Quote:
Originally Posted by CPTOZZY
I carry a safety sausage on all "big water" dives, but I have never needed to deploy it. All of my Ocean Dives have been in warm water (Carribean and Keys)
1) My dive buddy and I were discussing a recent Atlantic Ocean dive trip that was aborted due to sub-optimal conditions (No Vis, 5 foot + waves and too fast surface current) . As we were musing the "what if we had actually dove it" We disagreed on whether it would be wise to deploy the SMB underwater while still on the Ascent Line. He thinks it would be a good Idea to let the Boat know we were on our way up, my thinking is that it would basically act like a kite, and might pull me off the ascent line.
Since I have never dove in conditions with either waves that high, or current that fast (nor deployed my SMB other than in a lake for practice) - this is conjecture on my part.
I'm interested in what you Wiser & More experienced think?
2) Under what conditions would you / have you deployed your SMB / Safety Sausage?
3) Would you deploy it under water just because there is current and/or 5ft Plus waves topside?
Why or why not
Thanks
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Hi
Main reason I see for using one is to let the boat know where you are whilst doing your ascent/safety stop so if coming up an ascent line shouldn't be needed, also could have problems with entanglement between the two lines.
We usually dive in tide prone areas during slack water so can drift a fair bit at the end of a dive and often end up doing the safety stop in open water so by using a SMB can give the charter boat an idea of where we are and a warning
to other boats in the area, also gives me a reference point for depth and can actually make myself slightly negative in rough water and not have a problem of popping up and down with the surge.
Current and surface waves are probably the ideal times one should be used, even if close to the boat your bubbles are much harder to be seen whilst the SMB bobs merrily away.