What is the proper use of a Diver Marker "Sausage"

[UWupnorth]

If you are gong to deploy it from depth you should get one with an over pressure relief valve. Have it pre rigged to a finger spool or a small reel. the smaller markers will compleetly inflate with one breath from 30 feet. I dont leave home without mine. Always remember never connect it to yourself when it is deployd, Just incase a boat snags it.

 

[shark_tamer]

So can/should I use a small "finger reel" to deploy it? I just don't fancy the thought of having my full size reel clipped to my BC

Like I said ... I'm amazed at how fast that thing shoot upward !!!!

Finger reel could be a problem here ! If you regulate it's ascent speed I guess it's OK.
Otherwise I would worry , especially if you don't wear gloves !!

 

[jcadwell]

Consider adding a weight to the bottom of the bag. It helps keep the sausage upright. You don't need rope to attach to a sausage, nylon twine will do. They make some darn small spools that look like fly fishing reels; they are easy to deploy and retrieve.

 

[Jibeho]

Get one of the DAN one or one that has the open bottom one way valve that allows you to inflate it with the octo. This model should also have the over pressure valve. I use a finger reel and just wind myself up after the dive. It also makes hanging at the stop nice and relaxing.

 

[JBRES1]

I have a float that you inflate below surface, they you deploy the 15 ft line attached to the float.
It blows up like a lift bag, but is used as a signal device.
When I get to my office I will post a link to where I got it.
Jim Breslin

 

[PfcAJ]

I agree with many of the above posters. In open water, ALWAYS carry a SMB and a whistle. Your saftey is paramount.

If you decide to carry a spool of line with you, make sure that it is secured in a pocket. Spools (and reels, for that matter) have a nasty habit of unspooling line at inoppertune times due to the line expanding from water absorbtion.

Trailing a 25' lasso is never fun.

If you plan on shooting it up from depth, I recommend a version with an overpressure valve, Halcyon makes a nice one and I believe DAN sells one, too. Also, see if you can get someone to show you how to send one up, its tricky!

Dive safe!

 

[Bill51]

I ALWAYS carry one with a small finger reel. I stopped getting the fancy (expensive ones) with over pressure valves because I know how much is half full at 30’ or about 2/3 full at 15’so it’s perfectly inflated when it gets to the surface. Purists may complain, but I also tie a small knot in the line at 15’ and 30’ as help in maintaining depth during stops. I use the same reel with the knots in it for doing circular sweeps in poor vis.

Unless you’re expecting to be out in really high seas a midsized one that you can inflate 2/3 with one deep breath at 15’ is a lot less hassle than some of the bigger ones. When you’re orally inflating it with one breath (which is why it’s easier to send up from 30&#8217 you don’t change your buoyancy as the air is simply moving from your lungs to the sausage, and with a little practice you can release it as you inhale with very little change in depth. The biggest trick is learning to use a double ender clip to keep the line taught on the way up and at the surface. You’ll also learn how to keep just enough weight on the line to keep it standing upright before you surface without having to carry an additional weight attached to it.

 

[WesTexDiver]

You can also get a few different colored ones. Come up with a color coded chart and leave it on the boat. Red = everything is ok and I am just doing a safety stop. Yellow = i have a deco obligation and will be a little longer. Green = having some sort of trouble, and there is a message attached to this float with instructions. This may be a bit too elaborate for your style of diving, just thought I would plant an idea that maby you could use. Cheers either way and always try to carry at least 1, they really take up no room.

P.S. I never clip anything that I am sending to the surface to me.

 

[DandyDon]

I ALWAYS carry one with a small finger reel. I stopped getting the fancy (expensive ones) with over pressure valves because I know how much is half full at 30’ or about 2/3 full at 15’so it’s perfectly inflated when it gets to the surface. Purists may complain, but I also tie a small knot in the line at 15’ and 30’ as help in maintaining depth during stops. I use the same reel with the knots in it for doing circular sweeps in poor vis.

Unless you’re expecting to be out in really high seas a midsized one that you can inflate 2/3 with one deep breath at 15’ is a lot less hassle than some of the bigger ones. When you’re orally inflating it with one breath (which is why it’s easier to send up from 30’) you don’t change your buoyancy as the air is simply moving from your lungs to the sausage, and with a little practice you can release it as you inhale with very little change in depth. The biggest trick is learning to use a double ender clip to keep the line taught on the way up and at the surface. You’ll also learn how to keep just enough weight on the line to keep it standing upright before you surface without having to carry an additional weight attached to it.

Yep, I carry the same $15-20 one I started with nearly 6 yrs ago, since my first boat dive and every one since. The fancy ones are interesting, but this one works well, it's simple, and cheap. Everyone needs to have at least that, and it's enough for me. As I said earlier, I've sent it up from 70 ft a few times, no problems. Oh, I don't tie a weight to mine, just keep the line tight as I ascend and on pull it down some on the surface.

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[Udo Hartig]

Glad to see every one on the thread is on the same track – always carry a Safety Sausage / SMB on every dive. There are many variations out there closed, semi closed and open ended, they really depend on what type of dive you are doing. Recreational divers don’t really need a tek diver buoy.

Important points:

• A buoy that can be inflated underwater is the most useful, completely closed oral inflatable units tend to be quite small and can burst if they do not have an over pressure valve. (these units are really designed for the surface and are a great back up unit for a open ended or semi closed SMB)
• Avoid cheap PVC buoys, they don’t last and can fail at the worst times
• Avoid buoys with string or cord attached, you can very easily get tangled
• Reels and spools are very useful tools, but make sure you are proficient in there use – they are very tricky at the best of times.
• The weight at the bottom of the buoy will not make it stand up (unless you have added at least 2kg / 4lbs). The weight at the bottom of the SMB will prevent the air from escaping once the SMB reaches the surface, by dragging the open end of the buoy underwater as soon as it breaches the surface and ensuring that it stays that way even in swell.
• Thus opened buoys will not deflate at the surface if correctly weighted.