"The battery [on the black box] can last for up to one month, so we are competing with time," Mr Nurcahyo said. "We have 21 days left, but we remain optimistic." Current: A diver prepares his mask during a search operation for the missing plane. Credit:Beawiharta They are hoping to resume tomorrow when the weather is expected to improve. The search endured another day of frustration on all fronts. The leader of the navy frogmen, Tirta Yasa, told Fairfax Media divers had only spent only about five minutes in the water on Sunday, but it was "pitch black … they couldn't see the hand in front of their face". The underwater current was so strong that it laid divers out flat under the water: "It's like you're Superman," he said.

Because neither sonar nor the robotic vehicle are of use when the mud being churned through the water by the strong currents is so thick, the hunt to locate any of the several large pieces of wreckage has effectively stalled. Time: A member of the Indonesian Navy looking towards a part believed to be from the AirAsia flight. Credit:AFP Mr Nurcahyo said the escape slides from both sides of the rear of the aircraft have been found by searchers, not because they were deployed, but because of the force of the impact. "We also found the broken containers, so there was no emergency landing – they simply didn't have time to open the door." Hope: Indonesia air force members during a search operation for the missing plane. Credit:Tatan Syuflana

The 37 bodies have been found floating over a widely-dispersed search site. But disaster victim identification team officials say it's getting more difficult to name them. Most relatives of victims have given DNA samples, but the time required for that method of identification can stretch into weeks. As Australian experts cast doubt on the Indonesian weather agency's theory that icing on the aircraft may have contributed to the crash, pilots began to bite back at the Indonesian government for its policy reaction. Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan became angry on Friday that AirAsia pilots had not physically picked up weather forecasts and had not been briefed in person at the meteorology office at the airport. After the meeting, he banned AirAsia from flying the Singapore to Surabaya route, saying their licence did not allow them to fly on Sunday, the day of the fatal flight. But pilots say they get their weather information from the internet, and are diligent in using it.

Senior pilot Sardjono Jhony Tjitrokusumo bit back at the minister in a press statement saying: "Don't make things up and say pilots are at fault for not undergoing briefings — it is not part of the required procedures [before taking off]." If each was required to be briefed, they would need to form a queue, he said. Aviation consultant Gerry Soejatman said, "It's ridiculous, there has been some extremely bad advice, and the minister's losing credibility."