SMB's (safety sausages)

[Zeagle Eagle]

Took my fairly new DAN SMB for a test ride in Lake Travis a couple of days ago. I haven't really had a chance to play with it. I have been diving with a ScubaPro for years and have never had occasion to use it.

The DAN SMB had some new features I thought I would check out. One thing I noticed is it doesn't take very much air to make it buoyant. I 'prolly only had 1 or 2 maybe 3 inches of air in it (as measured at 30 feet from the top of the air bubble in it, to the bottom of the air bubble). It was 1/2 to 3/4 inflated by the time it hit the surface. That equates to just a couple of squirts from your BC hose. I like inflating it either manually or from the BC as my buoyancy didn't change. I tried a couple of times with my reg and it works okay but was harder to control the amount of air going into it. I usually put too much in it inflating it with the reg. For me the BC is the way to go.

I inflated it orally a couple of times with the manual valve and also deflated it underwater with the exhaust valve. Works good!

I highly recommend those of you who haven't used yours in awhile give it a shot on your next dive. I can easily see one being over inflated and yanking you to the surface.

I used a finger reel (bought from ST) to hold it and I highly recommend it. It fits easily in one of my pockets and I don't even notice it.

I measured out 15' on the rope exactly in the garage and put a red mark on the rope; so, that I can do my safety stop without staring at my depth gauge in open water. The 15' feet in the garage equates to 20' in the water. I forgot to take into account the length of the tube that will be underwater.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Zeagle Eagle

I used a finger reel (bought from ST) to hold it and I highly recommend it. It fits easily in one of my pockets and I don't even notice it.

I measured out 15' on the rope exactly in the garage and put a red mark on the rope; so, that I can do my safety stop without staring at my depth gauge in open water. The 15' feet in the garage equates to 20' in the water. I forgot to take into account the length of the tube that will be underwater.

You mean finger spool, or a small reel? No hand crank on a spool... I tend to view those as safer for shooting bags.

You really have 5' of bag underwater, so you add 5' to your measurement? Sounds like the bag is not sufficiently inflated... how much is actually sticking above the water, with 5' of it under the water?

[comet24]

Hanging at 20' can be a easier hang then 15' depending on sea conditions. As for a safety stop I think anything between 20' and 15 or even 10' will be fine. Remember this is a safety stop and not a mandatory stop. When doing deco I will sometimes hang at 20' until my computer clears instead of moving up to 10' because of how rough a hang that can sometimes be.

[PTAaron]

I have been considering picking up the DAN SMB - heard good things about it, thanks for the review on it.

I will probably pick one up for my wife and I in the near future.

[DevilDiver]

The DAN SMB is a good product, you could look at this one as well (no whistles, mirrors, ect...) but a good product as well. Has self sealing bottom and brass clip.......
Large Safety Stop Signal with Dump Valve reviews and discounts, ScubaToys

[PTAaron]

Originally Posted by DevilDiver

The DAN SMB is a good product, you could look at this one as well (no whistles, mirrors, ect...) but a good product as well. Has self sealing bottom and brass clip.......
Large Safety Stop Signal with Dump Valve reviews and discounts, ScubaToys

I didn't realize that one had a self sealing bottom... one of the reviews said they would have picked "the one with the self sealing bottom next time", so I steered away from it.

The mirror and whistle don't matter to me... I already have the bigger louder version of the storm whistle, and I've heard the mirror isn't real good quality (don't know first time though).

[neugierig]

yeah, i'd go with the one with the self sealing bottom too

[baywatch106]

I have the XS scuba sausage . It's huge! It has the self sealing bottom d ring for lifting (50 lbs) , pull vent reflective tape and comes with a puch that attaches on the BP

[Zeagle Eagle]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

You mean finger spool, or a small reel? No hand crank on a spool... I tend to view those as safer for shooting bags.

You really have 5' of bag underwater, so you add 5' to your measurement? Sounds like the bag is not sufficiently inflated... how much is actually sticking above the water, with 5' of it under the water?

Yep, you are right. I should have said finger spool and not reel.

Again you are correct. The bag was not totally inflated. I figure about 1/2 to 3/4 of the bag is inflated (in freshwater) when it is topside. Most of my diving is salt water so I figured it would be more buoyant in salt and more bag above the surface. I also was hanging on to the rope at depth and that probably accounted for another foot or two of depth increase. There is probably an extra foot of swivel and rope loop that was not accounted for in my measurement.
Next time I try this I will just mark the rope when it is deployed at depth using my depth gauge as a guide.

It's amazing how I can make such a simple process so complicated.

[Zeagle Eagle]

Originally Posted by comet24

Hanging at 20' can be a easier hang then 15' depending on sea conditions. As for a safety stop I think anything between 20' and 15 or even 10' will be fine. Remember this is a safety stop and not a mandatory stop. When doing deco I will sometimes hang at 20' until my computer clears instead of moving up to 10' because of how rough a hang that can sometimes be.

Good point. I also think not hanging on to the twine connected to the SMB is a good idea. The SMB will rise up and down with the rollers and waves taking you with it if you are attached to it. Keeping the twine between a circle of your thumb and forefinger will prevent it from floating away; but, not allow it to change your depth. Or you can let the finger spool float free if the current will allow.