New Nautilus Lifeline Marine Rescue GPS

[Dan]

So since I don't dive deep, and have the PLB1 I went the seal-a-meal route--sealed it and the case in one bag , then used another bag to seal again, hole punched in margin, then attached and placed in my nautilus pouch . I placed a felt pad between the unit and the "cover" so it does not get turned on accidentally if I'm deep (as what happened with you Dan_T) this method kept it dry for a weeks diving at the SB cayman brac surge. I also have the camera case but its too big and bulky, and I don't have pockets in my bc. Also just last week got my rebate .

Nice to finally get that $50 check in the mail. Keep us updated on how your seal-a-meal setup works on your Cayman Brac Surge trip.

My cheap solution (to be tested soon) is to put a paper clip instead of a felt pad, as shown, below.

 

[Dizzi Lizzi]

It worked great, I dove 7 days, 2-3 dives a day, max depth was bout 80 fsw kept dry the whole time.

 

[Patfei]

I gave up getting the new Nautilus Lifeline (NL) and stick with my PLB1. Below is a size comparison of the old NL (the one with VHF radio, the "monster" size) with my PLB1 inside a camera case, which fits nicely inside my BCD waist pocket below my DSMB.

The camera case (waterproof down to 40m) works just fine in GBR & Galapagos diving down to 30m so far. I got this old camera case from eBay for $10.

Once they come up with PLB + VHF (5 watts) + waterproof case the size of the old NL for
$300, I'll buy it.

View attachment 395173

Ingenious indeed Dan! Can I ask which version of the Sony Underwater Marine Pack you used for the PLB? I saw that some people use both a Nautilus Lifeline and a PLB. Just curious on your point of view. Many thanks in advance! :- )

 

[Dan]

Nice to finally get that $50 check in the mail. Keep us updated on how your seal-a-meal setup works on your Cayman Brac Surge trip.

My cheap solution (to be tested soon) is to put a paper clip instead of a felt pad, as shown, below.

View attachment 395274

This cheap solution with paper clip still doesn’t work. Once I went deeper than 80 fsw, the soft bag just crushed & pressed the paper clip & turned on my PLB1 underwater. My best option is to use the old underwater camera case as waterproof case for the PLB1.

 

[Dan]

Ingenious indeed Dan! Can I ask which version of the Sony Underwater Marine Pack you used for the PLB? I saw that some people use both a Nautilus Lifeline and a PLB. Just curious on your point of view. Many thanks in advance! :- )

This one:

My point of view (you all feel free to point out the fallacy):

I prefer the PLB1 because it will send 5 watts distress signal straight up to the sky to SAR satellites, where NOAA would monitor, verify & then send Coast Guard / US Navy to locate use. If you are overseas, US Navy will work with the local SAR (BaSARnas for Indonesia) to find you.

The NLL just send weak 1 watt VHF distress signal to another boat radio, hoping the boat will tune in to Channel 16 & locate you. Any big waves or more than few miles away the signal can be too weak to be received by the boat. For US area with plenty of boat traffic, that would be OK. However, if you are in foreign, like Indonesia, some boat don’t have radio, much less listening to Channel 16 if they do. You may see the boat cruising by in the horizon and you may be frantically waving at them, blow the Dive Alert air horn, etc. If they don’t see you, they may just continue to sail on & disappear from your sight.

 

[Patfei]

I gave up getting the new Nautilus Lifeline (NL) and stick with my PLB1. Below is a size comparison of the old NL (the one with VHF radio, the "monster" size) with my PLB1 inside a camera case, which fits nicely inside my BCD waist pocket below my DSMB.

The camera case (waterproof down to 40m) works just fine in GBR & Galapagos diving down to 30m so far. I got this old camera acase from eBay for $10.

Once they come up with PLB + VHF (5 watts) + waterproof case the size of the old NL for
$300, I'll buy it.

View attachment 395173

This one:
View attachment 432522

My point of view (you all feel free to point out the fallacy):

I prefer the PLB1 because it will send 5 watts distress signal straight up to the sky to SAR satellites, where NOAA would monitor, verify & then send Coast Guard / US Navy to locate use. If you are overseas, US Navy will work with the local SAR (BaSARnas for Indonesia) to find you.

The NLL just send weak 1 watt VHF distress signal to another boat radio, hoping the boat will tune in to Channel 16 & locate you. Any big waves or more than few miles away the signal can be too weak to be received by the boat. For US area with plenty of boat traffic, that would be OK. However, if you are in foreign, like Indonesia, some boat don’t have radio, much less listening to Channel 16 if they do. You may see the boat cruising by in the horizon and you may be frantically waving at them, blow the Dive Alert air horn, etc. If they don’t see you, they may just continue to sail on & disappear from your sight.

Many thanks for your reply Dan! Much appreciated :- )

 

[loady]

Has anyone used the new Nautilus lifeline in an emergency and what was the result? Theres a review on Amazon that says the guy pressed the button in the USA and an Air Force dispatcher left a voicemail on his cell phone in response. His cell phone had no signal so he didn't get rescued.

 

[scubadada]

Has anyone used the new Nautilus lifeline in an emergency and what was the result? Theres a review on Amazon that says the guy pressed the button in the USA and an Air Force dispatcher left a voicemail on his cell phone in response. His cell phone had no signal so he didn't get rescued.

I'd love to hear about how the new lifeline has really worked out. I dive solo in Boynton Beach year round. I do some more complicated routes on the outside reef with or without crossover to the inside. The current can be nothing to ripping, the sea conditions vary a lot over the year. We can get unexpected very low visibility conditions with thunderstorms, clouds, fog...we occasionally dive at night. I've never been lost but I've waited quite a while for pick up. A lifeline might give me some piece of mind. Of course I drag a flag as required.

 

[Dan]

Has anyone used the new Nautilus lifeline in an emergency and what was the result? Theres a review on Amazon that says the guy pressed the button in the USA and an Air Force dispatcher left a voicemail on his cell phone in response. His cell phone had no signal so he didn't get rescued.

This is odd comment. Please post the link to the review. The reason I say this is because the Marine Rescue GPS (MRG), Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS: Official Website (the new model of Nautilus Lifeline), doesn’t require you to register. So, there is no way for Air Force dispatcher to have the MRG owner phone number.

Are you confusing MRG with Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)?

I have both MRG & PLB1, http://oceansignal.com/products/plb1/

The MRG has already MMSI number with it that would send ”Man Over Board” 1-Watt VHF distress radio signal to any boat nearby with AIS / DSC capability, when you press the red button. The receiver would not know who you are other than the MMSI number & your GPS location on the signal.

To effectively use the PLB1, however, you need to register it to your country’s SAR (Search And Rescue) agency. For USA, that will be NOAA, where you enter your emergency contact info. When you press the red button of the PLB1, it’ll send a 5-Watt 406 MHz signal (not VHF) straight up to the sky, where SAR satellites (LEOSAR & GEOSAR) & GPS satellites would receive the distress signals then relay the signal back to NOAA Mission Control Center (MCC). The MCC would then verify your distress signal legitimacy by calling your emergency contact. Once the information is verified, then they will dispatch US Coast Guard or US Navy to rescue you.

MRG is only good for marine rescue. I carry it when I go diving.

PLB1 is good for both land & sea. I carry it, not only during diving, but also when I go hiking in the woods or skiing, where cellular signal is nil.

 

[loady]

Dan let me repeat the question HAS ANYONE USED IT IN AN EMERGENCY? What was the result?
Search Amazon for nautilus marine rescue . A review says a guy used it and wasn’t rescued. If it’s not linked to your data will it work better then the other one? I’m not talking about a plb.