How do you secure your SMB spool?

[idrivea911]

I lost my spool twice during a week long December diving trip in Bonaire. I keep the SMB and spool clipped under my backplane hanging by my butt. The spool is secured with a double bolt snap. I determined that what happens is when I sit, the spool twists and pushes on the 'handle' of the bolt. Then when I hit the water, the spool jostles and falls to the sea floor.

Here's the spool and bolt snap
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GB9QD7Q/

And here's what it looks like when the bolt snap opens itself:

SMB spool issue, open bolt snap

• idrivea911
• May 9, 2020
• 1

When twisted, the double bolt snap can open accidentally as shown

I'd love to know what you all use and has anyone run into this before? I can equalize pretty quickly so recovery didn't throw off the dives too much. But it's certainly not in any of my dive plans.

 

[Umuntu]

Take a look at this video. It's for Apeks' Spools, but can be used with any reel or spool.

 

[drakcheslav]

I use two kinds of carrying.

When diving in cold water I carry the DSMB connected to the spool.

Like this.

And if I'm diving in warmer/no gloves water.
Then I carry them separated.

As for thr DSMB, it's a Cressi Deco Pro.
It comes with a bolt snap.

 

[idrivea911]

Take a look at this video. It's for Apeks' Spools, but can be used with any reel or spool.

Thanks! That perfectly depicts and solves my exact issue!

 

[PfcAJ]

Spools go in pockets.

 

[ScubaWithTurk]

Spools go in pockets.

Unless you are in sm and then it goes on the back d-ring

 

[Mike1967]

Spools go in pockets.

Unless you are in sm and then it goes on the back d-ring

Or.....

 

[PfcAJ]

Unless you are in sm and then it goes on the back d-ring

Nope

still pockets.

 

[g1138]

I would always clip my spool to my chest D-ring and cover it with the elbow of the arm that was holding my mask and reg to my face before entering.
After entry I would transfer to the butt either during decent or during our first stable depth hold.

After the dive, I would transfer the spool back to chest D-ring once I was walking back on the boat deck, before I sat myself down on the bench. I didn't like the feeling of landing my bum on a spool & double ender.

TBH, this became an annoying necessity to avoid losing my spool, so I eventually went to getting at least one pocket on all my exposures.


The alternative is the waist D-ring. I used to keep my spool and SMB on my right D-ring (yes, add a right waist d-ring), but eventually that became inconsistent placement because I would carry collection bags there for work & my left waist was occupied by enough as well.

 

[Umuntu]

Nope

still pockets.

I don't have any pockets on my harness, so clipped and bungeed to the bottom of the BP the SMB and spool is.

You do you