Why not attach spool to DSMB before the dive?

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Ditch the SMB and get a proper DSMB. Your surface buoy will try to kill you every damn time you launch at depth. That stupid valve requires you to unscrew it for inflate and then tighten prior to launch so it doesn't lose air or fill will excessive water. (Ask me how I know...)

$40 and it won't kill you as easily.

DGX Gears Yellow/Orange Combo Surface Marking Tube { 6 ft | 1.8 m }

DGX Yellow/Orange Combo Surface Marking Tube - One Side Orange, One Side Yellow { 6 ft | 1.8 m }

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that's a great choice as the dual colors are visible in the most common scenarios.

 

[inquis]

Maybe a drill attachment?

At 70 ft?

 

[NorCalDM]

Ditch the SMB and get a proper DSMB. Your surface buoy will try to kill you every damn time you launch at depth. That stupid valve requires you to unscrew it for inflate and then tighten prior to launch so it doesn't lose air or fill will excessive water. (Ask me how I know...)

$40 and it won't kill you as easily.

DGX Gears Yellow/Orange Combo Surface Marking Tube { 6 ft | 1.8 m }

DGX Yellow/Orange Combo Surface Marking Tube - One Side Orange, One Side Yellow { 6 ft | 1.8 m }

www.divegearexpress.com

Not all are that way, mine is spring loaded so you pull it back blow and let it go. Easy with one breath.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

At 70 ft?

And why not?

Underwater Drills | CS Unitec

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[Dan]

From what depth do you deploy your DSMB typically? The reason I ask is that you have to be fast when you use a method where you increase your buoyancy suddenly (hence not one of my favorite methods, but likely the most common method).

PS. Is that a swivel? Stainless steel? Where'd you get it?

Typically from about 10m. As I mention in the above post, as soon as the DSMB partially lift up, you let it go, which usually takes about a second.

I saw my guide in Similan doing it such at easy, I told him to get me that set up. The spool has no swivel. It has oversize center hole to stick your thumb & middle finger acting as an axle for the spool to spin freely without having the DSMB pulling you up with it.

Let me see if I can find one in Amazon & post it later. It’s made out of aluminum.

 

[Dan]

YUNNLEZT 98FT Finger Reel Scuba Diving, Aluminum Lightweight Scuba Finger Spool Reel with Double-Ended Bolt Snap Clip for Snorkeling Scuba Diving https://a.co/d/hGHpqkR

For $30

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

YUNNLEZT 98FT Finger Reel Scuba Diving, Aluminum Lightweight Scuba Finger Spool Reel with Double-Ended Bolt Snap Clip for Snorkeling Scuba Diving https://a.co/d/hGHpqkR

View attachment 753590

My DSMB doc is getting longer

 

[inquis]

DGX Gears Aluminum Finger Spools

These premium quality Aluminum Finger Spools, loaded with custom flat Dacron orange line are available in your choice of two sizes and four line lengths.

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[Dan]

Just make sure you get the oversize center hole, as some of those cold-water gloves can be pretty fat to fit your finger & thumb into the hole. Well, actually you just need to sandwich the spool with your thumb & middle finger loosely for the spool to spin freely without flying out of your hand, but sticking your middle finger in the hole would assure you for not losing the spool.

The tapering angle, from the spool rim to the center hole with smooth rounded edge, is nice ergonomically design for the spool to not getting caught and jammed at your finger.

I had a cheapy plastic spool with sharp corner at the center hole that cut my soft skin finger (after an hour of diving without glove, my fingers’ skin become so soft and prone to be easily cut). That cheap plastic spool is now stored in the proper bin - trash bin.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Just make sure you get the oversize center hole, as some of those cold-water gloves can be pretty fat to fit into the hole.

I wouldn't put my finger all the way through. If you mistakenly have a spool with insufficient line, you don't want to get pulled up.