Deploying SMB

[Rainer]

Maybe they only have one spool but multiple uses. Example: running a search pattern and later shooting a bag (note that's not necessarily the best plan, as you may have need to shoot the bag immediately after finding whatever you've been searching for).

More likely it's a GUE-F class, which requires them to be kept separate (for practice and task loading reasons). After the class, you're encouraged to pre-rig it.

 

[sschlesi]

Maybe they only have one spool but multiple uses. Example: running a search pattern and later shooting a bag (note that's not necessarily the best plan, as you may have need to shoot the bag immediately after finding whatever you've been searching for).

More likely it's a GUE-F class, which requires them to be kept separate (for practice and task loading reasons). After the class, you're encouraged to pre-rig it.

I've always kept mine connected, I was wondering if there was some non-obvious reason that they should not be connected. Since originally watching the videos when they were first posted, I have enlarged the loop at the end of the line to make it easier to connect/disconnect underwater if necessary.

Two tasks planned for the spool seems reasonable, though if you need to make an unplanned ascent while your spool is "tied" up doing something else it could be awkward. Of course your buddy may well have an idle spool/SMB ready to go.

 

[Rainer]

For any bigger dives, I'll usually have a reel along for "other" tasks. In any case, though, yes, you can easily unrig it if you need the spool. Used mine to run some searches on a dive I didn't have a reel with me. Worked just fine. Yes, you do want to have the loops correctly sized to make everything easier.

 

[Shcubasteve]

For drift diving in S. Florida, I use the 6', 65lb SMB w/ an attached flag similar to the one below, but red . I hold the 90' set-screw reel and smb in one hand and inflate it w/ my octo from about 45'.

Ive seen guys with similar setups clipping the reel to a D-ring before filling the bag. Any thoughts on this practice? Seems unsafe...

 

[Puffer Fish]

For drift diving in S. Florida, I use the 6', 65lb SMB w/ an attached flag similar to the one below, but red . I hold the 90' set-screw reel and smb in one hand and inflate it w/ my octo from about 45'.

Ive seen guys with similar setups clipping the reel to a D-ring before filling the bag. Any thoughts on this practice? Seems unsafe...

Yea, it is terribly unwise to do. Something goes wrong with the reel and it is a ride to the surface.

 

[D_B]

There is a bit of a timing trick to that.. my smb has over 50 lbs of lift.. so half full is a lot.

Even if you use your octo to fill the bag (I do about half the time).. exhale, and wait till you start to drop... then fill quickly.. I usually count for two counts... and release.

If you do it right... you drop a bit, then the pull of the bag starts to pull you up and you release it... then take a breath.

Done right, you end up in the same spot.

And I keep mine smb in a mesh pouch attached to the bottom of my plate.. and my reel on my side.... not connected.

Puff ... thanks for the exhale first tip, it think it will help me the next time I try

one thing I discovered that made holding my depth much easier while unstowing and rigging my SMB was not to look at it while doing it .. rig it out of the courner of your eye while watching the particulate matter in the water .. it gives you immediate direct feedback on weather your rising or dropping a bit

 

[charlesml3]

Gang,

This is far easier than these videos show. Especially with a finger spool.

- Unclip everything.

- Shoot a LITTLE bit of air into the tube. Just enough to get it pointing up.

- Make sure the line is clear and fill the tube 1/2 way or so. Let the tube go.

- Let the spool go. Yes, you read that right. Just let it go. As the tube heads up, the spool will spin right in front of you. It won't sink, and it won't head up with the tube.

- When the tube hits the surface, the spool will stop spinning. Just grab it.

I've done this literally hundreds of times.

-Charles

 

[D_B]

Not sure if that works with a stainless steel spool, but I bet it does with aluminum or delrin

Easier it may be, but when you do it the first time
.... one suggestion made to me for the first time is to do it after your safety stop .. that way if you find that you floated way up after you've fudged up filling/releasing it properly, at least it was at the end of your dive ... yes I did fudge the first one

 

[charlesml3]

I'm not sure about stainless steel. My finger spool is just some kind of black plastic.

At any rate, I leaned this by watching a DM in Cozumel.

-Charles

 

[Scott L]

First, how do you wind up the spool when asending? Second, why has the spool generaly replaced reels for this purpose? Thanks!