Easier SMB Deployment???

[Diver0001]

Hmmm... I wouldn't think that topless sunbathing is really popular in the UAE

R..

 

[billgraham]

Our wreck dives are pretty much all deeper than 100 feet, cold water, thick gloves so the spool becomes a bit cumbersome. The first time the boat broke loose when I was diving the CCR, I figured out that the best way to do this was to hold the bottom of the bag open with one hand and exhale gas into it out my nose. You don't have to fill it to the point where it's pulling you up, just enough to get it bouyant, the gas will expand and fill it on the way up.

 

[Searcaigh]

Hmmm... I wouldn't think that topless sunbathing is really popular in the UAE

R..

Was not really referring to UAE, but on some Dhow trips up to Musandam

 

[TomZ]

Most of my OW dives are in Cozumel, so cold SMB deployment is an unknown to me. I really prefer using a spool, having tried both a spool and a nylon strap of 25'. Holding the spool as TS&M said works well for me. I was caught in a significant down welling at depth (90'). Once clear of the initial event (fearing a recurrence), the SMB (6' w/ OPV, oral and "duckbill" inflate) was deployed from 70'. Having the extra lift at the surface vs. inflating the BC prevented an uncontrolled ascent, and gave me a sense of confidence. Without a 100' of line on the spool, this wouldn't have been possible.

I normally put a small puff of air in the bag orally to gain control, then use the alternate to inflate. It's a good thing it has an OPV. When I deployed it from 70' I gave it a generous shot. It went up very quickly, lol.

I very recently switched to a long primary hose and short alternate. Guess I'll have to modify my process a bit.

 

[Akimbo]

I generally try to avoid dealing with any loose line bundled in the water. It is probably safer to hand up the smb, and the clip keeps the line tight until it is all on the deck in a small mess...

That would be a show-stopper in kelp. In that case, wrapping around the inflated bag, onto a spool, or deflate and roll the bag to wrap around it are the only options I see — trying to stuff small line in a bag or pocket is a circus underwater. On a spool, larger line is an advantage because it requires fewer turns (fills the spool so the wrap circumference increases rapidly). Larger (¼") line’s advantages when wrapped around the deflated bag are lower entanglement potential and it is easier on hands… but no faster.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Well I don't dive in kelp. I guess we all have to have some wisdom in that what works great in one situation may not be best in another.

 

[TSandM]

Well, I finally had time to sit down and watch all the videos, and there is one thing that bothers me about all of them. In every case, there are things hanging off the diver -- a camera, a scooter, a handled hook of some kind -- that is in close proximity to the line that's being held slack or allowed to drift unsupervised. I would personally be VERY worried about having the line hang up on these things, and getting dragged up. Of course, if all these bag shoots are being done as shallow as it appears that they are, it might not matter that much -- but a rapid ascent up 20 feet at the end of a dive isn't really a good idea, either.

I'm still not sold on this approach to bag shooting, but if you are going to do it this way, for heaven's sake, make sure you don't have big hanging things, or huge knives on your legs, or other attractive points for line to get caught on you, possibly completely unseen.

If you say, "Oh, that could never really happen to anybody," read THIS thread about an express ride to the surface . . .

 

[dumpsterDiver]

If you are talking about the way I do it, once you release the bag, you just allow the line to run through your hand and with your arm extended, there is nothing to get caught on (even if you have 2 or 3 more smb's clipped off to D-rings on your chest)

 

[idive2]

The problem I foresee with your approach is that a time will come when either you fail to get a hand on the reel quick enough or it jams..... and it WILL jam. they all do. When (not if) that happens, you'll need to let go of it so you don't get dragged to the surface and you'll chance losing your bag and your reel. Not only that, but if someone on the surface is looking for your location based on the position of the bag then you'll send them on a wild goose chase while you finish your stops free-floating and surface where they aren't expecting you. Something like this can vary in severity from an inconvenience to very dangerous depending on the proximity of boats and the expectations of the crew.

R..

Diver0001, you're right about a stray floating smb without a diver attached would be a headache at a minimum for the captain. I usually only deploy the smb when I think I should and it is not often enough to become completely confident in a successfull launch. I have the 4.5 ft halcyon that is a great marker on the surface but it does take a bit more air. Knowing this I appreciate the extra fill I get from expansion say from 50-60 feet or so but that does come with additional concerns than say 20 or 25 feet. I don't charter dive alot these days but have always wanted to refine a method that I can be completely confident with. I am always considering
new ideas. A friend of mine just picked up one of those manta reels where when you grip the reel frame the reel releases.
This may save some fumbling with the spring loaded lever type release on my trident reel. Another point on the deploying from depth is that it marks your location quicker than say if I waited the two or three minutes it should take to get to safety stop depth. When I do find myself using it it always seems like an unexpected situation and I feel a bit of pressure and always give a little thanks when the bag is on the rise and the reel handle is spinning like a pin wheel ! I have not ruled out a spool to minimize the chances of a reel that hangs up. The few times that I did see a spool used from even 60 feet it seemed like it not only took the diver forever to reel it in but it seemed to
require much more continuous attention then say a reel that clicks as you reel and locks when you stop.

 

[graham_s]

I've got three methods of using a DSMB.
I've got an AP Valves reel, where I press a button to release the lock and it unspools itself as it ascends, a Delron reel with Brass double ended clips on it that spins in place in the water or can be held in a pinch grip, or 1" tape that is stored inside the DSMB and deploys itself on the way up.
Other inflation options I've seen are DSMB with mini cylinders on them, just twist and go, and a LP hose adaptor that the hose cannot lock onto.