Inflatable signal tube and line spool question...

[gsujeff55]

What is the purpose of having a spool of line connected to a signal tube? I often see them offered together online and don't know what for. I must be missing something, but I thought the purpose of a signal tube is if you surface too far from the boat they will help the boat captain locate you....

i am anxiously waiting information on this before i purchase my signal tube.

thanks

Jeff

 

[USCScubaboy]

I believe you're confusing the difference between an smb (surface marker buoy) and a safety sausage (used to indicated position after surfacing).

Surface marker buoy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That being said, the purpose of the SMB is to indicate your location to boats other traffic on the surface. The purpose of the spool is to keep the SMB directly over your location.

 

[dkktsunami]

A tech diver who has lost contact with the down line (perhaps because of current) needs to indicate his position to people on the boat. Imagine having a 15 minute deco obligation in a strong current - the diver would drift out of sight of the boat crew. Surface marking buoy also can serve as back-up to a bc to help pull heavy diver (twin steel tanks) off the bottom.

 

[aku321]

We use them on a drift dive. The signal tube is on the surface attached to you by a line and reel. The boat follows the signal tube and when you are ready to surface there's the boat.

 

[Doc Harry]

If you are going to purchase a "safety sausage" - a device that you inflate on the surface to increase your visibility - go with something big (6 to 8 feet tall) and yellow in color. The taller the better. Yellow stands out better at sea than red or orange.

You won't be needing a surface marker buoy (SMB) and spool for a while, until you get into drift and decompression diving. But I think a big, yellow "safety sausage" is essential equipment for any open ocean diving.

The other difference between a "safety sausage" and an SMB is that a SMB has a over-pressurization relief valve. That way you can fill the SMB with air at depth. As the air in the SMB expands as the SMB rises to the surface, it will vent when the SMB becomes full. A "safety sausage" has no such vent and can only be used at the surface.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Before purchasing the SMB or safety sausage, you may want to check what the local practices are regarding the color of the item. In certain parts of the world, orange might mean one thing and yellow another.

If you talk to experienced local divers, they should be able to steer you towards what brand/model/color of SMB to buy. A great way to meet more experienced divers and find new dive buddies is to join a few local dive clubs.

 

[Doc Harry]

Before purchasing the SMB or safety sausage, you may want to check what the local practices are regarding the color of the item. In certain parts of the world, orange might mean one thing and yellow another.

If you talk to experienced local divers, they should be able to steer you towards what brand/model/color of SMB to buy. A great way to meet more experienced divers and find new dive buddies is to join a few local dive clubs.

The denotation of color applies only to SMBs, not safety sausages.

 

[tregrrr]

ahah

I got's me a double sided dSMB from buddy (ap valves); one side orange, other side yellow

now if only I could get the string on the spool to control which side is displayed to the boat

 

[gsujeff55]

Thanks for the information guys, and you were spot on....they look very similar but are quite different.

I am going to be doing both drift dives and anchored dives this year, so both might be in the cards for me. I've never done a drift dive before, nor been with anyone doing a drift dive so I've never seen the SMB at work....basically just a bright float marking your location underwater....sweet!

Thanks again!

 

[The Chairman]

Safety sausages can be deployed from depth and I require that ALL of my AOW students shoot a bag (SMB) and a sausage. I have yet to destroy one if you follow the physics. If you are 66ft (3 ata) then only inflate the sausage about a third of the way. You can figure out the other depths.

The BEST sausage that I have seen was made by HOG. It's HUGE and it's got a pressure relief valve.