Lift Bags?

[ckharlan66]

Hello all,

Recently I have seen several references to lift bags. I have seen them in shops and on the internet but I have no idea what they are used for.

I might even need one and not know it. woohoo a new toy, maybe?

Please help

Chad

 

[large_diver]

Chad,

A lift bag is basically a bag that you can put air into while underwater. Some are open ended and some are closed circuit (you get air in by hooking to a your BC hose via a special valve).

They are used for:

- Lifting things off of the bottom
- Providing a diver with an ascent line if ascending in deep OW (lift bag is connected to a spool of line)
- For divers doing deco/safety stop in deep water, with a current and no ascent line -- lets dive boat and any other approaching vessels know there is a diver below

 

[TexasMike]

One of my most fun dives was my PADI AO/W recovery dive where we used a lift bag to lift a 25-lb concrete garden frog from the platform at 25 feet. It was amazing how easy it was to handle once we added enough air to be just a touch positive.

Chad, Remember, your BC can only supply so much lift, and that's for you and your equipment. And even though you can use your BC to help lift things you recover, disaster might occur if you were to drop the object and all of a sudden become super positive and rocket up to the surface.

When you encounter objects that you want to recover, lift bags help you get to them to the surface safely. You use the air in them to raise the object rather than your BC.

 

[ckharlan66]

Thanks guys that clears things up.

It is nice to know that what ever questions I have (no matter how elementery) I can get a quick and thorough answer.

This board has provided me with so much good information since I started diving 3 months ago that I can't begin to express my appreciation to all of you.

Chad