Divers Found Drifting Way Offshore

[scubadada]

Now I understand why it was in the packet of materials for my AOW course - required equipment. It must not be required to use it....just have it, as was my case. What specialty in AOW would use the SMB/DSMB? Not everyone would do the boat specialty.

The DSMB Diver specialty would certainly use one, perhaps Drift Diver also. Not AOW, but Self-Reliant Diver

 

[ggunn]

The DSMB Diver specialty would certainly use one, perhaps Drift Diver also. Not AOW, but Self-Reliant Diver

Or you could just buy one and figure out how to use it. It takes a little practice but it's not that difficult.

 

[scubadada]

Or you could just buy one and figure out how to use it. It takes a little practice but it's not that difficult.

Yes, I taught myself in 2009, when I started to drift dive in SE Florida

 

[gopbroek]

Or you could just buy one and figure out how to use it. It takes a little practice but it's not that difficult.

Exactly, you do not need to Put Another Dollar In to continue learning. When you were certified as an open water diver you were certified as a DIVER. I often find surface intervals between dives on a boat to be a continuing education experience, typically there is a wealth of knowledge in a mixed group of divers.

 

[Searcaigh]

SMBs are covered in AOW and other courses because they are proper dive equipment, useful for a variety of reasons, regardless of jurisdictional lines.

Depends on when you did your AOW.

I didn't even see one until the late 90s

 

[Jcp2]

SMB is easy, inflate after surfacing. dSMB takes some practice as there is a useful sequence of steps which will include not treating the double ender as a disposable piece of equipment.

 

[ggunn]

SMB is easy, inflate after surfacing. dSMB takes some practice as there is a useful sequence of steps which will include not treating the double ender as a disposable piece of equipment.

What's a double ender? Is it the other end of a double header?

 

[tursiops]

What's a double ender? Is it the other end of a double header?

 

[deepsea21]

My God. Just because deploying a DSMB wasn't taught in a class does not mean one needs more PADI or NAUI or advanced training.

How many Youtube videos are there that demonstrate how to deploy the simplest mouth-inflated DSMB to the slightly more complex open-ender that allows for a quick shot from your Octo?

I mean, if someone went to clown school and they didn't learn how to blow up a balloon to twist into some animal do they really think they need to pay for another clown class that includes "How to blow up a balloon"?

This is why I dive with boutique dive ops that generally serve experienced divers who take Dive Vacations with the #1 priority being diving.

If one wants taught this procedure from a person... Just buy a DSMB and a finger spool and on your next dive ask the DM to show you how to deploy it. It will take 3-5 minutes at the end of the dive for the DM to show you how he shoots his for the group and then he watches you as you shoot yours. Done. Simple. Not Rocket Science.

 

[Pressurehead]

Remember when it was a 'safety sausage', a very basic tube, and we all thought this was not a bad idea and taught ourselves how to use it.
I remember thinking 'where do I store this thing'? The BC at the time was a Scuba Pro orange jacket with a small clip-on pocket.
Now it has all fancy names.
I did evolve, took some time.
This is one I keep in keep in my thin SP tech shorts when diving in warm water North of here.
Back on topic, has any of the three who were 'lost' spoken out yet?