SMB - buy another of the same or something different?

[CapnBloodbeard]

G'day all,

About to buy an SMB - wife and I only have one between us (I know, I know...)

Anyhoo, onto my point - currently we have the Mares all-in-one SMB/reel - Diver Marker Buoy - All In One

Diver Marker Buoy - All In One

6 foot with 20m spool, open ended for reg inflating, has oral inflator for LP hose or oral inflation, overpressure valve....cheaper than a lot of SMBs on the market.

So, should I just get another the same, or is there something else I should consider in getting something different?

Funny story - first and only time we've used it was in Komodo. somehow it got dropped from the surface - i think my wife deployed it then may have handed it to me...

anyhoo, we were on a liveaboard. Let our DM know in case somebody handed it in on the boat. They might have put the call out because a couple of days later another diver on another boat found it, handed it in and it made its way back to us!

 

[happy-diver]

Items for sale by otgequipment | eBay

 

[inquis]

Not a fan of the mesh pocket being in the way if inflating with a second stage. It looks a little wide to easily inflate orally unless fairly deep, but then that may be too deep for that spool (and a larger spool won't fit in the mesh bag).

Have you used it, even in a pool setting, to rule out such concerns?

 

[CapnBloodbeard]

Not a fan of the mesh pocket being in the way if inflating with a second stage. It looks a little wide to easily inflate orally unless fairly deep, but then that may be too deep for that spool (and a larger spool won't fit in the mesh bag).

Have you used it, even in a pool setting, to rule out such concerns?

we used it once, haven't orally inflated. Why do you think the mesh pocket would be an issue?

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

haven't orally inflated. M

You should always orally inflate, so you transfer gas from your lungs into the DSMB and do not change the amount of water you displace.

The split second you release the DSMB, then inhale to displace the same amount of water now that the DSMB no longer lifts you.

Of the ten to twelve DSMBs I own, I like Halycon the best due to the quality of construction. (Mouthpiece is metal)

 

[happy-diver]

OTG Scuba Diving All Sealed SMB Marker Tube with one way inflation valve #OG-239 | eBay

 

[happy-diver]

we used it once, haven't orally inflated. Why do you think the mesh pocket would be an issue?

Not a fan of the mesh pocket being in the way if inflating with a second stage. It looks a little wide to easily inflate orally unless fairly deep, but then that may be too deep for that spool (and a larger spool won't fit in the mesh bag).

 

[Centrals]

Good quality smb is not cheap.

AP Self-sealing SMB Surface Marker Buoy

 

[Xaman Ha]

Good quality smb is not cheap.

DIR Zone makes good quality SMBs that are cheap

Alert Marker 120cm PRO

 

[Bazzathemammoth]

Ive got one, use it all the time. I deploy it from my safety stop @ 5m using octy. Its way too big to inflate orally at that depth imo.

When inflating i make sure my bcd is empty, do a big exhale, then fill it asap. That worked fine once i got the hang of it.

Its a great size to deploy in a bit of chop/swell. My boatman reckons it makes me impossible to miss, which is reassuring when ascending in the middle of a busy scallop spot.