What kind of SMB for redundant buoyancy?

[seaseadee]

Not wanting to hijack the other thread about total loss of BC function...

I dive with something similar to this: DGX Safety Sausage
Two questions:
1. Is it even possible to inflate that at depth?
2. If not what type of safety sausage could I use that would allow me to have a second source of buoyancy?

 

[tridacna]

If you want to inflate at depth, get one with an OPV.

Define "second source of bouyancy"?

 

[seaseadee]

Something you can inflate in the event of a total loss of wing function? You know like in SeaHunt when the bad guy tries to cut your hose, but and puts a hole in your wing before you take him out? Seriously though, I usually don't need much weight to dive, even in my 5mil suite I only need 4 pounds with my steel tank, so there's not much to ditch in the event of a loss of wing function.

 

[DogDiver]

Ya shoot the SMB to the surface with your reel. Then reel yourself up your line. Just like the drill.

 

[tridacna]

I take an extra BCD in case I need redundant buoyancy. Sometimes even two or three. I stow them in special pockets that also carry four or five SMBs. And some party balloons JIC. Never know when you may need that extra lift.

If you need extra buoyancy, dump your weights. 4lbs off your belt should be plenty to help you ascend.

If you need to be spotted by a boat, use your SMB.

 

[stuartv]

+1 on making sure it has an OPV.

I would not shoot it to the surface and reel myself up. If I'm using a lift bag, I clip it directly to the scooter ring on my crotch strap. If I'm using an actual SMB, I would get neutral and then (probably) tuck it through my waist belt. Once you get neutral, you should not need to add air to it again - only let it out as you ascend.

I have practiced this maneuver with a lift bag. I have not actually practiced it with an SMB. Thus why I said probably.

If I needed redundant buoyancy, I would not be as comfortable with the idea of being separated from it by a long length of line.

Also, clipping it to my scooter ring lets me kind of balance on it, so I can keep some semblance of good trim. It's not a beauty contest, but good trim can have more benefits than just looking pretty.

 

[KevinNM]

If you can’t swim up without your bcd you should rethink your equipment selection.

People have traditionally advocated the use of lift bags for this situation. The only time I know they were really used for this 3 people died.
Questions about Dual bladder wings

In fact, the lift bag redundancy was the solution employed by tech instructor, Andre Smith, in the Divers Supply Tripple Death Tragedy some maybe remember reading about in the late 90's. Andre and 3 students, all geared with heavy steels and stages, and using wet suits on a 280 foot deep dive....One student could not get neutral on the bottom, as his bungie wing kept letting air out through the OPV, before he could get enouhg air in the wing to get neutral.....Andre was heavy himself, and after the first mentioned student ran OOA and drowned on the bottom (without Andre offering him gas), Andre tried to get off the bottom by deploying a lift bag...which got away from him, leaving him too heavy to get off the bottom...There was one single surviver, so we actually know what happened. Andre ended up stripping his doulbles off and attempting a free ascent, but did not make it.

 

[divad]

 

[Akimbo]

Just drop some lead if your BC fails.

 

[Trailboss123]

Not wanting to hijack the other thread about total loss of BC function...

I dive with something similar to this: DGX Safety Sausage
Two questions:
1. Is it even possible to inflate that at depth?
2. If not what type of safety sausage could I use that would allow me to have a second source of buoyancy?

Answer to #1 is yes. You do it the same as you would at the surface. Take your reg out of your mouth and blow into it to inflate and get your reg back into your mouth. I do it all the time while drift diving, with the SMB attached to a reel so I can deploy it from depth. I have this identical SMB. Very easy to do.