Too much DSMB for me?? Screw up!

[aquacat8]

I recently purchase a 6 foot DSMB and tried it on a drift dive in West Palm. It was a disaster, though luckily I was not hurt. I used a cheap plastic ratcheting reel I had used successfully with a smaller DSMB but this time I somehow did not disengage the mechanism AND at the same time I was also having difficulty orally putting enough air into the big DSMB from 30, feet so I used my second stage, and I went rocketing to the surface and scared myself silly before I knew what hit me.

So obviously I need practice. Also I guess I should use a spool instead of a reel. Also if I use a reel can you advise on a quality reel?

But I think that for me, being a small gal, that big DSMB might just be too much to handle at depth. I mean what is the lift capacity of that thing? It shocked me! I am thinking of going back to the little one... need to buy one again as I lost the other one at BHB.

 

[flyboy08]

Nothing more you can do except practice. Hit up a pool and deploy away!

 

[The Chairman]

Also I guess I should use a spool instead of a reel.

You solved your own problem!

 

[tbone1004]

@aquacat8

I have 2 dsmb's.
One small one, which is for deploying at depth. It is 1m, has solas tape, etc etc and has a 100ft spool attached to it. Used mainly to let a boat know stuff from depth.
One big one, deployed at the surface. That's the "oh sh!t, come find me" marker for drift diving. This one also has a 100ft spool attached to it, but it's not something I plan on deploying from depth.

I do not recommend using a reel for dsmb use. Dive flag use is one thing *ratchet reel*, but those are exceptionally dangerous IMO for DSMB or lift bag use.

I recommend this method for deployment

Of note with all of these, your depth is critically important on how much you have to fill them. From 33ft there is no point in filling it up more than half since it will come out of the OPV anyway. Keep that in mind when you're practicing since there is no need to ever fill it completely

 

[NAM001]

I recently purchase a 6 foot DSMB and tried it on a drift dive in West Palm. It was a disaster, though luckily I was not hurt. I used a cheap plastic ratcheting reel I had used successfully with a smaller DSMB but this time I somehow did not disengage the mechanism AND at the same time I was also having difficulty orally putting enough air into the big DSMB from 30, feet so I used my second stage, and I went rocketing to the surface and scared myself silly before I knew what hit me.

So obviously I need practice. Also I guess I should use a spool instead of a reel. Also if I use a reel can you advise on a quality reel?

But I think that for me, being a small gal, that big DSMB might just be too much to handle at depth. I mean what is the lift capacity of that thing? It shocked me! I am thinking of going back to the little one... need to buy one again as I lost the other one at BHB.

My first thing would be learn to use a thumb spool and one that will work with you hand protection. next look at your dsmb and see what it takes to fill it. from 30 ft a slow fill is unsat for the volumn needed to get it up and still be bent over at the surface. You can experience this by shooting one form 60 or greater adn comparing it to the 30 ft shoot. at 30 ft it has to be 1/2 full of air at 60 1/3 at 100 1/4 full to be fully erect at the surface. You can possibly try a fill at 30 ft and determine how much got filled before you could no longer hold it down. Determine at what depth you need a dsmb if you can not getit ful enough at that depth then you need a lower volumn dsmb.

 

[scubadada]

For drift diving in SE Florida, I use a large 6 foot DSMB with a finger spool with 100 ft of line. For routine purposes I will send it up at my safety stop, or close to that. When unexpected things have happened, I deploy it much earlier, from depth, to give the boat a heads up. An example of the latter was showing up at the ascent line on the Castor in Boynton Beach in brisk current, only to find that the line had already been released. I sent up my SMB and did my ascent and safety stop on the SMB. The boat was right there to pick me up,

 

[RyanT]

Yes, definitely use a finger spool. In addition, I have a second lp inflator hose with a little blow gun attached (see link). You can just insert the nozzle into the bottom of your bag and push it with your fingers. It'll inflate the bag and then just let go. There is nothing on the nozzle that could snag on your bag (like using a octopus) and it's easier than taking your reg out to inflate orally. Just be sure to put a bungee on the blow gun, otherwise if you bump the quick release on your lp hose, the pressure could cause it to pop off and sink out of sight.

TRIDENT DIVING EQUIPMENT BLOW GUN ACCESSORIES

 

[RyanT]

Also, the deeper your shoot your bag, the easier it is. Because of the gas expansion, you only need to inflate a bag about 1/3 full if you're shooting from 60'. That makes shooting even a big bag fairly easy.

 

[Ghetto Diver]

Also, the deeper your shoot your bag, the easier it is. Because of the gas expansion, you only need to inflate a bag about 1/3 full if you're shooting from 60'. That makes shooting even a big bag fairly easy.

This!
I use either a spool or a ratchet reel. I have a cheap one that I modified the catch (bigger and made of delrin) which makes it easier to control. Getting more fond of it than the spool.
When it wants to go, let it go (at depth).

 

[aquacat8]

Thanks for your replies! Going to practice in the pool, and be more willing to LET GO if necessary!