Which SMB?

[randytay]

After many consultations, I have decided Halcyon is the way to go. It was highly recommended by those on this board and my UTD instructor.

Now I hit another brick wall: Which one? I need a 3' (which is the generic size for a SMB) but they seem to come in many flavors. Obviously I wanted an oral inflate but the EE website says oral inflate does not come with use pressure relief valve but at the same time says it used an integrated pressure relief valve O.O

So as you can see, I am now very confused, any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Rainer]

If you want a smaller SMB, you can't beat the 3.3' H one. Closed circuit, OPV, oral or drysuit inflate.

Diver's Alert Marker, 3.3' (1 m) long, closed circuit, orange | Extreme Exposure

 

[50Fathom]

^

See above.

I use the 3.3', (1m for you ROW weirdos), and love it. Perfect for local conditions, moderate seas and also drilling. If I dove a lot in high seas, I might consider the 4.5', but I think anything past that is silly. If the seas are so bad as to require a 6' or longer SMB to be seen, I probably won't be diving in it.

Also, love the CC. I started with a OC SMB, then moved to a CC without an OPV and now have the Halcyon CC with OPV. If I knew then what I know now, I could've saved some dosh.

 

[randytay]

Thanks guys! Ordering now.

 

[rlynch]

that's the one you want
I carry one in my right pocket and a 6' DAN one in my storage pouch. the 6' is for signaling and provides a secondary floatation system at the surface. If its out somethings wrong in other words

 

[eelnoraa]

If you are doing DIR training, such as GUE fundie, the Halcyon 3.3" is the way to go. Anything bigger, you will be hard to have it fully inflated while maintaining buoyancy.

 

[TSandM]

For very cold water, the bag which permits LP hose inflation is ideal -- not because you inflate it with the LP hose, but because the large flange around the Schrader valve connector makes it MUCH easier to get a seal on the thing with a cold, numb mouth.

 

[RTodd]

I prefer overkill for these because I mostly use them when dealing with commercial dive ops on recreational dives when there is an issue - which means they are rarely deployed. One member of the team carries one of the recommended H bags above. I carry one of the carter markers. I think the smallest is 4.5 but it may be 6'. Just something to consider. They are considerably bulkier than the Halcyon stuff so you have to store them behind the backplate. These bags are sealed with an OPV but you fill them with a second stage. Easier to use in colder water as a bonus - sort of. They are higher volume so they take slightly more practice. Not much. Much more visible though, particularly as a surface marker if seas pick up on you.

 

[rlynch]

why i carry two - small for marking assents offshore when needed, etc. and the big one that is for a big we're Here!!" useful if there is a lot of boat traffic or you really need to get attention. The small ones tend to be ignored in Fl for instance by boaters.
that said i will be replacing the DAN one with a halcyon 6' since its a bitch to blow up, the CC ones are really that much better, esp when you can disconnect an LP line to inflate them at the surface.
Make sure you spool is high quality as well and actually sinks with 1/2 the line off of it (many cheaper injection molded plastics ones do not easily or readily enough for my tastes).
Nothing worse that shooting you new shinny SMB and having the spool take off with it and then Not unrolling back down to you, fast enough or at all.

 

[limeyx]

Randy,
The 3.3 bag is a good one, but if you come down and dive LA in the San Pedro/Oil Rigs area, or any of the off-shore islands, i would highly recommend the 6 foot Halcyon bags.

The swell and wind chop really make the 3 footers inadequate. There have been a bunch of times I had a very hard time spotting them.

For the big bag, the LP inflator attachment is (IMO) basically the way to go.
Halcyon does sell one like this which works well.