Hi
I run a small liveaboard out from Acapulco, Mexico, and have a regular Garmin Sonar on it. I am looking into buying a side scan, but am confused with the amount of information I am getting in the Internet. As a person with little knowledge of electronics I am looking for simple operating unit, that allows me to:
-Sail up and down the coast on around 200 feet of water, looking for underwater mountains and rock formations that colme up to 50 to 100 feet for my divers
-can help me in search of small wrecks for salvage works
-might help in search of a drowning victim ( I am getting calls on a regular base for that, and neither the navy or prt captain has even a regular sonar, but looking for them scuba diving is not only stressful but expensive for the usually not wealthy families and usualy unsuceful )
Of all that I read I think a humminbird might be the best option, as I could be fixed to the hull and does not need aditional person to run lines and computers, but does anyone know if:
-the traducer works troughhull
-what happends if I cruise in 300 feet of water and I have a underwater rockformation coming up to 100, will that show on the side scan ( they say depth limit for reading is 150 feet)
mainly I would be very gratefull for any comment or advice you can give me, as to which system to purchase and which would be the not so expensive options
Thanks and take care
Beni
oniqdiving.com