Nautilus Lifeline GPS VHF Safety Radio

Great idea and it works well except when the O-ring leaks. Took it on a total of 6 dives and it decided to leak on the last dive. These were not extremely deep dives (50ft at best), nor were they very long (50 min longest). I put it in a pocket on my BC as opposed to dangling so it would not get caught on anything, but that did not work out. The O-ring on the cover is extremely thin. Much thinner than O-rings on my camera enclosure. I could understand if the failure rate is high.Update - I sent the Lifeline back to the manufacturer ... I had to pay for postage ... they offered that if there was a defect then they would ship me a new one; if not I could purchase the warranty and they would send me a new unit. Fortunately for me epoxy from seating the antenna had leaked in to the o-ring channel which caused the o-ring not to seal properly. I just got the unit back. I am hopeful that I will not have problems going forward.

What a better way to be prepared when diving? Even if you don't need it, at least there's the security of knowing you can radio your boat or, if really lost, send out digital distress messages over DSC with your GPS location. So far, I've used it on 6 dives and, although no occasion to use it for distress, it's been just fine. I ask the boat captain so I can set the working frequency and haven't had a problem yet. Battery seems to last quite a while, when I accidentally left it on and was collecting a bunch of GPS locations.

Fortunately I haven't had to use it yet, but it is exactly what I expected. I got several great recommendations from other divers that have them.

Firstly, I'm calling BS on most of the 5 star reviews. These people have only 1 review and I'd warn you they are probably fake. 4 or 5 of the reviewers look good but the others don't.I dive in Florida.we have the Gulf Stream.it moves at 4 miles per hour.So...were did you say you were??(even if you have a radio)If you can afford diving gear and you dive Open Water you cannot afford NOT to have one.Built tough, reasonably easy to open, wish the LED blinker was a multi-sided flash tube (it's unfortunately directional)Also blinks WAY TOO SLOW...based on swell times it might be several seconds before a wave period makes you visible to a boat.Easy to use.Call your dive boat--Push Green button and hold to talk, let go to listen, push to talk.Call any boat--Push Orange Button and hold to talk, let go to listen, push to talk.Change Channel--Push green button 3 times, scroll with green and select channel by holding down green.Turn on strobe-- Push green button 2 times.Self-Diag-Mode -- Push orange button 3 times to start and once to exit.Red button under "Distress" tab is the "Send all units!! all hell broke lose" Everything(including the Coast Guard) will come after you.(This could cost you some major bucks if a small child/mind gets it and pushes "Distress". (You pick up everyone's search bill).I just pretty much covered the whole manual.One of the reviewers (JD) pointed out that the instructions from this part of the review (previous) for testing the DSC functionality did not work. I have deleted this because it looks like he is correct. The instructions I had are not the same as they have now. Be careful with the radio and test the VHF side (non-DSC). You can test the DSC capability but you will not receive a response from the Coast Guard. (as per the Nautilus Web Site). You will only self-test the radio.If you can't run this radio system, I don't want to dive with you, it's easy. If you don't have one I don't want to dive with you. (Scuba or Freedive)UPDATED after 3 days... OMG...Guess what. The display has no backlight. Also the strobe doesn't illuminate the settings on the display. SO...not so happy now. This thing is Great! As long as you don't need it in the DARK!!! Or you have night vision or you can memorize the several last set of GPS coordinates so that they can plot a course and extrapolate a position from that; because god knows you don't need to be able to read it/operate it in the dark!

Great concept. Use it SCUBA and offshore fishing/boating. Can't imagine anyone who drift dives not having one, along with their safety sausage.

Everyone who dives should carry one, especially if you are a worry wart about being left behind.

If this can actually save your life, I think it is worth to have it...

Very Good