Where to put the smb?

[rongoodman]

If you don't have pockets, you can add them to either a wet or a dry suit, or go with something like the X-Shorts. I've had good luck with the Halcyon storage pack for the larger SMBs.

 

[oldogre]

I dive wet (no pockets), SMB and spool together, SMB bungied to backplate, bungie cord from SMB around spool, double-ender from spool to butt D ring. If spool becomes detached from double-ender bungie cord stops the spool from going fishing!

 

[lsorenson]

My spool is not attached to my SMB since I use the spool for other things as well... I store my SMB as stated earlier and clip my spool on a lower front D ring...

lee

 

[rlynch]

lets see...
Your primary, small SMB belongs in your left pocket (Working Pocket) along with the spool for it, both with double enders normally altough some carry it "loaded". this is the signalling SMB. Your secondardy (usually larger) SMB is tucked in your MC storage pack. the spool is in your right pocket (Non-working/emergency pocket).


Halcyon makes the harness pocket for the BP/W. Which fits on the right from the pictures.
Highland makes shorts with pockets (wear over you wetsuit or whatever)or have glue on pockets for your wetsuit.


- same stuff that's been said i guess

 

[burak]

You could have your smb and your spool on your right hip D-Ring. Why not?

 

[DevonDiver]

Does DIR methodology not approve of using some bungee loops on the bottom of the backplate for the DSMB?

I keep one spool on my left hip D-ring. This is my primary. It's normally a spool, but can be a larger reel - depending on the (wreck) penetration I have planned.
Back-ups go into wetsuit/x-short pockets - left side is my 'working'/jump etc spool. Another emergency spool into my right side pocket.

I don't pre-attach spool and DSMB.. because that gives me another immediate option spool for contingencies inside a wreck.

 

[PfcAJ]

I would say that bungee is a reasonable solution, but not quite ideal (which is what we should be striving for) when compared to a backplate pad or using a thigh pocket. I would also move all spools to pockets and put the reel on the butt ring when not in use. Anything that hangs down below you can (will) catch on stuff. For a temporary clip off, the left hip will work, but it gets cluttered with deco/stage bottles in short order.

Burak, we don't use right hip d-rings in the DIR system.

 

[DevonDiver]

Why isn't bungee ideal?

I used to use a 'H' storage pak, but it eventually disintegrated so I moved to bungees. (disintegrated after several thousand dives, I might add - no criticism of the kit's ruggedness implied). With hindsight, I don't see any significant benefits from having the pak. Bungee (to me) seems just as accessible, just as secure and just as comfortable.... and a lot cheaper and easier to maintain. What failures are we considering here?

Nice idea to put all this stuff into pockets, but I've got some small restrictions to fit through. My thighs are pretty big already. I've already got my back-up-back-up torch there, line markers, emergency spool/s, wetnotes, jon-line, more back-up tables/slate, compass (relegated to pocket for wreck dives) etc etc.

Nothing ever hangs down though... not ever. Clipped to the left-side d-ring won't cause it to hang below. There are occasions (wreck diving) where immediate and timely access to a spool is critical. I like the option of having one of them immediately at hand. Digging through a pocket isn't immediate - and pulling out a bungee loop with multiple items attached is something that can get you in worse trouble in a confined, entanglement-risk, space.

 

[PfcAJ]

It can come out FAR more easy than it would if it was in a backplate pad or a pocket. As critical as an SMB is in the ocean, and as critical as not having things come loose in a wreck would be, I would think having it in a secure location till needed would be smart. I recall a dive where a buddy of mine had a bungeed SMB come unbungeed. He had a tail for a little till he realized (shallow OW dive, I just enjoyed the lulz).

I spend a lot of time in overhead environments. While not wrecks, I can imagine that the need of a spool would be somewhat similar. Spools routinely come unclipped and/or dump line everywhere (which is the reason we keep them in pockets), something I would not want in a small, confined, low vis, entanglement-prone environment. Taking a second to stop, stabilize, assess the situation, and retrieve a spool would be time well spent, imo. The technique in that situation wouldn't be to flop everything out of the pocket, but to simply reach in and unclip the needed spool and carry on. I can manage to retrieve and replace spools from my pocket in very short order, so I don't think a time argument really holds true (esp if you plan your gas right).

 

[DevonDiver]

It can come out FAR more easy than it would if it was in a backplate pad or a pocket.

I can only talk on the basis of my own experience - but I simply don't agree with that, in practice.

DSMBs can drop down from the 'H' Pak pretty easily - it happened occasionally for me, especially as the pak got more and more 'well used' (the elasticity going at the sides). Having done a fair few dives with both methods, I just don't notice that either method has a significant 'trend' towards dropping the DSMB.

With bungees, you can see how well secured the DSMB is when kitting up. Mine is rolled up, not attached to reel... or to me. If it drops out, it ain't gonna cause much problem except for the loss of it. Bungees make it far easier to re-stow the DSMB if it does slip though. I can 'feel' the DSMB at the base of my backplate. If it does slip, then it is only from one loop. I can feel move... reach back, one-hand, and re-insert it into the bungee loop. That's a definite advantage over an 'H' Pak.

As critical as an SMB is in the ocean, and as critical as not having things come loose in a wreck would be, I would think having it in a secure location till needed would be smart. I recall a dive where a buddy of mine had a bungeed SMB come unbungeed. He had a tail for a little till he realized (shallow OW dive, I just enjoyed the lulz).

Again, that's a presumption that two loops of bungee is 'less secure' than a pak. When mine's dropped out, it never became a 'tail'.. it's rolled/folded up neatly and that's how it comes out. It doesn't unravel, or stay attached to me.

I can't claim to speak on behalf of other divers, who may causes chaos with DSMB 'tails'... but I've found that some precision and attention to detail with kit stowage eliminates this from happening. As this is the DIR forum, we are - of course - assuming that the divers concerned are competent, properly trained and observant of the small details?

The only times it's ever come out for me, has been on training dives, where I've been doing kit remove/replace underwater etc. Honestly, they drop out of the Pak just as easily under those circumstances.

Spools routinely come unclipped and/or dump line everywhere (which is the reason we keep them in pockets),

Define "routinely"?

For me, "routinely" would be about once every 2000 dives. Is it more often for you? Why?

Taking a second to stop, stabilize, assess the situation, and retrieve a spool would be time well spent, imo.

...and drift further down the corridor, past every junction that now exponentially decreases your chances of finding an exit/regaining the main line etc?

...whilst your lost buddy slowly moves away from the line in zero viz, increasing your search area with every second that passes?

I don't believe in rushed procedures... but add current to zero viz...along with multiple routes/exits/complex interior layouts... and time does indeed become critical.

The technique in that situation wouldn't be to flop everything out of the pocket, but to simply reach in and unclip the needed spool and carry on. I can manage to retrieve and replace spools from my pocket in very short order, so I don't think a time argument really holds true (esp if you plan your gas right).

But I thought you had 'everything' loaded in your pockets. Perhaps I'm lacking finger dexterity or something? I pack my pockets in a consistent order - left side is 'working' and stuff is stowed in the order it gets used - line markers, jump spool, wetnotes etc. Right side is 'contingency' and is stowed in order of emergency precedence - safety spool, back-up/back-up torch, back-up slate/notes etc.

With loaded pockets, I've never found it easy to 'reach in' and select a single item for removal. Especially not when in zero viz and under pressure. Or when wearing gloves. Or when I'm in a confined space.

As mentioned, time argument isn't really about gas supply... although all those little delays do add up.

...this is all based upon the presumption we are talking about worst-case emergency operation....