The One Scuba Accessory I Never Dive Without...
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- SMB. DSMB. Safety Sausage. Whatever you call it, it could save your life one day, as it did for a friend of mine. I'm talking through the design differences and funk-tionality of SMBs Vs DSMBs and giving you 6 reasons why I never get in the water without one... And you shouldn't either!
Our pick for an SMB: bit.ly/2WrdQS6
Our pick for a DSMB: bit.ly/2I1CKPm
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The One Scuba Accessory I Never Dive Without...
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I was lost at sea back in the 90’s, if I had one of those I would have been found in the first hour! Instead I was in the water for 4.5 hours and had to self rescue by swimming to a boat that was waiting to pick up their divers. The Coast Guard wasn’t looking anywhere close to where I actually was. Now I don’t go diving without one!
Michael, thanks for watching and commenting. That is some scary shi*t! I have a buddy who it happened to and not only does he dive with a DSMB (or two!) but also a submersible EPIRB! Glad you made it, buddy! James
Dear Lord!!!
I can’t imagine
I first used an SMB when I started drift diving in Jupiter Florida, we inflate them at depth and send them up with a reel. I will never dive without one ever.
I also am ordering a mini strobe light that attached to my BCD. Planes and boats can see it for miles at night.
Always be prepared for the worst, it relives a lot of anxiety so you can enjoy you dive.
Safe diving all
I couldn't agree more! Thanks for watching! James
You talked me into it I am buying me and my wife each one, good explanation of why and how to use
I always dive with mine. £9 from decathlon, just be sure to change the reel... 🤣
Also saw one from China that said Diver Above..... 😂🤣😂🤣😂
You fill that with sand and drop it to the bottom, is a bmb
"diver above" am i supposed to look in the sky for a dive bomber ? XD
I read this comment earlier. And as I’m falling asleep I keep remembering this and I wake myself up laughing so hard I’m crying. This is too damn funny
02:54 - Differences/similarities between SMB and DSMB
03:43 - Features of a SMB/DSMB
Six reasons to never go diving without one:
05:31 - 1. It can save your life
05:40 - 2. Inexpensive
06:01 - 3. Not always easy to rent
06:26 - 4. Can double as redundant buoyancy
06:46 - 5. Boats will see you better
07:15 - 6. Wave it to attract attention
I never felt more urged to agree to 101% and this is not even possible.
I always have this clipped to me, even in indoor dive center relax dives, in case someone wants me to demonstrate to shoot it or keep it trained myself. Its an absolute necessity to keep training up with shooting this, otherwise it can get you in big problems.
I can't agree more ,I learned it the hard way , long story short It saved my life and my buddy's , I never went into water after that without it :)
Agreed it’s a life saver if ever there was a lost at sea situation you could be found by having one!
I've lost count of how many times I've had diver separation, usually temporary but also a handful that demanded surfacing. Especially if water visibility is poor, or the seabed has a lot of features that break line of sight, or if a diver is a photographer. I've also witnessed divers getting washed down-current and heard several stories of others as well. So a big fat red DSMB is always with me.
It is shocking that DSMBs are an optional skill in some training curriculums. Fair enough that it is overwhelming task-loading for an absolute novice diver who has enough things on their plate without adding an entanglement hazard, but by the second qualification (at about a dozen to 20 dives at the latest) every diver should be able to deploy one and carry one.
Fun fact: I originally started using these as part of my skydiving kit while doing beach jumps - jump over the ocean and land on the beach - in case I had to land in the water (would have followed some kind of aerial emergency). It'd be used in the same way: flotation and to be visible for rescue. Luckily I have yet to need it for that purpose, but it goes with me every time I skydive near a large body of water, as well as when I go sub-level on a SCUBA dive.
I never even thought about one of these. I just did my OW course and although we inflated one, we weren’t told that we should always have one.
I hire my gear at now as it’s only been a couple of months but I’m going to get one this weekend.
I liked your video. But I got curious when you said “click the thumbs down button twice” so I did it. And saw it sent feedback 😅🤭
HAHA! No worries!
Welcome to diving! I recommend you watch all of my beginner videos so you can start to get familiar with whats needed to be a safe diver.
Best Channel for Divers!
"To become old and wise you must first be young and stupid" BEST QUOTE EVER!!! And I work at a highschool and a youth rehab centre...and I grew up with two older brothers...we did LOTS of stupid things!
You're the first person I've ever heard say "if you don't like this video be sure and click the thumbs down TWICE" LOL
Thanks for the advice. Did you visit Saba as well while you were in the Caribbean?
Mandatory to dive with a safety sausage (and whistle, cutting tool) here under the QLD, Australia Code of Practice
Wow, 2 years ago you were at 100 subscribers! Now at 45k and counting! Keep up the great content😎🤿
OK, this is excellent, and now I subscribed! Thank you mate!
Thanks for the support! Weve got even more great content coming. Dive Safe!
Ok, I've worked for 20 year as a divinginstr.
I always had a yellow fin on. When on the surface ,I grap my fin and hold it over your head. Bether than these small EMB.
Just my idee
Cheers.
SMB warn boats divers are below. Something to hang onto in a current.
Scuba Client true bro, the purpose of holding fins and applying smb is completely different.
Pretty pointless move to remove a fin 😟
Always dive with one!
We will be buying two this week for our next trip 😬😬😬👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
7. its a lot easier to do the ascent and safty stop with a line in front of you..
Get one before you really need it .. in case of big waves captain can't see you! One bad experience is enough and even if I travel around world in very light way with small bagpack DSMB is a must.
You could also shove your secondary torch in it while on the surface on a night dive, makes for a long lantern.
Just came across your channel, fantastic content for all levels of divers! Cheers
Divers are going to want to add this to their list of essential diving gear.
Good point jame, but not may diver or boat owners operators know what they are for or how to use them.
There are other things like flares or locator beacon's. Or even have a good that is bright red or yellow.
I started diving in the 1980's with the RN doing mine clearance adqual diver. Using NATO pattern dry suits no zips. You went through the neck and had neck rings.
When I left the service defence cut no one especially past would recognise Royal Navy certifications even the merchant navy don't. PADI were especially beligerant in this. And yes I have done the mud run.
But then found bsac, they were started by RN divers and do recognise other organisations trading programmes. But this was after I had already re qualified with PADI locally in the UK.
Hope this helps as you were talking about certification cards last time.
I spent 9 years doing search and rescue at Airstation Miami on falcons. Bouys are good but the single best item that will save your life is a signal mirror. If you are lost at sea and the CG is searching for you the mirror will signal the helo or jet above.
when diving from a boat, our club insist on carrying a flag with an extendable handle rolled up and secured to your tank. 3ftx2ft flag getting waved 1m plus arms length above the surface is a lot more visible for the cover boat to see than a DSMB. the other point is that a DSMB reel / line can be used as a datum when coming to the surface. mine is marked at 6m.
Good information!! I have at least three. two of which are DSMB's. Something to note with a DSMB. Practice using it. It is not exactly intuitive.
Awesome content James, always look forward to your video
Looks like your channel has taken off, as you were celebrating 100 subscribers last June.
I couldn't agree more with this video. I actually got one after a problem dive where I was swept well away from the boat. I also got a loud whistle that will be zip tied to my BCD.
Thanks skzion2! You were here from the start. Appreciate you, buddy. James
@@DiversReady James, I had forgotten that I was an early follower, but I now remember thinking that your work was clearly valuable and wondering why you had so few followers.
We are making our fourth dive trip to Roatan, Honduras. I am a new diver. With fifty dives. I have a question on how to prevent an equipment failure i.e. lph rupture, bcd tear, first and second stage problems. We always rent. Another, thing. How do ask about O2 on board, without insulting someone?
If they get insulted, you should probably not dive with them! You ask me or any of my friends to inspect my O2 kit and we'll happily show you!
As for gear condition, predate inspections and tests are the best prevention.
Always carry at least one. Always carry a spool with enough line for your max depth. Practice deployment frequently. As the man says, why not?
You mentioned a video on setting up and deploying a dSMB, may I ask for that link please?
Its on the list. stay tuned.
I agree , and parctice how to use it before you need to know how to use it
$30-50 really isn't cheap. But I agree, have one of these bad boys with you at all times.
for regular recreational dives with a group - can I use the yellow green or only orange? I have read that don't use yellow unless it is an emergency
Can you link the video to the actual deployment of the SMB?
Hi Patrick, I have not made it yet. In the meantime, here is a great demo video from my frind and mentor Andy Phillips: ua-cam.com/video/rOocrlYG8jo/v-deo.html Dive safe, James
Do you have any advice for clipping off a DSMB? I don't have any pockets on my system and the bolt snaps have cost me 2 DSMB's to the deep when they magically opened on a dive.. Any setup guides would be greatly appreciated.
Cillian Thanks for watching! Yes, I do. Have a look at the video I made on Jacket BCD Vs Backplate Wing. I show how I mount all my accessories in that video, including the bungee set up for my SMB. Here’s the link: ua-cam.com/video/H5FC_YbJgW4/v-deo.html Dive safe! James
I always keep the dsmb that i got from my padi open water course in my bcd so its always with me
I thought circuits could be scrambled, but the eggheads have assured me they can only be fried, though the design could be half-baked.
Hi James! the links to the DSMB and SMBs aren’t working. Are there any updates links I can check out?
Hey James, I went to check out the recommended SMB/DSM, but it looks like the links no longer work.
Thank you for your videos. I am wondering if you have a video that shows the best way to attach the SMB to a thumb reel? I watched your video about preparing a reel and got a lot out of it. Thanks!
A shot line to the wreck would have been the course of action to begin with. If you are new to the wreck you would dive in the daylight. I'm skeptical an SMB would have found them since they had dive lights.
Really appreciate all the info and recommendations. I think all the affiliate links on your videos are broken, though.
based on my knowledge, yellow dsmb are for emergency only (procedure would be that the boat should send down a deco tank, normally ean50, get someone to check and call an ambulance to get ready on the shore). Thus I never deployed (and hope I never will) a yellow dsmb but red/orange only. Does this rules applies in other places as well (I am referring to Mediterranean and for tech diving)
Hi Marco, I was brought up on this rule too, but you quickly learn that there are lots of variations around the world for the 'I'm in trouble!' SMB protocol. For example, here in South Florida, it is widely accepted that two SMBs on the same line means 'I need help!' The color doesn't matter. Always check with your locale for the procedure. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching. James
What is your opinion on epirbs/strobes? Is your ear better?
Important message. Thanks. Ever wonder why a DSMB has a dump valve AND an open bottom end. If the expanding air in a lifting bag escapes out the bottom, why not the same for SMB? Some have magnets to keep opening closed but, surely not stronger than dump valve spring. Your thoughts?
Unlike lift-bags that are completely open at one end and air can get both in and out, the open end of DSMBs has a self-sealing baffle that makes it a one-way, air can only get in but not out. This prevents the DSMB from deflating at the surface (a deflated DSMB is useless as a marker). That's why they need an over-pressure valve. Lift bags usually stay under tension, which reduces the risk of them tipping and emptying at the surface. DSMBs are not under constant tension, so being horizontal is a frequent thing.
I always carry a DSMB, a whistle, and a light. I may not need them on any given dive, but it's better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.
should you get one if you shore dive or dive in lakes? or is it mostly for boat diving
Hi Omar, they are mainly for open ocean diving, but anywhere you're diving and there is the risk from boat traffic on the surface above you, I's a good idea to have one with you. Dive safe. James
Shore dives in tidal waters can still have strong current or you may just get disoriented. Either way unable to find your exit slope underwater, so forced you to ascend wherever you are. So it's good for boats and for your shore lookout.
Hello James. Love the channel.
Just thought I might pick your brain on this one. Would you consider oral inflation to be more for technical divers or for both tech and rec? I'm working my way up through the instructor levels in Ireland and our organisation appears to be allergic to oral inflate and spools... Coldwater use with thick gloves aside. What would your thoughts on this be? 🙂
I generally prefer filling a DSMB from a 2nd Stage, for many different reasons.
Hai, what makes a good dsmb? Is 1.8m dsmb good enough?
1.8m would be the minimum for me, but it depends how high the seas are where you're diving.
@@DiversReady ohhh thanks for your reply, i'm mostly diving in malaysia & south east asia currently
why delayed ? i d prefer instant
Delayed meaning you can deploy it later in the dive, from underwater.
Howcome dive computers don't have built in GPS locators, so a boat or search party could find you easier? 🤔 somebody needs to make that a thing
GPS signal doesnt reach underwater, and you're going to use that mostly underwater, so it only rise the price for no practical reasons
but there are some GPS ones, but overpriced
Garmin offers Dive Computers with surface GPS and InReach emergency devices.
I was left at sea for only a short time, about 15 mins. But during that 15 mins I truly thought this would go to shit since there was no boat in sight.
I would never dive again without a SMB and a whistle.
Holding it over my head.
Sorry.
I don't dive without an SMB, a storm whistle, a signal mirror, and a strobe. It's just not worth the risk.
Click twice, really?
I wouldn’t call it an accessory I would call it essential when diving
Absolutely! I only refer to it as an 'accessory' because it's not part of the Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, but neither are fins or a mask and I wouldn't dive without those either! I guess I just see too many divers on dive boats without them. Thanks for watching Henry! Dive safe, James
Always dive with one and PRACTICE deploying it too. You're on your safety, nothing to do while hanging around. Pop a marker, have some fun.
Completely agree, Martin. Thanks for watching. James
The “little plastic strip” mentioned at 4:36 is not “designed to be reflective,” it’s designed to hold a glow stick.
Hi Visual Reversal, thanks for watching! It'd be a bloody small glow stick to fit in mine! I don't think I could slip a pencil in there. But you're probably right! Thanks for sharing. James
It's designed to hold some sort of alluminating device.
Definitely designed to hold something like a glow stick or strobe. Is that SMB a knock-off version? Maybe that's why it is too small to hold one?
My dive instructor told me to get a SMB after my fourth open water dive. Excellent advice.
Wouldnt occur because hardly anyone stresses on it.
The clear pocket is for a small strobe light
The thumb reel attached to my DSMB has also been set up with knots every 10 feet and a pair at 15 . That way even if visibility goes to hell I can use slight tension to help stay at depth for a safety stop.
My wife and I are working through our open water right now. Thanks for this simple common sense idea.
Hahah I am rewatching these old videos and couldn't stop grinning at the 100 subscribers comment. I am happy for you, that your channel grew so much!
I think it is important to know that sometimes depending on the type of diving your doing the color of the SMB has meaning. For instance, in tech diving, red or orange signifies everything is ok, and Yellow is distress. Checking with your local diving area on color and usage is a good idea. After all, we wouldn't want to be sending the wrong message.
Agreed. A little more in depth than I wanted to go with this one, but you point is valid, for sure. Let's all agree any color SMB is better than no SMB!
@@DiversReady Agreed.
So I just got severely confused with internet arguments over color over this on scubaboard. Since it’s a mess in the US and I don’t remember ever seeing one used back in Bonaire do you just prearrange with the boat’s DM I’ve only got an orange one right now... my wife had to have a pink one 🤦🏼♂️
Who dives without knowing their destination peculiarities? I dive race rocks in BC about once a year. Very tricky dive with 20kt currents. I' wouldn't even think of that without a guide at the least. Now i'm the guide. Be safer people! I frequently dive for lost divers - not fun.
SMBs are part of obligatory equipment in CMAS but unfortunately not in PADI
Correction: To be old and wise you need to SURVIVE being young and stupid 😜😂🤣
Accurate!
James I was in the US Coast Guard for many years and I've searched for my share of missing divers. And I can't tell you how Stupid I think it is that most diving equipment is black in an effort to make things difficult for rescuers.
I bought a dsmb and practiced inflating it on every single dive and the time to use it came two weeks later when my instructor had to surface with one of the rookies who had trouble equalising. So I was left down under with two remaining owd students and after a minute or two I said two myself how the heck is the instructor going to find us unless I use the dsmb. Afterwards the instructor said to me I avoided a serious accident.
I've lost count of how many times I've had diver separation, usually temporary but also a handful that demanded surfacing. Especially if water visibility is poor, or the seabed has a lot of features that break line of sight, or if a diver is a photographer. I've also witnessed divers getting washed down-current and heard several stories of others as well. So a big fat red DSMB is always with me.
It is shocking that DSMBs are an optional skill in some training curriculums. Fair enough that it is overwhelming task-loading for an absolute novice diver who has enough things on their plate without adding an entanglement hazard, but by the second qualification (at about a dozen to 20 dives at the latest) every diver should be able to deploy one and carry one.
Don’t forget chem and strobe-lights... the SMB relies on daylight. And if your diving in an area that’s known for strong currents... a gps enabled Personal Locator Beacon is another great item to keep on you.
I had never considered a DSMB since I rent equipment and dive with Charters in the Caribbean, but with what you taught, I'll definitely be adding one to my kit.
Could save your life one day. Thanks for watching, Mike. James
Pair it up with a super loud whistle.
I'm kind of upset that more SMB's don't have LED beacons of some kind.
When I started diving (1977) - they were not available. They came to be common place in the late 1990's. Boy there are many dives that I could have used one many years ago. I had a situation where I was blown off the reef a little to much and the dive plan went to hell and a hand basket. ended up about mile or 2 from where I should have been. It took a couple of hours to be recused. know I always have at least one with a reel. Im glad that they are a required piece of equipment in most training agencies standards, SSI and SDI require use to teach their use in both the pool and Open water. --- yea.
Padi must include DSMB use in the open water certification. I always dive with it and a reel.
Padi would make it a specialty course 🤣
Andrew Quinn - they have made it as a speciality course
@@elmo319 SMH not everything has to be a speciality... coming soon mask speciality and fin speciality
Andrew Quinn - there is a PADI DSMB course, that’s all I’m saying. Personally, just go diving with experienced divers to learn it, it’s not that difficult...
@@elmo319 I wasn't trying to imply there was anything negative on your statement. I was just saying that these courses are getting crazy. Not everything should be a specialty some things should and will be learned as you go. (Bouyancy, boat diving etc) specialties should be something like cave, nitrox etc. Something that actually adds more tools and skills as a diver.
I like your use of jump cuts, it isn’t amateur and abrasive like most people it actually has stylistic motivation behind it
Thanks Richard! I find it just helps to keeps the pace sharp. Dive safe. James
when done well, cuts can change a boring video to an extremely interesting one !
Had a drift dive here in the keys where a older male swam off and another guide and myself swam off after him, we can back and the other guides and rest of group were gone, thank the Lord for our spare DSMB’s and reel.
When it comes to finger reels it seems like there some are overpriced. I’ve seen them from $5-50. I probably would not trust the $5 one for obvious reasons, but $50 for a 50 foot spoil of line seemed high. Can anyone help justify that?
Bombers used to scramble during the cold war.
Great video ... should have an audible signalling device as well .. with two you increase your chances of being spotted
James, thank you for the outstanding content you have produced! I’m always learning more from your videos.
I wonder who gave a thumbs down to this and why.
Hi Green Achers! Thanks for watching. Who knows?! I only focus on the positives! Dive safe. James
Off Ireland - Scotland North Channel we had have joined in searches for divers get blown of wreck with big spring tides. all ended well, but once or twice it has been the next day! Find by a yacht 30-40 miles form the wreck site. These sites we often launch many boats, one peer tech diver of needed stay with the SMB.
Best deco drift to date was centre of the North Channel to Foyle Lough yep, entire length of the Northern Ireland coast.
Visiting a very nice WW1 Cunard RMS Andinia liner very first divers too.
Did have 2 boats above on this planned event though. Hundreds of minutes of deco time on that one, planned > drilled entire support team, then actioned the dive..
At the U boat grave yard of Malin, lovely oceanic vis 30-40m, but in high pressures you can get fog banks, thick ones, that just appear in minutes.
So Tech diving I carry 2 self sealing delayed AP vales type delayed one orange one yellow, orange tells the boat all is fine, yellow get feck over here!
Inflate
I'm not going to mention his name but he owns a major dive travel agency, has thousands of dives, was our travel agent on this Galapagos trip and should know better.
He streamlined his gear when we dove at Darwins Arch. We followed a whaleshark and he didn't. We were swimming hard and he wasn't so we surfaced 1st. He was using less air and came up later, by then the search was on, everyone on deck, 4 boats in the water. He surfaced and could see the search but he was busy beating off the Silkies. He turned on the erib supplied by the liveaboard but the crew didn't know how to home in and they were getting an echo off the island.
Every time he tried to hold the erib up a Bobby tried to grab it.
We did find him after 2 hours.
On a WPB drift dive my daughter and I were first in, then the DM stopped the line but waved us to go down. When we surfaced the boat was following the group, not us so my daughter went to inflate her sausage and found she had snagged it. Nothing worse than a limp sausage! But the boat saw it :) I keep mine in a pocket now!
On another WPB dive the guide stopped to spear a Lionfish, tying off the surface marker, the large swells snapped the line. The marker went with the wind and the boat followed it. The boat spotted our yellow sausage first, the lime was the next easier to spot. Red the hardest
Great point James. I need to get a smb before I go diving in the ocean again
Hi Jess! Always and yes please! Stay safe, James
Hey James, your links are broken to your favorite SMB and DSMB. just thought you should know.
The expression was in ww2. There are many old pilot's there are some bold pilot's. But there are no old and bold pilot's they are dead.
First off, thanks so much for all your videos! What size dsmb is best? 4.5' , 6' ?
thanks
Yachties are the worst. I had my dsmb up and a yacht ran right over it. Lucky I was still 6m under the keel of the thing. Yep never leave home or dive without one and sometimes two.
Any chance of a tour of your dive gear, cupboard room?
Absolutely! I have that on my to-do list!
Divers Ready thanks a lot! What Apeks wing configuration do you use?
Personal Locator Beacon might be useful
For us is obligatory surface boa and deployeble
IMO, the 6th reason is the most important one. If you get separated from your buddy or group and have to surface midway through a dive, your boat captain probably won't be where he expects you to surface. You don't have to have much diving experience to understand how hard a diver is to notice when you aren't specifically looking for him/her in the water, esp. if there's the least bit of wave activity. Never dive without a SMB!
How is that more important than the 1st reason lmao
Definitely an item I'm going to invest in next.
Awesome Janina! Thanks for watching! James
I carry one of those only on boat drift dives but not on shore dives.
But sooo just get a dsmb are what u are saying then u got a smb and dsmb?