DSMB size - is 6’ overkill ?

[Dogbowl]

I’ve heard some people say 6’ is the only way to go. But 6’ is really big and heavy to carry around. When would you suggest 6’ and when is it better to carry something smaller, like 4.5 feet? I mainly dive calm tropical waters, some with current.

Also, how about the spool - when is it appropriate to have 100’ of line vs 75’ or even 50’?

Thanks!

 

[PfcAJ]

You’ll want the big one if you ever get separated from the boat

You need more line than whatever depth you intend to shoot it from. 100’ spool wont work for shooting it from 100’ depth if there’s any current.

 

[Schwob]

Spool:
I haven't had a reason yet to deploy from deeper than safety stop depth. deploying from that depth sufficed for me because no boats with more draft were zipping around... and because there was no need to deploy early in the dive from deeper (for tracking? not sure) and I am not doing anything yet where I would need to dend up messages or such. So after initially using a mid width 100' spool I went to a narrow width one (packs better in pocket) and took some line off it. I have 60' marked in 10' increments left, so, if all else fails I coild judge depth in s kludge way.
Maybe I could go to a smaller reel yet (like a cookie reel), but I like having 60' on the reel (like knowing I could hang at 60' or a bit less in current, even if my computer failed and then wind up as slow as I care to) and line on a reel that size already winds slow enough. A smaller winding diameter would be slower. I like having some line removed as it makes getting the double ender in a hole (or line loop throug the hole) easier.

DSMB:
Most of the time I do not need it but bring it anyway for a number of reasons. A couple of times in the read sea In mid summer with maybe 3' swells I noticed that the dinghy pilot saw my 6' DSMB fairly quickly while having a harder time spotting the shorter ones and taking longer. It convinced me to not bother with a shorter DSMB.

 

[outofofficebrb]

I have a 6 and a 3’. I take my 3’ out most of the time. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried launching a 6 or watched others launch them, especially the wider 6’ ones. Many of them are flaccid (yeah, yeah....) and flop on the surface or are tugged quite a bit to get them to stay taut and only a few feet end up above the surface instead of the full 6’. It’s much easier to launch and keep the 3’ up. YMMV.

I love the Halcyon one with the Metal tip. Numb lips can still inflate with no pressing needed with OPV. It’s awesome. But expensive. And worth it IMO.

For the line, I’d go with 100ft. As @PfcAJ mentioned, any current and you won’t get that depth. Plus, most spools come with too much line on it that you can’t even access the holes to clip the line off with a double ended bolt snap and you end up removing quite a bit. Your 100’ line ends up being 10-15 feet shorter sometimes. Add in the current....

 

[Bubblesong]

I have one of each, but mostly carry small, 4ft version since I usually go out mildest weather. The 6ft one is a real chore to handle. I bought the 100ft line, but plan to cut it down some. Probably should have gotten 50ft, since i don’t dive big currents in New England/Carribean. Good luck!

 

[RyanT]

The one I use is 9 or 10'. As PfcAJ said, if you get separated from the boat, the bigger the better. Last year in Pompano Beach, I was amazed at how difficult it was to see even the bigger bags when the divers started to get some good separation from the boat. I certainly wouldn't consider using something shorter than 6'. A 6' bag actually rolls up rather compactly. Like everything else with scuba, it just takes some practice to get comfortable with it. Also, the deeper you shoot your bag, the easier it is to do. From 66', you only need to inflate the bag about 1/3 full, the gas expansion will do the rest on the way up. If you're shooting from your safety stop, you've got to put a lot of gas in the bag and that is a difficult thing to do while maintaining your buoyancy.

 

[Bubblesong]

A 10ft safety sausage is twice as tall as I am, If the Sea was so choppy that I needed that to be seen, The wind would be yanking it around, whapping me over the head with my own SMB.

 

[RyanT]

A 10ft safety sausage is twice as tall as I am, If the Sea was so choppy that I needed that to be seen, The wind would be yanking it around, whapping me over the head with my own SMB.

It's not the waves, it's the distance. You'd be surprised how hard it is to see a 10' bag at 1/2 a mile. It's easy to think you'll never be that far from the boat, but personally I won't bet my safety on it. YMMV.

 

[rongoodman]

Halcyon makes a slim version of it's 6' SMB, which reduces the bulk in your pocket considerably.

 

[EireDiver606]

I dive often on the west coast of Ireland. Nicknamed the “Wild Atlantic Way” or “Wet Atlantic Way” as some call it. It can be fairly rough sometimes with at least 3-5 feet swells on a good day.

And in the rough days, the waves can be seen to go over the nearby lighthouse 80 foot tall.

In these conditions, would you buy a 6 or 9 foot smb?

Would 9 be too big? Or justifiable? Would it pack well? Would it be too hard to handle for a beginner?