Five Divers Reported Missing in Komodo National Park

A 406 GPS Personal Locator Beacon such as the MicroFix form ACR is well worth the investment.

I purchased 2 model PLB-300 and had cannisters made for them.

Every diver should have one of these.

I admit that I don't carry it when I dive locally but...

So what is the cost of the setup and who did you have make the canister? Have a picture? Curious what it looks like.

In addition to carrying an EPIRB, anyone every considered diving w/ your cell phone too? In a waterproof housing of course... you could probably get a signal in many places - even floating around.

 

James

I carry the ACR ResQFix. This is in a canister made by Salvo; the cannister is their 3 1/2 inch diameter model. They provided a "blank" snap-on lid.

In addition to the PLB, I also carry in the cannister:

• Rescue Streamer
  
• Military-grade mirror
  
• Rescue laser
  

There isn't enough space left to stash a small cell phone in the cannister, unfortunately.

I figure I have about $1100 US in the whole works. When I can get to it, I'll post some photos.

It takes about 2.5 lbs of lead to make it neutral. Depending on the dive op and their tank rack design, it's either in the tank camband (typical Aggressor) or on the waist strap like a can light (any boat with closely spaced tanks).

The canister is also something the TSA guys get all excited over.

All the best, James

Great news that they were found! Having been swept up, down and all around (i.e., in whirlpools) by the currents around Komodo, I can easily see how you could get into a strong uw current and end up just out of sight/earshot of the boat by the time you finished a dive and did a safety stop. I'm guessing that they felt secure because they were with their dive guide and all stayed together...obviously a false sense of security. I've thought of getting an EPIRB in the past, but never quite got around to it. I think I'm going to look into it more seriously now...

Great news that they were found!

Amazing news..it is great to hear

So what is the cost of the setup and who did you have make the canister? Have a picture? Curious what it looks like.

I'll post a photo and costs at:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=24926

Seems that I remember I paid about $100 each fr the cannisters.

Check out the article below. Evidently the 5 divers who were missing in Komodo waters and washed up on Rinca also had an encounter with a Komodo Dragon...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080608/ap_on_...ndonesia_divers

When I was there our divemaster went ashore and was chasing the dragons down the beach. Apparently the danger comes when you have to sleep.

Check out the article below. Evidently the 5 divers who were missing in Komodo waters and washed up on Rinca also had an encounter with a Komodo Dragon...

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080608/ap_on_...ndonesia_divers

yeah I noticed a lot of the news agency are running with this story now over the weekend. Even saw a ticker headline on CNN about divers having to fight off Komodo Dragons...

Well glad everyone is OK. Maybe they can sell their movie rights to Hollywood...