Kevrumbo
Banned
- Messages
- 5,659
- Reaction score
- 1,361
- # of dives
- 1000 - 2499
Skip to 3:30 minute in video to see proper DSMB deployment, then watch from the beginning for full how to explanation:
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
I'm currently a warm water vacation diver and don't own a drysuit (yet), although I regularly wear a 5mm wetsuit. Likely getting some kind of bp/w setup, just not sure which one yet. So I suspect clipping onto a d-ring somewhere makes the most sense unless I buy a really big pocket to put it in, seeing how the dsmb plus spool is not small.
I have mine clipped to a reel on my right side pocket d-ring. I have knots tied every five feet on the top twenty feet of line. It's been a little while, but I am pretty sure I am double knotted at 15', so I can use it as a depth gauge for my safety stop (and not focus on my computer).
It's been my experience that most DMs in Coz will deploy their SMBs for their guests' ascents. I would begin deploying at about 30 or 40 feet. It will give you plenty of time to get it deployed as you arrive at your safety stop.
The knots are an overkill to me, because:
1. It’s easy to glance over to my wrist dive computer (DC). I have the DC display on the inside (palm side) of my left wrist, so I don’t need to twist my wrist to check on the depth, just look down towards my left palm.
2. I need to keep checking my depth anyway while launching the DSMB to make sure that I’m not getting dragged up by it as it’s going up & be ready to deflate air out of my BCD to control buoyancy & depth.
3. The knots will mess up my neat & compact spool winding line
4. The end of my spool line is 20’ deep. So by a few turns of rewinding I’ll be there at the safety stop range.
5. If there is swift current, the 20 ft line will be at an angle. The actual depth will be shallower than 20 ft and within the safety stop range (15-18 ft). My SUUNTO D4 would automatically trigger the 3 minute safety stop countdown. So I just hold on to the spool stick like holding on a fishing pole handle while being dragged by the swift current. Once the safety stop countdown is done, then I can slowly wind the line back on the reel stick until I’m on surface.
If you get to the depth you want, you can clip off your spool or lock your reel to maintain a visual or tactile reference for your depth. You don't need knots for that and you don't have to stare at your computer.
!. I find myself constantly looking at my computer and not enjoying the scenery. Something I am holding onto at "about" 15' elevates this need.
2. I am using the knots to help me to stay at 15', not my ascent.
3. Wow. Talk about anal retentive. Or..., what size knots are you making???
4. My spool allows for about 50'. Someone else talked about deploying at 25m.
5. Do the geometry. How fast does the current have to be going (with you carried along) to make an angle difference to get you above 10 feet? Also, I am accounting for my pulling to bring the smb down a foot or two.