Safety stop 'anchor'?

[kixy1]

Knots in the line can cause the line to catch when releasing, but permanent marker works great The only issue, especially with current, is the line rarely hangs straight down. Conditions at the top can make the buoy drag... I'm a bit hyper aware of safety stop issues as I'm uber buoyant. I hate being heavy, so I usually kick down, dive comfortably and then fight the safety stop.

 

[deepsea21]

I agree with all other responses here. If you are looking for a nice SMB / reel combo look to what I just purchased (after performing more research than I shoudl have and seeking the advice of others on Scubaboard). From leisurepro I purchased the Blue Reef Diver-Below Delux 4' SMB (has an over-pressure valve) and the black composit plastic Blue Reef finger spool with 80' of orange line. Great compact package, price is right, and since my primary need for a SMB was to provide a level of safety when surfacing in Coz to avoid a boat hit instead of ocean diving the 4' was better suited than the 6' that others told me could be more difficult to inflate and deploy. This last trip I kept the SMB clipped to one D-ring and the reel to another. That meant I needed to attach the line to the SMB for deployment but I liked the lower profile of keeping them clipped to my BC seperate.

 

[adfitzer]

I had looked into dsmb's quite a bit recently as well. I queried fellow divers and scuba board too. I also settled on the blue reef deluxe4' from leisure pro. It's fairly compact; can be inflated orally or from a second stage. Seems well made. Intending to use in coz in the next few weeks.

 

[Kharon]

... The only issue, especially with current, is the line rarely hangs straight down. ...

I don't mark my line. When I want to use the SMB as an anchor I deploy, climb the line checking my computer off and on, go slightly negative at the safety stop depth and hang. This obviates the problem of angular line.

 

[Bob DBF]

I wouldn't use it. Might pop shooting from depth since it has no OPV that I can see.

From what I can see it is most likely to be an open bottom, like a lift bag.

like you and others, I'll stick with the one I've got.


Bob

 

[ggunn]

I agree with all other responses here. If you are looking for a nice SMB / reel combo look to what I just purchased (after performing more research than I shoudl have and seeking the advice of others on Scubaboard). From leisurepro I purchased the Blue Reef Diver-Below Delux 4' SMB (has an over-pressure valve) and the black composit plastic Blue Reef finger spool with 80' of orange line.

TIP: When you get your finger spool, pull all the line off of it and tie the end off around the hub. The manufacturer doesn't do that when they put the spools together, at least they didn't on the one I dropped and never saw again.

 

[Littlerayray]

I did the same to my line as well

 

[gopbroek]

TIP: When you get your finger spool, pull all the line off of it and tie the end off around the hub. The manufacturer doesn't do that when they put the spools together, at least they didn't on the one I dropped and never saw again.

A very good and often overlooked piece of advice. Another trick is tie a SS ball swivel with a coastlock snap at the end. It will reduce line twists over time.

 

[ggunn]

I marked my yellow string with a black Sharpie at 15'. I deploy at 30' or so and ascend slowly to 15', whereupon I go buoyancy negative and hang from the buoy like a subway rider. The meandering of the buoy due to differential current is very minor; at 15' I doubt it ever makes as much as half a foot difference in depth.

 

[deepsea21]

TIP: When you get your finger spool, pull all the line off of it and tie the end off around the hub. The manufacturer doesn't do that when they put the spools together, at least they didn't on the one I dropped and never saw again.

Thanks GGunn.. I will do that to check as I assumed the manuf would have tied the line on before they wound it. Good to know!