Quick Question... SMB size for deployment when diving near shore like COZ. 4' or 6'?

[deepsea21]

Looking at the Blue Reef Diver Below Delux in 4' or 6' yellow to attach to Blue Reef composite 80' finger spool and I'll cut that down to 40' of line. 4' or 6' SMB?

 

[cool_hardware52]

Looking at the Blue Reef Diver Below Delux in 4' or 6' yellow to attach to Blue Reef composite 80' finger spool and I'll cut that down to 40' of line. 4' or 6' SMB?

Keep in mind that larger SMB's are hard to launch shallow and have them arrive fully inflated at the surface. Is a half filled 6' bag flopped over at the surface more effective than a full 1 meter bag standing up?

Tobin

 

[tbone1004]

What Tobin said, but more important, why cut the spool length down? You need at least 2:1 ratio based on the max depth you plan to deploy to leave something on the spool as well as have some extra buffer since it will never be straight up and down.

 

[mmmbelows]

When it comes to sausages, bigger is always better. This is a universal truth no matter what type of sausage you are ever referring to.

The largest one you are comfortable dragging around with you is the best, since 99% of the time it's going to be basically not in use but attached to you somewhere.

 

[cool_hardware52]

When it comes to sausages, bigger is always better. This is a universal truth no matter what type of sausage you are ever referring to.

The largest one you are comfortable dragging around with you is the best, since 99% of the time it's going to be basically not in use but attached to you somewhere.

I disagree.

For the diver new to SMB's, who is likely to launching them from a shallow depth large bags are hard to fill with enough gas to insure they are fully filled when the reach the surface. Buoyancy control is more challenging shallow, and trying to maintain depth while filling a 6 ft bag that may offer 50 or more lbs of lift is a pretty good trick even for skilled divers.

A 1/2 flat bag laying on the surface is hard to see.

Additionally a large bag has much great potential to drag the newbie to the surface if they are entangled.

Surface filled "safety sausages" are a different matter, but these are not launched from depth, and offer zero risk of unplanned ascents.

SMB's or Surface Marker Buoys are intended to be launched from depth to provide evidence of a diver under them. SMB's must include a OPV

Safety Sausages are intended to filled at the surface, and often they lack an OPV.



Tobin

 

[NAM001]

deepsea,

everything tobin has said is spot on..... It is a tough thing to decide the right size in regards to how well you can inflate it. I would guess you can probably g=t a 5 second blast of air before the thing gets a life of its own. So depth of deployment is important in figuring this. Remember that if you deploy at30 ft then you have to fill to 1/2 to get a full inflation at the surface. 60 ft will be 1/3. There are a lot of tricks to get the job done but again as tobin said it is a challenge for many experienced shooters, including myself. I would consider the amount of air you can fill in a few seconds via a open bottom vs a lp connection on the smb. You can do this in the living room using an lp inflatror if the smb is equiped with one as the fill mechanism. an open bottom will have to be done wet. If you can fill it(on the surface) in 5-8 seconds then it is probably not too large. I have tried to shoot some large ones and have had to vent the wing to get heavy to hold it down till I got the 1/3 filled before releasing.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I disagree.

For the diver new to SMB's, who is likely to launching them from a shallow depth large bags are hard to fill with enough gas to insure they are fully filled when the reach the surface. Buoyancy control is more challenging shallow, and trying to maintain depth while filling a 6 ft bag that may offer 50 or more lbs of lift is a pretty good trick even for skilled divers.

A 1/2 flat bag laying on the surface is hard to see.

Additionally a large bag has much great potential to drag the newbie to the surface if they are entangled.

Surface filled "safety sausages" are a different matter, but these are not launched from depth, and offer zero risk of unplanned ascents.

SMB's or Surface Marker Buoys are intended to be launched from depth to provide evidence of a diver under them. SMB's must include a OPV

Safety Sausages are intended to filled at the surface, and often they lack an OPV.



Tobin

EXACTLY and to further reinforce the point.. Why do you need a giant sausage? Answer: 2 situations: The boat is far, far away or it is rough and windy.

I've spent a lot of time drifting with a large SMB in rough conditions. It becomes, literally IMPOSSIBLE to have the really large float stand up in a high wind and whitecaps. So when you really NEED the large SMB, it will work no better than a smaller one, which you can hold vertically.

You are probably better off getting a smaller SMB up and on the surface ASAP, presumably before you are too far from the boat, than trying to always use a giant SMB.

 

[Oldbear]

I have found that a smaller SMB or DSMB works the best for most Recreational Diving situations.

If the SBM is too large divers won't carry it; the smaller ones will fit into a BCD pocket or attach without the bulk.
If they are too large and divers don't take them what good are they on shore?

I have mine attached to a 100' finger spool with knots tied in the string every 10' from 80' - 20' and one additional knot at 15'.
These knots I use for various reasons and make nice visual references on safety stops.

My DSMB of choice is a 1 meter (3' 3") oral inflate (one breath at 30' is all that is needed to inflate) with an OPV.
There are several brands of descent Marker Buoys; but there are also cheap ones on the market too.
I suggest spending a little extra money up front and buy a good quality one.

I currently use the Halcyon 1 meter with oral inflate and OPV.
Lift Devices Comparison | Halcyon

Other good brands are:
https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?product=85
https://www.divegearexpress.com/dgx-surface-marking-tube-5-ft-15-m-orange

 

[dumpsterDiver]

these are the best ones that I have seen I think.


Personal Floats Safety Sausage Tubes

 

[mmmbelows]

I disagree.

For the diver new to SMB's, who is likely to launching them from a shallow depth large bags are hard to fill with enough gas to insure they are fully filled when the reach the surface. Buoyancy control is more challenging shallow, and trying to maintain depth while filling a 6 ft bag that may offer 50 or more lbs of lift is a pretty good trick even for skilled divers.

A 1/2 flat bag laying on the surface is hard to see.

Additionally a large bag has much great potential to drag the newbie to the surface if they are entangled.

Surface filled "safety sausages" are a different matter, but these are not launched from depth, and offer zero risk of unplanned ascents.

SMB's or Surface Marker Buoys are intended to be launched from depth to provide evidence of a diver under them. SMB's must include a OPV

Safety Sausages are intended to filled at the surface, and often they lack an OPV.



Tobin

I understand your logic. If you ain't comfortable with the size, leave it to someone who knows their way around a big sausage and can handle one, while you learn on a little one, its no fun for anyone when sausage is just too dang big for you.