What does it take to get you to carry (& use) an SMB & spool on every ocean dive?

[Malpaso]

I take one on every boat dive, which was not a poll option, but the vast majority of my dives are shore dives.

 

[Insta-Gator]

Carry SMB, mirror and whistle on every dive (even in a quarry just because it's part of my kit.) Have never needed to deploy DSMB on a reel, but would like to learn/practice. Current SMB is designed for surface use, not inflater filled.

 

[thez_yo]

Once I learned how to use mine (and I'm not great at it, but I am working on it), I carry it on every dive. That and a backup mask, whistle, and wetnotes. I got the dive right pocket shorts so I'd have somewhere to put all of this stuff, and always keep everything in the same pocket so I can pull them out without thinking where they are. You never plan for an emergency so I just always do it so that it's automatic to put it on before a dive, for that one fate-ful day.

 

[TSandM]

I'm with Bob and Malpaso. I carry one on EVERY boat dive, and on shore dives where current could be an issue and I might end up somewhere I didn't intend to be.

 

[darushin]

I carry them always, I only deploy if the situation warrants it.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

 

[rivers]

I have 2 (well 3 but one is for courses). Both come on every dive. And either my buddy or I deploy it (they also have 2)

 

[Aquabot]

Simple, I don't want to be a statistic. Every dive my SMB and spool go with me.

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[DiverBeth]

Better to have with you all the time and never use/need it than not have it the time you need it.

 

[Dive Bug Bit Me]

I ticked that I have two on every dive.

Maybe that's a stretch, I don't take a SMB into caves. Otherwise I have both with me for every dive.

 

[flots am]

After reading the article below, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET YOU TO CARRY & USE AN SMB (surface marker buoy aka safety sausage) AND SPOOL ON EVERY OCEAN DIVE?

I always carry two: a little weenie 4' model I can blow up by mouth and wave at the boat, and a 9' 75Lb monster from Carter that's a pain in the ass to deploy, but can be seen for miles.

I started carrying them after surfacing on two different drift dives and finding no boat. The little one goes in a pocket along with an air horn and some other stuff and the big one is rolled up and clipped of next to the tank.

flots.