12/08/2026
Yesterday three people got lucky. At the end of an afternoon that was very stressful for everyone involved, three missing divers were picked up by a Fastcraft heading to Calapan and returned to shore unharmed. Lucky it was because the ability to search was impacted by marginal weather and surface conditions, combined with PG being generally quiet and many boats already being secured somewhere safe and crews gone home. Meaning not that much help available.
I have pointed this out before. We have a system in place to prevent this happening altogether. There are now two monitoring stations in PG, one atop El Galleon, and one very kindly installed by Muimui Estabillo of iConnect high on their tower in Sinandigan.
What that means is that any diver carrying a Gpacer T3 Transmitter who turns it on at the surface will be seen by one or both of these stations, their position will be put online for anybody to see on the Gpacers app, install it on your dive shop phone or wherever, it costs nothing. I am in Manila now and can see exactly where Ruben Maranan is as he goes out for a dive with Asia Divers Angels. On other tests I have seen Anto Steele’s boat as far away as Verde and the Baco’s.
Further to that we have a Telegram group where if anybody activates the Distress signal on one of these Transmitters it will sound an audible alarm to tell you someone is in trouble. Much like a Smartphone telling you there’s a Flood risk. It’s impossible to miss it, regardless where you happen to be. No waiting for the boatmen to realize he has to go home and report, two hours too late.
This technology is cheap security. My question, does anyone want me to stage a demonstration or give presentation on this. I will do it for individual shops who want to understand how to protect themselves or a broader community talk. Those of you good people who are most active in the PG safety Forums, the Pedro Magsino's of the world, perhaps let me know what I can do to help. We might prevent a life ending scenario occurring.
Below, Ruben getting ready for a dive, in real time. Anto Steele Steel on an initial test run, and the transmitters you would need to carry, primarily just on high risk dives.
