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Hi - I have recently realised that I am one of the only divers that does not routinely use a DSMB for ascents and really need to purchase one. Can anyone recommend a good quality self-sealing (if thats the correct terminology) lightweight system that stays inflated and also a good reel. When I was trained in NZ it was not standard practice to use a 'safety sausage' (they were only used if the boat had not already seen us) but everyone over here seems to use them for every dive.
As we are doing our wreck diving course in October, a reel that can be used for both would be ideal.
i wrote this (http://www.finstrokes.com/scuba_kit/smb.html) a wee while back.
might be of use to you.
more kit info can be found here (http://www.finstrokes.com/scuba_kit/scuba_kit.html)
Gaaaaah :mad: just wrote a proper reply and the computer lost it :mad: :mad:
The abbreviated version:
Use a lumb bros reel (the little yello/black plastic one with about 50m of line)
Use and affordable self sealing dsmb
Use and orange one, and write your name on it in HUGE letters
If you remember nothing else, remember to throw the damn thing away if it gets hung up when you are deploying it under water ;)
(cheap ones are easier to throw away instantly, this is a "good thing" tm):D
i have a large 'solas' sticker with my name on it, stuck to my DSMB.
it can be picked up by radar, handy if your left behind by the boat. :eek:
I have a buddy self sealing and mcmahon reel. Faultless everytime. I used to have the scubapro reel and it got nicknamed the reel of death!!
I have a buddy self sealing and mcmahon reel. Faultless everytime. I used to have the scubapro reel and it got nicknamed the reel of death!!
like this one?
http://www.finstrokes.com/scuba_kit/images/smb2.jpg
thats the one..it was piece of crap!! I sold it on fleabay and the guy complained I told him to go check with scubapro and they had a repair for them, seemingly its now a good reel since the fixed the spindle. Bloody expensive too!!
Mcmahon reel for me too, never had a problem with it yet and seac sub self sealing dsmb
i have one of them, used to have 2 of them...
but the spindle collapsed on one at 24m on the clyde during a freewater ascent from 36m, i got tangled up in the spool (arms, legs, full shooting match, looked like i was doing knitting) with deco still to do.
the guys on the boat untied me when i was on the surface.
got a vid of that sounds like it was fun!!
Ive a kent tooling spool and a self sealing blob that can be orally inflated or inflated with drysuit hose (means i dont need to think where bubbles go :p ), I also have a kent tooling reel.
I'd try a borrow different reels before buying one as whats good for some aint good for others.
got a vid of that sounds like it was fun!!
no vid sorry, its the taking part that counts.
fancy a dive ;)
like this one?
http://www.finstrokes.com/scuba_kit/images/smb2.jpg
That can't be a picture of the one Chris had, it was only ever seen with Chris hanging on to it before having to make that lose your reel or die decision - but it kept coming back!
As someone said above, let go if need be. The BSAC accident reports issued each year have about 10% of diving incidents and injuries seem to be not letting go of the (at most #100) reel and DSMB. The rarely go that far after being let go anyway.
What about getting to your 5m safety stop and then deploying your SMB?
Scuba-Doh!
23-07-07, 08:42
What about getting to your 5m safety stop and then deploying your SMB?
I tried this yesterday at Conger, just to try out my SMB (Lidl special) and new reel (no chance I'd use the kite-winder you get in the Lidl pack). Worked like a dream (and doubles as an excuse for not navigating back to the entry point).
That can't be a picture of the one Chris had, it was only ever seen with Chris hanging on to it before having to make that lose your reel or die decision - but it kept coming back!
As someone said above, let go if need be. The BSAC accident reports issued each year have about 10% of diving incidents and injuries seem to be not letting go of the (at most #100) reel and DSMB. The rarely go that far after being let go anyway.
We had to let the very same reel go on a dive at Duart Point in a 4 knot current - it jammed. After we did our blue water ascent I had a little look for it and saw it about half a mile away and heading for the Sound of Mull!
Lizardland
23-07-07, 11:08
One of the biggest causes of reels jamming is the line spilling off on to the spindle and fouling it. The two easiest ways of stopping it are to put less line on it (or thinner line if you want the same length) and to add a bit of friction to the drum as the buoy is going up (drag a finger along the edge of the drum to slow it, don't use the knobs/screws on the reel meant for locking it). Never let it spin freely and don't pull more than a couple of inches of line off when attaching the buoy (if you keep them seperate).
If I'm diving a wreck then I attach a loop of 4mm cord on to something solid, clip the reel to that and then deploy. If it jams then it isn't taking you with it and you don't lose the reel. You can then either clip the line from a spare reel on to the jammed reel and release the cord and continue sending up the buoy, clear the jam or pull the buoy down and attach to another reel.
I always carry a spool of line for emergency use. There is nothing for it to foul on and it's very easy to deploy. You can get a spool of line from a chandlers for a few quid or delrin diving one for about £15.
Cheers,
Stuart
gordon mackie
23-07-07, 11:22
The Kent tools one is expensive but heavy and indestructable..it also has a nice lock that switches it between ratchet and free run.
http://www.divingproducts.co.uk/reels/index.htm
Buddy with bottle is nice as it is 100% full at the surface..so just crack it and go..I prefer the 0.1 Litre one
I still like to use my normal Buddy self sealer and practice mid water deployment using reg and exhaled breath to keep it automatic
Stuart, you are quite right, I tried to reduce the amount of line on the reel of death, and made sure the tension was correct when winding it in, however there was a problem with the spindle and how tension was applied to it, obviously this was a design fault as they had a fix for it, often the more cheaper solutions are much cheaper and better. I think the scubapro is a well crafted reel, but not for DSMB, it would make a really nice caving or wreck reel (I think thats what it was designed for!)
Lizardland
23-07-07, 13:51
it would make a really nice caving or wreck reel (I think thats what it was designed for!)
I'm not sure it would, going by the photo it looks like the line comes off the side opposite the handle? Ideally, you want it coming off at 90deg to the handle so that if your holding the reel then the line is running parallel to your body. I think you've probably done the best thing getting rid of it! :D
another deploy method for wreck diving..
use a handrail or similar solid object, deploy the bag.
wind the line under the handrail & float yourself to the surface using the reel (back to front, as it were, you travel up with the reel).
you arrive at the surface next to your bag.
un-clip the bag (remove the clip) & wind the line back in.
handy if you have current on a wreck with deco to do.
saves the boat searching for various divers with various deco/exit times.
another deploy method for wreck diving..
use a handrail or similar solid object, deploy the bag.
wind the line under the handrail & float yourself to the surface using the reel (back to front, as it were, you travel up with the reel).
you arrive at the surface next to your bag.
un-clip the bag (remove the clip) & wind the line back in.
handy if you have current on a wreck with deco to do.
saves the boat searching for various divers with various deco/exit times.
great tip, stew
I guess you have to ensure that your line is long enough though! :eek:
great tip, stew
I guess you have to ensure that your line is long enough though! :eek:
good point charlie & worth noting.
you need to know your depth, your line length & your 2 times table while at depth.
good point charlie & worth noting.
you need to know your depth, your line length & your 2 times table while at depth.
That rules out all DM's then ;)
Lizardland
24-07-07, 09:46
another deploy method for wreck diving..
use a handrail or similar solid object, deploy the bag.
wind the line under the handrail & float yourself to the surface using the reel (back to front, as it were, you travel up with the reel).
you arrive at the surface next to your bag.
un-clip the bag (remove the clip) & wind the line back in.
handy if you have current on a wreck with deco to do.
saves the boat searching for various divers with various deco/exit times.
I started wreck diving in the NE USA and that isn't too dissimilar to what some divers do there. I used to use the other common technique there, the Jersey reel. You replace the line on your reel with sisal twine (you have to wind it really tight to stop water penetrating it). You send up your bag as normal, tie the bottom end of the line on to a chunk of wreck and cut your reel free. You now have a fixed line to the surface which you ascend like a shotline (no winding needed). At the surface you then cut the bag free and the piece of line you leave behind rots away because it's a natural fibre (takes about two weeks in the Clyde).
I prefer it to normal reeling where I've got a lot of deco or where I'm diving in open sea (e.g. not the Clyde or SOM) as you don't drift and stay near the wreck.
Cheers,
Stuart
I started wreck diving in the NE USA and that isn't too dissimilar to what some divers do there. I used to use the other common technique there, the Jersey reel. You replace the line on your reel with sisal twine (you have to wind it really tight to stop water penetrating it). You send up your bag as normal, tie the bottom end of the line on to a chunk of wreck and cut your reel free. You now have a fixed line to the surface which you ascend like a shotline (no winding needed). At the surface you then cut the bag free and the piece of line you leave behind rots away because it's a natural fibre (takes about two weeks in the Clyde).
I prefer it to normal reeling where I've got a lot of deco or where I'm diving in open sea (e.g. not the Clyde or SOM) as you don't drift and stay near the wreck.
Cheers,
Stuart
i was taught that on my deco training, never tried it, but makes perfect sense.