Emergency Dive Kit

The MicorFix/ResQfix unit have the best of all the worlds:

406 MHz (COSPAS-SARSAT) and 121.5 MHz (SAR homing frequency).

100 meter position accuracy when GPS coordinates are present.

I had cannisters made for a reasonable amount of $$

... Which one would be the best?...

You pay your money and take your chance.

I would point out that I've never handled either of these units so all this just imo.

Looks like the ACR unit will transmit at 406MHz to satellites which will triangulate your position and raise the alarm. It also has a 121.5MHz transmitter which would then be used by search & rescue to locate you. As you say, its not waterproof so will need a container and a corresponding lump of lead. Its going to be one of those kit decisions whether to take it with you.

The Sea Marshal won't raise the alarm automatically for you unless you are luck enough to be near an equipped boat or are overflown. You'll have to rely on the crew or others to notice you are missing. On the other hand it is 100m proof and given its dimensions of 3" x 3" x 1" will be lost in the BC pocket as standard kit. It can't need more than 1/4 lb of lead for neutral buoyancy, probably less because its oil filled.

Just to be clear, 121.5 MHz is being phased out as a satellite system but not for aircraft distress or SAR.

Looks like the ACR unit will transmit at 406MHz to satellites which will triangulate your position and raise the alarm. It also has a 121.5MHz transmitter which would then be used by search & rescue to locate you.

My problem comes with "raise the alarm" and "used by search & rescue to locate you". Let's just say, hypothetically, that one is using this unit in a location like Komodo (the recent incident) or Raja Empat in Indonesia.

My understanding is that there is no reliable arrangements or system yet in place whereby the "alarm" raised when a satellite picks up the 406 MHz signal is passed on to a local who would, in theory, carry out the search & rescue operations. Similarly, I'm not aware that any organization or service in Indonesia that might be carrying out search and rescue operations in these locations - say National Park rangers in Komodo, Forest Police in other Indonesian national parks, water police, police, or local military units have receivers capable of homing in on the 121.5 MHz homing signal.

If so, then carrying a unit like this in places like Indonesia would be a waste of time or worse, if the equipment were actually relied on as a substitute for conventional visual signalling devices. And I assume the situation would be the same in PNG, the Solomons, and possibly also the Philippines.

I'd love to be wrong about this, and if so - I really hope there is somebody knowledgeable out there who can set me straight. Pending solid information, I think the assumption that equipment like this - which may indeed be very useful in alerting SAR teams in places like California or Florida - would have any value in countries such as Indonesia or PNG may be a risky one.

Frogfish (who is sticking with a 10' SMB and marine emergency dye packs for now)

If anyone is really concerned about being lost at sea and wants to be super safe, the best thing to do is get yourself an EPIRB!

Or...

Stay very close to the dive guide who knows what she/he is doing with regards to localised currents.

If anyone is really concerned about being lost at sea .....stay very close to the dive guide who knows what she/he is doing with regards to localised currents.

I believe the DM was one of those rescued in the Komodo incident.