LiteWeight
Contributor
Unless I'm in a cave, I always carry 2 marker bags. Yes 2, even in a quarry (which is one of the best places to practice). I usually shoot the 3.5' one from 20' and use it to alert the boat to my position. If the boat doesn't see that one or is busy picking up other divers, I inflate the 6' one on surface. One breath in the 3.5' bag is all it takes. In the Red Sea, my wife and I did this on every dive from the RIB.
I have shot the 6' bag from 70' twice, put 2 breaths in it and found it full at surface. You can listen to everyone here and decide for yourself. I decided one breath into a 3.5' bag at 20' to be less risky. And if I were to shoot a 6' bag from 70', I would only put 2 breaths into it or whatever you could do to hold it there. You do not want to try to inflate a 6' bag at 70' with your regulator. Imagine being 'free-flowed' to surface from 70'. I don't need to go into entanglement, etc. Everything we do should involve a risk assessment. Minimize your risk and you will dive again next week.
While I'm on the soapbox I'll say, if you bring 2 bags, use them. Do not put one in your pocket on a waistbelt and let it go for 50 dives, dry out, rot, mildew, and expect it to be there when you need it. After every trip I inflate both of them and let them dry out in the garage.
I have shot the 6' bag from 70' twice, put 2 breaths in it and found it full at surface. You can listen to everyone here and decide for yourself. I decided one breath into a 3.5' bag at 20' to be less risky. And if I were to shoot a 6' bag from 70', I would only put 2 breaths into it or whatever you could do to hold it there. You do not want to try to inflate a 6' bag at 70' with your regulator. Imagine being 'free-flowed' to surface from 70'. I don't need to go into entanglement, etc. Everything we do should involve a risk assessment. Minimize your risk and you will dive again next week.
While I'm on the soapbox I'll say, if you bring 2 bags, use them. Do not put one in your pocket on a waistbelt and let it go for 50 dives, dry out, rot, mildew, and expect it to be there when you need it. After every trip I inflate both of them and let them dry out in the garage.