

For those of you that think you are going to swim 10 miles back into shore, you are either Navy Seals or dilusional.

I don't know where 10 miles came from, and I'm not planning on any 10 mile swims, but if I found myself in that situation I'd go for it. After all I've got the rest of my life to try.

TT

 

[cdiver2]

swim 10 miles ? ROFL. 1 mile could be impossible in the wrong conditions current against you its not necessarily going to be going to wards land wave hight

 

[H2Andy]

"10 miles or so" is just a number. it's the opposite of "out to open sea." you could
probably extend this to 20 miles... i'd feel a bit uncomfortable past 30 or so.

i mean simply "close enough to shore that the boat can out-run weather into safety and there are a number of other vessels within hailing distance (by radio) which can get to your location within a reasonable time."

it also cuts down time for air assets to reach you, but this wouldn't really
matter much at the distances i'm talking about.

as for swimming 10 miles, anyone who's been up against a current knows
the impossiblity of swiming 10 feet if the water's not going your way.

 

[fdog]

What's with the 10 miles everyone keeps mentioning? Ever fly over the open water in an aircraft trying to spot something floating on the surface. 10 miles is huge.

For those of you that think you are going to swim 10 miles back into shore, you are either Navy Seals or dilusional.

This would be why we are upgrading to the new TerraFix. Boat diving? It happens.

All the best, James

 

[detroit diver]

I only know a few words of Latin and dont know that one, but I can give you three for one.

Sero Sed Serio.
Virtuis Fortuna Comes.
Rutlenes Rosa Sine Spina

Here's one for ya:

Si dubitas, id et duc.

 

[Bob3]

A couple of my friends spent the night hanging onto lobster trap buoys after their boat got away from them.
**** happens.