DSMB and spool - where to keep and how not to loose

[divad]

I have one of these attached to the bottom of my backplate for the dsmb. I clip the reel to a chest d-ring.

Highland by XS Scuba Mesh Carry Pouch

The velcro closure is difficult to open with gloves on, so, not a perfect arrangement, but it's there for every dive and if I really need it I can get it out.

I had one of those and gave it away, but i still feel guilty about it.

 

[Satrekker]

I have a couple of pair of dive shorts with thigh pockets that have velcro flaps to close. There are d-rings inside the pockets. Reel attached to dsmb is bolt snapped onto d-ring in left thigh pocket. My favorite shorts are the Apeks, but they are pricey - around $150. A more affordable option around $50 can be had from dive gear express.

Apeks Tech Shorts 1.5mm Scuba Diving Pants - US | eBay

DGX Neoprene Pocket Shorts

The DGX shorts have a drawstring to tighten the waist, but I have to regularly pull them up. The Apeks fit snugger on me, although I had to have a tailor shorten up the velcro waist belt for me, so it fit right. Yes, the Apeks were 3x the cost, but the comfort is worth the money spent. Buy once, cry once. Good luck.

 

[eelnoraa]

Lost 3 DSMB and spools? Where should I be looking on my next dive?

I don't use a BP/wing, but in my experience (rock climbing, rigging, diving) items almost never unclip themselves unless there's a semi-rigid connection (for example, a bolt-snap attached to a metal D-ring) and something to provide leverage, such as the gunnel of a boat or a tank.

I'd suggest using a small loop of thin nylon line (3 or 4mm accessory cord, tied into a 7.5cm diameter loop) and choke-hitching that to a D-ring, then clipping the DSMB to the line, not directly to the metal ring. This will probably allow enough flexibility for the clip to slide and turn on the line, without providing enough resistance to open the gate on the clip, preventing you from adding to the underwater DSMB pyramid. [Insert warnings about entanglement hazard, non-standard equipment configuration, etc, etc]

The issue is not losing the spool or SMB, but rather the cave line come undone from the spool. It will unwind behind you. By the time you realize that, it will be a mess at the least, or entangle with something most likely. If that happens, and it will happen eventually if you let it hang on the outside, you really have two options underwater: stuff the loose cave line into a pocket or just ditch the spool if you don't have any pockets.

 

[Landlocked123]

I place mine in a thigh pocket

 

[SJT1961]

Found this interesting. Somewhat lengthy video, but I have used and it works.

 

[rmssetc]

The issue is not losing the spool or SMB, but rather the cave line come undone from the spool.

While having a spool unroll is certainly one possible issue, it doesn't seem to be related to this thread. The original post wrote:

I have now managed to loose 3 separate DSMB and spool combinations​

To me, that's a description having the DSMB and spool come detached and sink.

 

[Snoweman]

Found this interesting. Somewhat lengthy video, but I have used and it works.

I like this video, too. I take it a couple of steps further, though. I knot the line every five feet for 20' and double knot at 15'. I also pass the line through the center hole after passing it through a side hole, and then clip on my double snap using the technique in this video.

 

[Marie13]

I had much the same question perhaps a month ago and @tbone1004 was helpful. A pic of mine is below. It’s survived multiple giant strides into Lake Michigan.

I attached a loop of bungee cord to the D ring on my SMB which I put around SMB to keep the whole thing together and not dangling so much. The key is not to use the double ender on the spool to clip the whole thing to your BCD. Use another bolt snap.