SMBs. How many, what colors, and why?

[koozemani]

Is it, or something like it, compatable with a DSS wing? I have also seen a butt plate used to secure SMBs.

 

[Splitlip]

Not sure. The DSS plates are very low profile. Also, I don't know that the "holes" line up. Drilling through aluminum is easy enough, but SS is another story. DSS makes Kydex and steel, but not aluminum. I sold my SS diverite plate and purchased a ScubaPro plate which is like the Halcyon. I easily drilled my DR aluminum and DR abs.

 

[Dsix36]

And that's what gives this boat captain Tourette's. A lift bag is not an SMB. Most heads stick out of the water further than a lift bag. At least with an SMB, there is a chance it will stick up when a wave passes underneath it.

The whole idea of a SMB is to have someone see you. It makes me crazy that so little instruction is given in tech classes about proper SMB deployment, to say nothing of recreational classes. If you want to be seen, get that thing in the air.

That is why my primary is a SMB. I have yet to need to resort to my backup. I have deployed my backup underwater to actually lift items to the surface though. My SMB doesn't have 50lb of lift.

 

[koozemani]

"The whole idea of a SMB is to have someone see you. It makes me crazy that so little instruction is given in tech classes about proper SMB deployment, to say nothing of recreational classes. If you want to be seen, get that thing in the air." Wookie

It's barely covered in Rec. Courses that I've taken. It was not mentioned at all in OW and during my deep cert it was explained briefly. We got to shoot one once and that was it. The entirety of my SMB experience is from reading tips on SB and practicing on my own. My regular buddy had zero experience with them until I bought a couple and brought them home. She dismissed them as more random gear that I "had to have" until a soon after dive trip where a couple of infinitely more experienced divers had to shoot theirs after being swept away by a current. We avoided the same fate by thumbing the dive after realizing the strength of the current. She is now a believer! If only a could talk her into a BP/W.

 

[Splitlip]

"The whole idea of a SMB is to have someone see you. It makes me crazy that so little instruction is given in tech classes about proper SMB deployment, to say nothing of recreational classes. If you want to be seen, get that thing in the air." Wookie

It's barely covered in Rec. Courses that I've taken. It was not mentioned at all in OW and during my deep cert it was explained briefly. We got to shoot one once and that was it. The entirety of my SMB experience is from reading tips on SB and practicing on my own. My regular buddy had zero experience with them until I bought a couple and brought them home. She dismissed them as more random gear that I "had to have" until a soon after dive trip where a couple of infinitely more experienced divers had to shoot theirs after being swept away by a current. We avoided the same fate by thumbing the dive after realizing the strength of the current. She is now a believer! If only a could talk her into a BP/W.

You have pretty much summed up my rant. Thanks.

I was hit by a boat before we had these tools. We have the tools...why don't the agencies include their use in their training.

 

[koozemani]

I found this that looks promising as a means to stow a couple of SMBs/lift bags.

OxyCheq Emergency Dive System discounts on sale OxyCheq

 

[RonFrank]

The UTD advanced Nitrox, and Tech One classes most certainly teach the deployment of an SMB. In fact you deploy one with no mask on and various other failures occurring in Tech One! I think OW is not the time to teach this. There is plenty to learn without more task loading. Anyone who has launched an SMB at depth knows this is something that takes some practice.

I found that I deploy my SMB most every weekend that I dive. The lack of international standards is a bit troubling. My tall SMB is Yellow (7') my 4' is orange. I've seen them orange on one side yellow on the other... so what does that mean?

 

[koozemani]

If task loading is an issue, then make the OW course longer. As good as my OW instructor was, I came away feeling that the basic requirements to pass were inadequate to really prepare anyone for anything.

 

[Randy g]

I carry 2 lift devices/surface markers after some hard lessons learned last month in Hatteras. 6 ft Dan sausage and a 100 lb Carter lift bag. I am ordering a butt plate with storage for the bags.

Current ripped 2 out of 3 surface markers away from 2 teams of divers. Anchor broke the wreck where it was tied in and we were thrown into a drift deco for our last certification dive. Fortunately my instructor for my IANTD Deep/Rec Tri had his act together and deployed his 100lb lift bag from 120ft and the boat found us very quickly. The other team was not so lucky. It took a little while to find one of the two, (1st mistake) because he lost his buddy and (2nd mistake) lost his surface marker in the current.

Lesson learned!!! ALWAYS carry 2 surface markers.

 

[RonFrank]

So you are saying after 4 OW dives you trim was perfect, your buoyancy was spot on, your finning was perfect and you never silted the bottom, your weight was dialed in, and you knew All the material in the books (not just what they tested on which was minimal)? Not to mention you were comfortable with you Kit, could dive without your mask, could Navigate without issue, and could sip a tank never needing to use even 1500lbs? Then we get to the buddy skills which you had perfected?

You would be doing great if you had perfected all the skills mentioned this far into your diving. Thats what OW is about. Not the flimsy skeleton they teach. These skills are for you.

I take your self appraisal with a grain of salt.