[holden]

I would think you couldn't get under the ocean surface fast enough before the ELT would send out a couple of bleeps that would be satellite-received. Normally, automation would weed out such "tests" before SAR notices go out, but the powers-that-be would have that info to review, nonetheless.

Or are my thoughts even more "all wet" than I think?

HF

[Jack Hydrazine]

I would have to agree with you, but keep in mind it also depends on where the satellites are in orbit around the Earth at the time of the crash.