DSMB Requirements

[MacLir]

Hi all. I am hoping for some clarification from experienced folks regarding required use of DSMBs on Red Sea liveaboards. We are planning a family trip next year for either the North/Wrecks or St Johns routes. Due to experience levels in the group (1 entry level Tech, 2 PADI AOW, 2 PADI OW), we are not considering the BDE route as we consider it beyond our collective skill level.

This will be our first trip to the Red Sea. We have not picked a boat yet. Prior liveaboard/land based diving has been New England US, Carrib., Hawaii and similar. All have boat diving experience well in excess of 30 dives.

I have seen conflicting posts on SB and elsewhere as to whether deployment of a DSMB at depth is required for the above itineraries. I have some experience with DSMB deployment, but only in limited training contexts; the rest of my group has no experience. All of us are, of course, familiar and comfortable with inflating and using SMBs at the surface.

Can anyone advise on what the standard practice/expectation is regarding use of DSMBs on Red Sea liveaboards?

Thanks!

 

[stepfen]

Hey @MacLir, I'm about to go on a LoB in Egypt and I'm researching the same question What was your experience in the end, were there any check dives, did anyone care? Thanks in advance!

I've done 2 LoBs in Egypt (and few others here and there). In all of them we were encouraged to deploy our DSMBs at the safety stop (not from depth) of the check dive. Some divers do, some others don't. Nobody really checks.

Interestingly in the last LoB it took me about 5 minutes to deploy mine. As the water was supposed to be pretty warm (28oC we were told) I choose to wear my rash guard suit. Things that I didn't consider: it was end of November, early in the morning with strong wind, so outside temperature was pretty low. Water temperature was 1-2 degrees lower than what we were told and I haven't slept well for few days/nights due to traveling. Result? By the end of the check dive I was shivering to the extend I couldn't control my hands sufficiently. I finally managed it, but it should have been interesting for my fellow divers to watch me... Needless to say that for the rest of the trip I wear nothing less than a two pieces full body 5mm suit.

 

[Parlem]

Hi all. I am hoping for some clarification from experienced folks regarding required use of DSMBs on Red Sea liveaboards. We are planning a family trip next year for either the North/Wrecks or St Johns routes. Due to experience levels in the group (1 entry level Tech, 2 PADI AOW, 2 PADI OW), we are not considering the BDE route as we consider it beyond our collective skill level.

This will be our first trip to the Red Sea. We have not picked a boat yet. Prior liveaboard/land based diving has been New England US, Carrib., Hawaii and similar. All have boat diving experience well in excess of 30 dives.

I have seen conflicting posts on SB and elsewhere as to whether deployment of a DSMB at depth is required for the above itineraries. I have some experience with DSMB deployment, but only in limited training contexts; the rest of my group has no experience. All of us are, of course, familiar and comfortable with inflating and using SMBs at the surface.

Can anyone advise on what the standard practice/expectation is regarding use of DSMBs on Red Sea liveaboards?

Thanks!

Hi!

I've done a number of Red Sea liveaboard trips and this has been my experience regarding DSMBs:

1. all divers are expected to carry one and know how to deploy it
2. if you are diving as a group with a guide/divemaster, you will rarely (if ever) need to do so, as it will typically be up to your guide
3. if you are diving your own profile with your buddy, then you will likely need to deploy the DSMB at the end of most dives (the exception being those that don't involve being picked up by the zodiac).

I hope this helps. Have a lovely trip.

 

[Sunn]

Parlem has summarized it all...

 

[TheRedBeanPanda]

Update for anyone who's interested: Just came back from Aggressor IV and apart from a few check dives on the first day where everyone was supposed to deploy a DSMB but nobody cared about the outcome of said deployment it was completely irrelevant

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Update for anyone who's interested: Just came back from Aggressor IV and apart from a few check dives on the first day where everyone was supposed to deploy a DSMB but nobody cared about the outcome of said deployment it was completely irrelevant

Sounds like open water courses

 

[scubadada]

The XS quick launch DSMB is very nice, easy to use.

XS Scuba “Quick Launch” Marker Buoy — XS Scuba - Everything For The Perfect Dive

Deploying a marker buoy from depth has its challenges. Securing a line spool and SMB, connecting them together, deploying them, all while maintaining neutral buoyancy and holding on to other gear, has overwhelmed many a diver. The “Quick Launch” Marker Buoy simplifies the procedure! The line spool i

www.xsscuba.com

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

The XS quick launch DSMB is very nice, easy to use.

XS Scuba “Quick Launch” Marker Buoy — XS Scuba - Everything For The Perfect Dive

Deploying a marker buoy from depth has its challenges. Securing a line spool and SMB, connecting them together, deploying them, all while maintaining neutral buoyancy and holding on to other gear, has overwhelmed many a diver. The “Quick Launch” Marker Buoy simplifies the procedure! The line spool i

www.xsscuba.com

seems a little silly to me, when it is so easy to attach a spool to a DSMB. And you can change spools/DSMBs depending on the depth/conditions.

 

[NothingClever]

This thread is interesting.

It seems like we're trying really hard to figure out whether a LOB requires a DSMB or not, almost as if this level of insight will be determinative in the trip's outcome.

Here's a different way to think of things - let's train to the point we carry a DSMB with us on every dive and WE determine whether we need to deploy it or not. Here are my criteria:

1) Separation from the group (intentional or unintentional)
2) Ripping current
3) Limited visibility (I carry a strobe on the end of my DSMB)
4) Blue water deco
5) Boat traffic

I'm sure there are others but we should strive to be at a point in our proficiency that we don't need a crew member telling us how to judge conditions and operate underwater.

For those still in learning/training mode - ensure your spool has 50% more line than the depth you intend to shoot from to account for the slope that results from the delta in the currents at your level and at the surface. Only in the stillest of waters (something that's hard to predict) will you have a completely vertical shot. Using less than what is on your spool is a safety factor to ensure YOU are in control of your depth and not the DSMB.

For an example, the DSMB that @scubadada linked to is good for a shot from 20m.

20m x .50 = 10m
20m + 10m = 30m

The deeper you go, the more line you'll need. I like to shoot as early as possible to give the Captain the greatest opportunity to spot and track me. So, when shooting from 40m, I use a 60m spool.

40m x .50 = 20m
40m + 20m = 60m

Now go out and train on those essential skills and watch how all the hot dive bunnies on the boat just throw themselves at you in euphoric admiration.

 

[TheRedBeanPanda]

Sounds like open water courses

Hmm I don't remember DSMB being a part of my OW. Would have been nice

 

[TheRedBeanPanda]

@NothingClever In a perfect world, you're correct. But if - like me - you've just never trained to deploy a DSMB and then suddenly might have to be able to do it *without* any opportunities to practice beforehand - which I'll just assume people will do *if they can* without having to be prompted - then information about random LOB requirements can become quite relevant.