CWK
Contributor
I am not certain if keeping DSMB and reel seperate is artificial task loading and I don't know if SSI has a rationale for this. I keep mine attached and ready for deployment. DSMB deployment was not discussed when I did my training with them. I was only asked to demonstrate that I could deploy one.
I think a few people keep their DSMB and reel in tech pant pockets. I do so to minimise the number of things that I have clipped on my BC.
I personally don't like the way the reel is held in the SSI video and I do not hold mine like that. What I do like in the video is that diver checked his line and placed it within the two sides of the reel before letting go of the DSMB. The line would probably have snagged him and the DSMB could possibly take him on an uncontrolled bouyant ascent if he had not made that adjustment.
There is nothing wrong with depth checks. I am certainly not saying that computers cannot be relied on for depth checks. I am saying that in certain conditions, it may not be necessary to always check your depth based on your computer.
As an example, I was diving in the Maldives last month and did a lot of channel dives. Maldive channels usually bottom out at about 30m. You drop down, hook in at the mouth of the channel and watch the fish life. When you run low on NDL, you unhook and drift through the channel into the lagoon. I know the bottom of the channel is at 30m. When I am hooked in, I do not to worry about my depth but I would monitor my NDL and air. When I unhook and drift to safety stop, I have a good idea of my depth based on my position in relation to the surface as well as the bottom of the channel which is at about 30m. Drifting to safety stop, I have a good idea where 5m is because that is probably where the dive guide and other divers will be at to do their safety stop. I don't need to race to be the first to hit 5m. Other divers can lead me there. During such dives it was not necessary for me to keep looking at my computer to monitor my depth. I could keep checking my depth on my computer but it was not necessary because of the environment that I was in. It would be more important for me to keep track of my NDL and air.
You asked about dives in the blue. I did do some blue water dives in the Maldives where there is no bottom or wall in sight. This was a totally different environment in which keeping track of depth is more critical, but the environment still offers clues. My fellow divers become part of the environment and my spatial relationsip to the dive guide and other divers offers clues to my depth. If I see that the dive guide and other divers are below me, checking my computer for depth is probably not critical. If I am below everyone else, I may wish to ascend immediately before I check my computer for depth. Depending on computer setup, you may have depth and/or MOD alarms set. Fellow divers may also have similar alarms set and they can provide you with clues. On one dive in February, everyone started going down to be nearer to the fish. I stopped at 36m because I was monitoring my depth and PPO2. The following video is from that dive. You may be able to hear an alarm.
You can tell me that you always want to check your depth based on your computer. That is fine. All that I am saying is that there are times when it is not critical to look at your computer to check your depth. For most of my refreational diving I usually track my air and NDL more closely, but this is not to say that I am not aware of my depth or MOD.
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