Super Lightweight DSMB Setup

[Peter Bomberg]

Good Morning, I am looking for recommendations for the lightest and most compact closed cell DSMB and finger reel.

I need 20-30m of line and an orally inflatable DSMB with an OPV so it can be sent up from any depth, I am looking for the smallest and most compact setup as the whole dive kit has to be lugged around in a backpack over a 3 month period and my weight allowance is 23Kg including all gear, camera and clothing (I know it's not much).

I suspect a plastic finger spool, 2 small aluminum carabiners (lighter than a double ended boltsnap) and a compact DSMB will be the setup but which one would you recommend?

xDeep - Closed Narrow SMB 140cm Orange with the ISC 19M FINGER SPOOL seems like a good combination?

 

[Divectionist]

I use the 1m closed Halcyon with OPV attached to a small finger spool.

It costs quite a bit more than that but should be that bit more compact at only 1m instead of 1.4m.

One good breath fills it.

 

[Mr. Sunday]

I use the Halcyon 1m as well and highly recommend. Specifically the one with the one-way metal inflator valve. Well worth the $ in my opinion.

That said if your looking for the lightest smallest you might look at the Akona SMB with rubber nipple inflator and no opv. It is by far the smallest and lightest SMB I have seen. It's about half the size of my Halcyon when rolled up which is already small.

For a spool, a simple polycarbonate from DGX or the like should do you fine.

AKONA Safety Tube - Saguaro Scuba

DGX Custom - Polycarbonate Finger Spool | Dive Gear Express®

 

[tursiops]

Good Morning, I am looking for recommendations for the lightest and most compact closed cell DSMB and finger reel.

I need 20-30m of line and an orally inflatable DSMB with an OPV so it can be sent up from any depth, I am looking for the smallest and most compact setup as the whole dive kit has to be lugged around in a backpack over a 3 month period and my weight allowance is 23Kg including all gear, camera and clothing (I know it's not much).

I suspect a plastic finger spool, 2 small aluminum carabiners (lighter than a double ended boltsnap) and a compact DSMB will be the setup but which one would you recommend?

xDeep - Closed Narrow SMB 140cm Orange with the ISC 19M FINGER SPOOL seems like a good combination?

The AL carabiners I've seen have mild-steel springs. Not going to last in sea-water use. You may not even need a clip; depends on how you plan to use it.

 

[CuzzA]

Good Morning, I am looking for recommendations for the lightest and most compact closed cell DSMB and finger reel.

I need 20-30m of line and an orally inflatable DSMB with an OPV so it can be sent up from any depth, I am looking for the smallest and most compact setup as the whole dive kit has to be lugged around in a backpack over a 3 month period and my weight allowance is 23Kg including all gear, camera and clothing (I know it's not much).

I suspect a plastic finger spool, 2 small aluminum carabiners (lighter than a double ended boltsnap) and a compact DSMB will be the setup but which one would you recommend?

xDeep - Closed Narrow SMB 140cm Orange with the ISC 19M FINGER SPOOL seems like a good combination?

Black Friday Special! 36

 

[-JD-]

Do you plan on deploying the SMB routinely or is it just emergency equipment? If the latter, I'd consider using a mini-spool and then rewinding it with some Dyneema line to get the length that you need.

Like this: 1"W x 2"dia. Light Monkey Delrin Spools with S/S Snap | Dive Gear Express®

With a 1"W x 3"dia., Divesoft gets 90M Divesoft Emergency Spool (90 m Dyneema) | Dive Gear Express®

 

[Peter Bomberg]

The AL carabiners I've seen have mild-steel springs. Not going to last in sea-water use. You may not even need a clip; depends on how you plan to use it.

The AL carabeners typically seem to last about 5 years in my experience. I agree in the clip.

 

[Peter Bomberg]

Black Friday Special! 36

The joy of living in Canada but I can always order the HOG at full price, still seems to be a good option

 

[CuzzA]

The joy of living in Canada but I can always order the HOG at full price, still seems to be a good option

It's a good bag for the price even at the MSRP. I'm curious why you need a spool with so much line? Unless you're doing deeper deco, I've found a spool to not be worth the hassle if it's just for safety stops and instead just use a piece of aluminum pipe cut to the width of the bag and I wrapped 10 meters of line around it tied off through four holes I drilled on one end and secured with a double ender. This works great because you just let the pipe go and the weight of the pipe unravels the line. Shoot the bag and you're good to go. Mine also has a mono stringer, but eliminating that would make it even less complex and everything is kept nice and tidy.

 

[tursiops]

Just wrap the line around the rolled-up DSMB with a brass/steel clip at the end. The weight of the clip is plenty to let the line hang down below you. Paracord works better than cave-line for this.