SMB Deployment - Storage confusion

[jringold]

I purchased a WDS Deluxe Surface Marker (WDS DELUXE MARKER:: ALL-IN-ONE SYSTEM, 59,00 €). I am going to the pool this weekend to practice deploying it. I watched a couple of youtube videos on how to deploy it and to roll the webbing back up. I think I have that down – just need to practice it. This may be an idiotic question but how to you carry it when stored? It comes in a webbed bag. I assume you would not carry the bag with you. Otherwise when you get ready to deploy it you have to “fiddle” with getting it out of the mesh bag. So then I am left with the rolled up SMB and the webbing that is wrapped with a bungie two separate items. See below:

I could just shove the marker and the webbing as two separate items in my BC pocket. But the roll of the marker is not being held by anything. I hope I am explaining myself correctly. It just seems like there is a way that I am supposed to have the marker and webbing wrapped together someway as one unit that is easy to deploy when ready. On some of the videos I have seen an entire SMB unit neatly rolled up and secured by hanging off a D-Ring. Also, there is a signaling mirror that came with the unit that is also in a pocket on the mesh bag, so maybe I am supposed to keep it in its bag until it is ready to be used???


Thoughts?

 

[WarrenZ]

I would ditch the dog leash or at least put it on a spool that looks like a tangled snag waiting to happen. I just use a couple loops of bungee cord to secure my lift bags to the side of my plate. When you are deploying give it a big blast of air and don't let it take you for a ride to the surface.

 

[RJP]

Odd to see an SMB that doesn't have a bungee loop or velcro strap to keep it rolled up. And what's that webbing/strap all about? The combination of a loose SMB and a loose length of webbing looks like an accident waiting to happen.

One of these can be clipped to a d-ring...

...along with one of these:

Many folks dive with the SMB already rigged on the spool.

 

[jringold]

On the video, it looks pretty easy and tangle free. https://youtu.be/Z50TajNo1k4. Check it out.

 

[darrenlowjq]

To answer your question, I usually dive with pocket shorts over my wetsuit so my SMB goes in there. See the video link below, I store my SMB in the same manner as the diver in that video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfcEcCoIvKs

It may not be apparent to you now but there may be occasions where you might want to launch your SMB deeper than the length of that leash you have now. The leash limits you to launching it at about 6m according to your video.

I also prefer a closed circuit bag like the one posted by RJP, because you have to maintain a constant downward tension in order to keep the air trapped in an open circuit bag while on the surface (which may be easier if you dive more overweighted than I do I guess). In colder waters, purging the alternate can cause a free flow too.

Edit:
I must have missed that bit about the mesh bag. I got my previous SMB in a similar bag and that was how I carried it, though for reasons mentioned above I have since ditched that SMB. You could also get a bit of bungee to keep the SMB neatly rolled up while not in use.

 

[jringold]

Darren - that is exactly what I am looking for. In your video look at 0:50. He pulls it out and it is all nicely wrapped together in one unit. That is what I'm looking for.

Ray, the missing velcro was a mystery to me as well. I figured there is some secret to this that eludes me. I was half expecting immediate replies like 'You idiot, don't you know that you do xy and z to make that work..."

 

[RJP]

On the video, it looks pretty easy and tangle free.

Of course it does... it's their promotional video.



Can you return it and get your money back? (Seriously.)

Underwater, loose line (or webbing) wants to kill you. Using a spool allows you to limit the amount of line that's available to cause your demise.

Plus the way the webbing pays out from the bungee loop would make me nervous. If it gets snagged, you're going for a ride. And given that there's 24 or so separate loops created by the way that is setup (yeah, I stopped the video and counted) the likelihood of it getting snagged is 24x higher than necessary.

PS - in general, when buying scuba gear it's best to avoid any product that has the word "DELUXE" in it's name. Most manufacturers seem to think it's synonymous with "convoluted" apparently.

 

[jringold]

Not really returnable. My brother sent it to me as a gift (on my recommendation of what I could use...). So not out any money but was hoping it would be usable. Everything is SCUBA is x2 for me. My brother sent 2 (one for me and one for my beautiful bride/scuba buddy). So when I go to the lds this weekend, I will be buying 2 to replace these....
(just when I think I have everything I need, I am making another purchase.....)

 

[RJP]

Not really returnable. My brother sent it to me as a gift (on my recommendation of what I could use...). So not out any money but was hoping it would be usable. Everything is SCUBA is x2 for me. My brother sent 2 (one for me and one for my beautiful bride/scuba buddy). So when I go to the lds this weekend, I will be buying 2 to replace these....
(just when I think I have everything I need, I am making another purchase.....)

"Buy it right... or buy it twice."

 

[Imla]

Actually, this one is quite neat. I had it as well. I just had it in the mesh bag and clipped the mesh bag to a D-ring to my bcd. worked just fine.