Why not attach spool to DSMB before the dive?

[lukeb]

You do mean a self-inflating DSMB, either CO2 cartridges or a ‘crack’ bottle.

No, I still use the traditional DSMB where you inflate it yourself at the bottom and send it up. I really like the idea of the crack bottle DSMBs, but I couldn't get over the issue of the water entering the bottle at the surface and slowly destroying the bottle.

I agree with you on the ratchet reel. It is such a benefit to be able to let it go and watch it hang in front of you without having to mess with a double ender every time. For deco stops, gas switches etc I think this is a big plus.

For the OPs original question, I still keep my reel and DSMB separate and attach them underwater. I would love to have them pre-rigged but the one disadvantage to a reel is the size and I am yet to decide on a good way to store them both together without them dangling in the way. Even with a smaller ratchet reel I struggle to fit them in a pocket. I totally agree though that it would be nice to not have this additional task loading at depth. I will keep experimenting!

 

[scubadada]

A pleasure to use

 

[Allen-1]

A pleasure to use

View attachment 910481

Plus one for that recommendation.

 

[lukeb]

What is in the pouch on the side?

 

[Allen-1]

What is in the pouch on the side?

The attached spool

 

[Wibble]

Here’s a Kent Tooling reel with 100m/330ft of sting and a dual 16g CO2 cartridge 6ft self-inflating SMB

Edit — that’s actually the single cartridge version, now replaced with the dual cartridge version

 

[lukeb]

Here’s a Kent Tooling reel with 100m/330ft of sting and a dual 16g CO2 cartridge 6ft self-inflating SMB

Do you carry that clipped off or can you fit it in a pocket?

And are the CO2 cartridges expensive / hard to replace?

 

[Wibble]

Definitely one to clip off at the back!

It’s large, meaning that it’s rugged and reliable. I like the CO2 cartridge SMBs as they’re so easy to put up quickly and in poor conditions.

With two cartridges, you set off one and can hold it at depth if you want to manoeuvre out of the way of something or even if (very rarely) the string tangles (because I didn’t wind it in before letting it go). Then set off the second cartridge and it flies off.

Most of my diving includes plenty of decompression and I need a large stiff SMB on the surface; nobody wants a flaccid blob!

Once up to the first stop I’ll leave it bouncing a few feet in front of me.

 

[lukeb]

@Wibble could you attach another photo without the DSMB on the Reel showing how you threaded the bungee loop through the handle? Thanks!

 

[Wibble]

@Wibble could you attach another photo without the DSMB on the Reel showing how you threaded the bungee loop through the handle? Thanks!

More photos…