DevonDiver
N/A
In Britain/Europe, it is commonplace for technical divers to equip with both yellow and orange DSMBs. The orange DSMB is used for ascents. The yellow DSMB is deployed in emergencies, as a signal for 'support needed'.
I've recently discovered (in the Basic Scuba forum) that this system is not widely used in the USA. Furthermore, some divers seemed to have objections to it.
I'm interested to hear what other tech divers, from a variety of locations, felt about this system...and the reasons why they would use it or not.
From my own perspective: I do use color coded DSMBs when tech diving. On many occasions there have been support divers available, and popping a yellow DSMB has meant the swift arrival of a support diver - usually bearing extra deco gas. When support divers were not present, it has usually meant that a pre-prepared cylinder of deco gas has been lowered from the boat to a pre-arranged depth and/or a slate has been lowered for communication.
I've actually used this system 'for real' only once... where I had lost my buddy on the wreck... and a support diver came down and reassured me that he had ascended and was doing a floating deco hang nearby. It was a big reassurance. To date, I've not suffered a loss of deco gas... but I do like the option of calling for more as a last ditch contingency. Likewise... if I had to deal with a tox'd diver or any other sort of problem... I like that I can call support if needed.
Thoughts?
I've recently discovered (in the Basic Scuba forum) that this system is not widely used in the USA. Furthermore, some divers seemed to have objections to it.
I'm interested to hear what other tech divers, from a variety of locations, felt about this system...and the reasons why they would use it or not.
From my own perspective: I do use color coded DSMBs when tech diving. On many occasions there have been support divers available, and popping a yellow DSMB has meant the swift arrival of a support diver - usually bearing extra deco gas. When support divers were not present, it has usually meant that a pre-prepared cylinder of deco gas has been lowered from the boat to a pre-arranged depth and/or a slate has been lowered for communication.
I've actually used this system 'for real' only once... where I had lost my buddy on the wreck... and a support diver came down and reassured me that he had ascended and was doing a floating deco hang nearby. It was a big reassurance. To date, I've not suffered a loss of deco gas... but I do like the option of calling for more as a last ditch contingency. Likewise... if I had to deal with a tox'd diver or any other sort of problem... I like that I can call support if needed.
Thoughts?