Scuba diver's Personal Locator Beacon - how never to be lost at sea

[DandyDon]

In the recent missing plane incident, if some one on board survived with a PLB and activated it, the mystery would have been over 14 days ago. If someone survived it with a life line, nothing would have changed.

They would have to have been outside of the plane as I don't think the PLB signal could be picked up from inside, at least not by a satellite. The local governments are keeping so much secret tho, it's hard to know.

Today's focus is on the southern Indian ocean, but they won't have time for much...

 

[Ron Lee]

1) A PLB does not go bad in five years. The battery may have to be replaced at that time.

2) The McMurdo canister can be placed on a dive belt or similar webbing plus has a lanyard option.

3) On Cozumel, most dives there are plenty of other boats to pick you up or you can surface swim to shore.

4) If you want to know what would happen if you activate a PLB in the Phillipines, call the US Air Force SARSAT office. I did a few years ago and got my questions answered.

Call the 800 number here to ask what happens in remote, non-US areas:

NOAA - Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking - RCCs

 

[DandyDon]

1) A PLB does not go bad in five years. The battery may have to be replaced at that time.

Yeah, have you priced what it takes to have it replaced by a qualified technician? Better to get the 2018 model with new battery and warranty, probably

2) The McMurdo canister can be placed on a dive belt or similar webbing plus has a lanyard option.

Yep. Have you worn one on a belt? I preferred having it looser. The lanyard option is viable, but I had heavy duty zip ties - and didn't trust what I could find for the lanyard hole. How did you carry yours?

3) On Cozumel, most dives there are plenty of other boats to pick you up or you can surface swim to shore.

Unless you head out of the park, which I have many times.

4) If you want to know what would happen if you activate a PLB in the Phillipines, call the US Air Force SARSAT office. I did a few years ago and got my questions answered.

What...?

 

[Ron Lee]

DD, I have not taken my PLB diving.

The battery has been replaced once easily. It is due again this year or next.

My point on diving Cozumel is that the majority of the dive sites are not at high risk of people dying if their dive boat does not pick them up.

 

[DandyDon]

DD, I have not taken my PLB diving.

The battery has been replaced once easily. It is due again this year or next.

My point on diving Cozumel is that the majority of the dive sites are not at high risk of people dying if their dive boat does not pick them up.

Ok, you have no experience diving with one then.

How much to have the battery replaced? The best I found is $168. I got my new ACR 2881 for $200 after rebate, altho the cash rebate is no longer offered.

True: Most Coz sites are in the park and getting lost is not much risk. Many sites are outside of the park tho.

So what did the Air Force tell you?

 

[Mossman]

Many sites are outside of the park tho.

Really?

 

[DandyDon]

Really?

:silly:

 

[Ron Lee]

Ok, you have no experience diving with one then.

How much to have the battery replaced? The best I found is $168. I got my new ACR 2881 for $200 after rebate, altho the cash rebate is no longer offered.

True: Most Coz sites are in the park and getting lost is not much risk. Many sites are outside of the park tho.

So what did the Air Force tell you?

I got the canister when I thought I would be diving the east side. I use it now for hiking, flying and general travel use.

Watch the ACR website. They seem to have rebates once or twice a year.

I may have summarized my conversation with the USAF SAR office in this thread. My memory sucks but I believe that they would know about an activation very quickly (minutes). I do not recall if that included a signal in the far east.

I got free lifetime battery replacement when I bought my Fastfind Plus.

 

[DandyDon]

I got the canister when I thought I would be diving the east side. I use it now for hiking, flying and general travel use.

Which shoots your "most sites" suggestion. You don't carry the PLB and the dive canister both for non-diving do you? Why don't you carry it diving?

Watch the ACR website. They seem to have rebates once or twice a year.

They have a rebate, but it's in goods - not cash.

I may have summarized my conversation with the USAF SAR office in this thread. My memory sucks but I believe that they would know about an activation very quickly (minutes). I do not recall if that included a signal in the far east.

The NOAA gets the signal quickly then tries to send local help. Assets and resources will vary with countries.

I got free lifetime battery replacement when I bought my Fastfind Plus.

Nice. Twice as heavy as my ACR 2881, but free batteries for life is nice.

They don't seem to offer that model now, but do offer two others - with a very wide variety of prices at different sites. I don't think any of their PLBs float tho.

 

[Ron Lee]

DD, there is little need for the PLB at most sites. Where needed, my dive op has Nautilus Lifeline units.

As an early adopter of PLBs in the US, I have a bulky unit compared to the ACR offerings. I do not intend to buy another just to have a smaller PLB.

I also take care of my wetsuit between dive days.