Expertise Needed: Lift bag & safety sausage mounted on BP&W

[CharlieDontDive]

Looking for some advice regarding mounting a safety sausage & lift bag to my Halcyon BP&W.

I was recently on a charter boat diving a wreck of NJ. During the dive, a buddy pair completely lost the wreck so, unable to find it again, they used a safety sausage + reel to make a safe ascent. It wasn't an emergency of any sort, but the sight of a red SS popping to the surface understandably threw the crew into "oh sh*t" mode for a minute. During the ride back to the marina, a discussion began about use of safety sausages & lift bags. The boat's divemaster recommended that all divers should carry both items: the lift bag to use as a surface marker for an unplanned (but non-emergency) ascent, and the safety sausage for an emergency-type ascent. Both utilizing a reel, obviously.

The divemaster who made this recommendation then showed us his BP&W and I immediately thought "oh wow, that's awesome. His setup was like so:

• Safety sausage mounted on insight right of his BP&W
• Lift bag mounted on insight left of his BP&W
• Picture for reference, red circles are roughy where he had each mounted

The purpose is to have both items ready for quick deployment: a diver only needs to reach slightly behind him to either the right or left, depending on which one he needs. Both of this guy;s LB & SS seemed compact & unobtrusive (to my recollection), and their positioned was such that they did not interfere with any other gear. I want to say each one was in some sort of bag or compression sack with the opening facing downward, but...I may be remembering that inaccurately.

I wish I'd gotten the guy's name to pick his brain further, or at least snapped a pic of his rig. But, alas.Tried contacting the charter but no luck yet.

So, my inquiries for you, dear reader:

• Are you familiar with this type of setup?
• How exactly would I go about replicating the DM's setup?
  
• How should I mount these items in the locations described?
• Any recommendations for a specific brand/model of SS & lift bag?
• Would this setup have included a small reel with each item, or should I keep a single reel separately for use with either?
• If you are NOT familiar with this type of setup: any advice on how to make the SS & lift bag a part of my kit? Currently I dive with a safety sausage and reel clipped to my BC. It's rather intrusive and gets in the way when I reach for my camera or dump air from my BC.

Thanks for reading! Cheers.

 

[CuzzA]

I have a ten dollar lift bag sleeve from Dive Gear Express mounted under my wing. Inside I keep an eight foot DSMB from Piranha Dive Mfg, a roll up snorkel, and my ACR PLB and a mylar hood in a Custom Divers PLB canister. This is my oh **** kit. Lost from the boat, boat sank, crew decided they didn't like me anymore. It is all clipped together and you wouldn't know it is there.

I also carry a small 36" DSMB with 30 ft. of line wrapped around and tied to a piece of aluminum pipe. This for a hard current on a drifting stop. I also keep a mono stringer tethered to it in case I want to send up a big fish. This I keep clipped to my right waist d ring and again you really don't know it's there since the pipe is inside the DSMB wrap. Pipe simply acts like a weight. No reel necessary unless you're doing deeper stops or are in a strong current at depth. In which case you should be pulling a float.

 

[Scott]

You can use one of these mounted on either side. I have one mounted across the bottom that I use for my DSMB

You could also use some bungee to make a couple of loops to secure the DSMB and lift bag to each side.

 

[rjack321]

You seem REALLY set on putting these things on your (single) tank.

This was designed for what you want to do and doesnt get in the way of doubles, argon bottles, light canisters or anything else. I holds 1 large lift bag or sausage and it won't come loose or get snagged on anything swimming on or through the wreck.
Halcyon Dive Systems

Put the other one in your thigh pocket although carrying different shapes to mean different things is kind of silly. Colors are a better identifier. And you can get orange and yellow safety sausages which actually stick up and are visible from a distance - unlike a lift bag.

 

[Dark Wolf]

My DSMB is in a drysuit pocket. Lift bag is below the BP, held by a couple of bungee loops.

ETA-I am FAR from an expert!

DW

 

[seeker242]

SMB in a pocket, bag in the halcyon backplate pouch.

Also, the idea that sausage is just for emergencies, is really just dumb.

 

[David Novo]

DSMB on thigh pocket. I do not carry a lift bag as I know I can swim up if I lose the lift of my wing.

Also, the idea that sausage is just for emergencies, is really just dumb.

And this.

 

[swimlikethefish]

Put the other one in your thigh pocket although carrying different shapes to mean different things is kind of silly. Colors are a better identifier. And you can get orange and yellow safety sausages which actually stick up and are visible from a distance - unlike a lift bag.

In my circle, we do not use color (the first thing you lose at depth) or shape. We carry multiple dsmb's. They vary in shape and color from diver to diver. If I see one bag hit the surface, all is fine, it's just a diver marking his position or starting a stop. We will monitor that single bag but without major fan fair. If I see TWO bags hit the surface on the same line, I will move heaven and earth to help them. To us it symbolizes a major emergency. It will divert everyone's attention to that one diver.

All divers in my group of friends carry lift bags as well. Practically speaking, they are all tucked in a pouch like listed above. Between our plate and back. Very rarely is one ever used. But nice to have if shtf.

 

[flymolo]

As most have said here you can put the smb in your pocket rigged up to a spool and ready to go. However if you wanted to mount it to the backplate I think Tobin of DeepSeaSupply has a video showing how to do this with a larger SMB or lift bag here:

 

[kmarks]

I just clip my DSMB and reel on my butt ring. It's easy to grab when I need it and stays out of the way when I don't. I don't carry a bag and I strongly disagree with using a lift bag as a marker that I'm surfacing.