My apologies for the late reply.
First, Thank you for the feedback - both the positive and negative. I've got thick skin and by posting today, I learned a few things. So for that, I thank you. I posted in part as I knew others with more skill, ability, and experience would post, either by flame or support, but either way I also hoped I would learn something from you.
And to the next diver who reads this... I made several mistakes on this dive. Read my post and all the replies. You might learn something. I did. Maybe you will remember this someday and not repeat my mistakes.
No - this is not confabulated or fake story. I made several mistakes on this dive, and details were left out that, in retrospect, I could see how people might thing this was fake. I'll try and address those, but don't expect to draw me into an online spat.
No - I do not work for, represent, or have any affiliation with Garmin / Delorme. I use their products. Period. If you want to learn more about them, read the Amazon reviews. In my case, the Delorme both alerted GEOS, but also our emergency contacts (which were on our boat at anchorage, and in the U.S.). Planes did not come, helicopters did not appear, rescue vessels did not converge on our location simply because we activated it.
I will attempt to address the comments below. Some are lessons we learned, some are good suggestions I think should be reemphasized.
Regarding my wife calling the dive. Yes, in hindsight, she should have. I believe she did (or tried). I failed to listen. Things aren't always black and white. I admit I had "get-their-itus" and failed in this respect.
....you are a sailing family but don't have your own mask/fins/snorkel? Yes, we do Sail. Yes, we have our own dive equipment on-board. In this instance, we would have had to tender 8 tanks, BCDs, and all other gear + 5 people to shore and back. It was a lazy decision to rent, and a lesson learned. We only dive with our own equipment now regardless the size. Prior to this dive, we usually made arrangements to have the hired dive-boat pick us up at our anchorage and transfer the equipment over. Still, no excuse.
As bad as "Mike" was, how he may have panicked (which he did), and yelled, screamed, etc... It is our job to make sure the dive is safe. Not Mike's. Not even the Dive Master. Did I feel pressure to dive, yes.
The fin issue was a decision I would make again. My son dropped thinking I was good to go. The fin was on, but when I reached down to adjust it at the last moment, the pull strap broke and split the fin. I had my buddy in the water, who was also my son (who I couldn't see). My wife and other son already dropped from the other side of the boat. I felt, at the time, it was best to drop as close to his drop point due to fatherly instinct, gut, weather.. due to the fact that I did not see him resurface. I'm not sure I would have made a different decision in that exact moment.. even in hindsight.
"....When at the bottom and your son was having issues and air was leaking, what was his air pressure doing?"
I was at 300 BAR, I believe he was at or around 200 BAR (if I recall.. it was lower than mine). I felt the need to switch reg's considering. In this case, I felt the need to.
"...At the bottom, even with 1 working BCD and 3 fins for 2 people, ascending should be easy, don't drop weights."
It was not easy, but in hindsight, I should have KEPT THE