Safety sausage vs DSMB

[Aloha Joe]

I want a 6’ surface marker in case I get separated from a dive boat. Would you recommend a 72” DSMB (HOG / DRIS with oral inflate and semi-open bottom) for a new diver? I read that they can be tough to handle if deployed at shallower depths, but don’t know if that’s when/where it would actually be getting deployed.

 

[Wookie]

No. Use the 6 foot safety sausage. A DSMB requires training to be proficient at, or a lot of time spent wrapped up in your finger spool. The safety sausage is your friend at this point.

 

[IncreaseMyT]

I personally think having one of each is valuable. Don't always carry both, but you should have both at your disposal IMHO

For example on a drift dive I would want the DSMB

 

[Aloha Joe]

Can’t I just treat the DSMB like a safety sausage until I learn how to use it as DSMB? Or are you saying 72” is really too big for a DSMB?

There are plenty of drift dives around here and I plan on getting a DSMB lesson within the next couple of weeks.

 

[runsongas]

my vote is get the 6' dsmb and spool and then practice shooting it.

 

[IncreaseMyT]

Can’t I just treat the DSMB like a safety sausage until I learn how to use it as DSMB? Or are you saying 72” is really too big for a DSMB?

There are plenty of drift dives around here and I plan on getting a DSMB lesson within the next couple of weeks.

Yea but there will be times when you don't need it and why carry something bigger than you need?

 

[rsingler]

Listen to @Wookie .
An easy oral inflate for surface is all you need. Six feet is good idea for best visibility. You can get around to DSMB when you get around to it. From your posts, I think you're a hard charger and active learner. But give this one awhile, until neutral buoyancy is absolutely second nature.
I'd change my recommendation the first time you are actually asked to be ready to deploy an SMB on a drift dive, but that's much less common than you would think.

 

[Bob DBF]

Aside from the training and practice, it depends on your need to signal your presence before you surface. I just had a sausage untill I was going to dive in stronger current and needed to make a safety stop, as I was doing multiple dives a day over several days. I had no problem learning to shoot a DSMB because I had been using lift bags for ages.


Bob

 

[Aloha Joe]

Can you guys recommend one? I have a 48” safety sausage that’s only 4” wide and want something wider.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

6ft Safety Sausage