How to float a strobe?

[stuartv]

Take a DSMB, Cut it down to a meager/useful size, and you have a great little system....

Between AquaSeal, Stitching, etc., I'd bet you can build a small float out of a DSMB....

But, why is this better than a small soda bottle? It's something I would deploy at the start and take up at the end, so it's not like I'd be swimming around during the dive with a soda bottle clipped to me.

 

[stuartv]

We have small beverage bottles filled with foam that we use to shoot lines from depth to then haul up mooring lines....

What foam do you use that doesn't crush at depth?

 

[rhwestfall]

But, why is this better than a small soda bottle? It's something I would deploy at the start and take up at the end, so it's not like I'd be swimming around during the dive with a soda bottle clipped to me.

because it is cool to make stuff...... and if it was deflatable, the carry/storage becomes a nice feature...

What foam do you use that doesn't crush at depth?

IIRC, the "minimal expansive Great Stuff"

 

[stuartv]

I just remembered this. I think an order for these is going to be the ticket.

StiX Adjustable Buoyancy Jumbo Floats for Strobe Arms

Strung onto some bungee, adjusted to be "just right" positively buoyant.

 

[rhwestfall]

Interesting, but I'd want an air pouch you could inflate/deflate.... With those, and your intention, it will always be positively buoyant, so if it "gets away" from you, it is heading up.....

 

[tursiops]

why is this better than a small soda bottle?

If you want 2# buoyancy, that's a 1 qt/liter bottle....not a small one. I'd go with inflatable rather than carrying around a bunch of foam.

 

[EFX]

A buddy had a recent experience where he hung a strobe on the anchor line at the start of his dive. When he came back he was, fortunately, able to find the anchor line without a problem, but he couldn't see his strobe. During the dive, the current changed and the first number of feet of the anchor line dropped to the bottom. So, his strobe was laying on the bottom when he came back.

It seems like there are situations where one might want to mark an exit point with a strobe but not have anything up off the bottom that you can reliably hang the strobe on.

So, tie the strobe higher up and very close to the anchor line! I'm sorry if this is to simplistic.

 

[Celt]

If you’re going down an anchor rope and you must return to that anchor rope that’s where you need to secure the strobe, if there’s slack in the rope keep the strobe high, why on earth would you risk the strobe floating to the surface if it came undone and not be able to find your safe route to the surface.

 

[stuartv]

So, tie the strobe higher up and very close to the anchor line! I'm sorry if this is to simplistic.

I think you are not really using much imagination here...

If you’re going down an anchor rope and you must return to that anchor rope that’s where you need to secure the strobe, if there’s slack in the rope keep the strobe high, why on earth would you risk the strobe floating to the surface if it came undone and not be able to find your safe route to the surface.

Why on earth would you risk the strobe falling to the bottom if it came undone and not be able to find your safe route to the surface?

 

[stuartv]

Okay, so maybe one of these....

https://www.amazon.com/DGX-Safety-Sausage-Yellow/dp/B01G426470/

Anybody know of one that is smaller? This is 4 x 44 inches.