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!

 

[happy-diver]

In a perfect world

Have you started carrying one as has been suggested, whether you think you know how to deploy or not

Not a huge learning curve, every deployment is different
and mine can still look like a mess conditions dependent

Practicing something that you may well do 100s of times
like me without training eats far too much into dive time

My idea, is carrying a DSMB, is a great start to practicing

Seriously, one day the current was such, that I had to wedge myself between
a rudder and a prop of some wreck and the thing went sideways but up a bit

No practice for that anywhere except there

 

[Searcaigh]

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

I don't think it's part of OW, but my daughter teaches it during her AOW courses although I do believe there is an agency speciality for DSMB

 

[scubadada]

I don't think it's part of OW, but my daughter teaches it during her AOW courses although I do believe there is an agency speciality for DSMB

I was not taught DSMB deployment at any time during my PADI training through Rescue, last 2005. I learned to do DSMB deployment on my own and then it was included in the skills for SDI Solo Diver in 2013

 

[Searcaigh]

I was not taught DSMB deployment at any time during my PADI training through Rescue, last 2005. I learned to do DSMB deployment on my own and then it was included in the skills for SDI Solo Diver in 2013

I also learned on my own, but it was taught in the PADI Self Reliant Diver course I took in August 2012.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

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

It has been added by most agencies as optional, which is unfortunate, but due to the fact that most instructors are incapable of deploying a DSMB while neutrally buoyant. So instead it is inflate an SMB at the surface. I call that the "hurry up and blow up the safety sausage before that jet ski runs you over" skill.

In general, as long as you don't drown performing a skill, you have "mastered" it.

 

[jborg]

My PADI OW had many of the expected deficiencies and some of the more unusual ones, but we did in fact deploy a DSMB (once). So in principle I knew how to do it straight out of OW, although it would take some practice thereafter to become proficient of course.

 

[BoltSnap]

With NAUI, it is required to teach DSMB use/deployment (including in openwater) in the entry level course, OW Scuba Diver course.

 

[divezonescuba]

When I became an instructor in 2009, most instructors did not know what a DSMB was, let alone being able to deploy it neutrally buoyant under water. It was certainly not part of the instructor examination. It should have been.

PADI has now required the deployment of the DSMB or a SMB either on the surface or underwater in the open water course for a number of years. We have found that many new open water divers are not able to deploy a DSMB safely while neutrally buoyant underwater. So we elect to fulfill the requirement by having them do it on the surface.

However, we require the deployment of the DSMB underwater neutrally buoyant multiple times for the advanced course. There they deploy it during almost every one of the five or more dives. Occasionally, I have to pull it down because there is not enough air and they have to repeat it on the same dive. Earlier this month, one class had to deploy it 7 times. They had to do an extra dive just to practice deploying the DSMB neutrally buoyant during the safety stop. By the end of AOW students are usually proficient.

I also like to have the non-navigating member of each pair of students doing the required navigation dive drag a DSMB with them. They switch out after a successful run. That way, I can start them off and go to the surface to better assess their navigation patterns.

On the four Red Sea liveaboards that I have been on, all required deployment of the DSMB on the first dive. However, I have only actually had to deploy it once on a subsequent dive.

 

[NothingClever]

@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.

So just assume the conditions you’ll dive and the LOB will require it, buy one and then train with it in the pool before you go. This approach will make great strides towards eliminating the anxiety of a random skill requirement.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

We have found that many new open water divers are not able to deploy a DSMB safely while neutrally buoyant underwater. So we elect to fulfill the requirement by having them do it on the surface.

If you don't teach your open water course properly weighted (including weight distribution) and neutrally buoyant/trimmed, I'm not surprised.