DAN Signal Kit

[chiroaemt]

I just oredered the DAN Surface Signal Kit. I'm a bit confused as to how this gets hooked up onto the regulator. Any one have any comments or drawings I can refer to??

[Teamcasa]

Moved to DAN...

[ronbeau]

I just ordered the DAN Surface Signal Kit. I'm a bit confused as to how this gets hooked up onto the regulator. Any one have any comments or drawings I can refer to??


Actually it does not hook to your regulator. You can inflate it using orally or by using you BC inflater hose. Simply pop the inflater hose from the BC inflater and push the nozzle tip from the DAN SMB into the end of the inflater hose. The end of the inflation nozzle on the DAN SMB is shaped like the metal nozzle tip on your BC inflater.

The DAN SMB is well made. You will be very happy with it and you helped support DAN by buying it.

I am just another diver who happens to own that SMB. I do not work for DAN but I am a DAN member and have their preferred insurance plan.

Let me know if this makes sense to you.

[shoturtle]

You can also use your octo to inflate it, just to the mouth piece into the bottom opening of the sausage and purge the octo. But it is way easier popping the quick disconnect off the bc inflater and putting it on the oral inflater valve of the sausage. It is a pretty good sausage.

[KrisB]

I just received mine today -- does anyone know what the extra d-rings and strap (half-way up) are for?

[annasea]

Actually it does not hook to your regulator. You can inflate it using orally or by using you BC inflater hose. Simply pop the inflater hose from the BC inflater and push the nozzle tip from the DAN SMB into the end of the inflater hose. The end of the inflation nozzle on the DAN SMB is shaped like the metal nozzle tip on your BC inflater.<snip>

I thought the DAN SMB can also be inflated using one's octo. Is this true? What is the bottom of the SMB like? Is it open or closed?

I need one for next month so I'm planning on ordering the DAN one but when I phoned for more info (their description isn't very descriptive), I didn't get much help.

[KrisB]

I thought the DAN SMB can also be inflated using one's octo. Is this true? What is the bottom of the SMB like? Is it open or closed?

I need one for next month so I'm planning on ordering the DAN one but when I phoned for more info (their description isn't very descriptive), I didn't get much help.
There's three methods of inflation:

1. push in valve, put lips to it.
2. push in valve, push LPI hose onto it.
3. hold air source (octo, primary, screaming buddy) under bottom, and allow to fill.

The bottom of it is similar to a lift bag, in that it has an opening to inflate the tube -- this opening seals against itself when the tube is fully-inflated.

In addition, there is a pocket at the bottom with velcro across the whole opening to store the glow stick, mirror and whistle that come with it. There is a dump valve, along with two d-rings on the way up, a clear plastic sleeve (to hold glow stick at night) and two other velcro straps running side-to-side as well.

The whole system is *very* well made (compared to others I've seen) and I can report back in-water findings later once I've gotten it wet.

I keep 15' of line with mine, so I can inflate it and do a safety-stop while waiting for the boat. This line tucked in very nicely to the opening at the bottom, so I didn't have to wrap it around the sausage like I did with my old one.

[KrisB]

By the way -- if you've never worked a lift-bag before, careful with the octo-underneath method. Keep the mouthpiece pointing down so you don't get a free flow and waste air... also make sure you can get it out of there before you send it to the surface -- you don't want to be dragged up with it!

[cowjazz]

I just received mine today -- does anyone know what the extra d-rings and strap (half-way up) are for?

I think a DAN rep that spoke to our dive club said the D rings are use to make a flotation device for an injured/unconscious person. There is a clip on the bottom where you would use your octo to inflate the sausage. Attach that clip to the D-ring, and you make a donut that can be placed under the arms.

Did that make any sense?

[red_barbarian]

The DAN SMB works very well. I inflate with the second stage I'm not breathing from. I carry 100' of string on a spool and attach the string to the SMB. As a previous poster mentioned be prepared to let go of the SMB pretty quick when inflating below the surface. I dump a little air from my wing before I start so I can hang on a bit longer and get a better fill. When the SMB hits steady state on the surface I reel in as I go up to the surface. I keep the whistle on a harness d-ring and the mirror in the backplate pocket. The glow tube stays home. If you're diving a BP/W take a couple of bungy cord loops that go thru holes near the end of the plate and just shove the rolled SMB in them. It stays neatly tucked behind your butt, and is easily accessible.

[El Cid]

Another use for the upper D-rings is to send up a slate from the bottom in an emergency. If you have to send a message up and not violate your deco or something of that nature.