SMB/Safety Sausage Deployment

[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

[oddbod]

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

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.

[Splitlip]

Exactly what oddbod said. Except for my local diving is not tide prone areas, but rather in close proximity to the gulf stream.
Advise and protocols are the same.

[terrillja]

I would say if you are on the ascent line, I wouldn't shoot it, since it could get entangled in the line, then you have a real problem. On the other hand, if you are doing a blue water ascent or get yanked off the ascent line, shoot the thing, no question. That way if you are drifting away, the boat knows before you break the surface. Another thing to be sure of, especially in currents is to make sure the bag is fully inflated, so as much of it is out of the water as possible, so there is less drag on it.

[doczerothree]

You don't want to deploy a bag from a ascent/decent line. guys on the boat should see you bubbles. if you are on a line they know where to look for you. Only deploy on drift dives or where there is no ascent line.

[Goober]

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

And once again apparently someones mind was in a hurry and hearing very little. Folks I am the dive buddy he speaks of. Yes, I tried to have a conversation with CPTOZZY about deploying an SMB before YOU/WE/Me/US breach the surface in certain situations.

Yet I do not recall "deploying your SMB while on an accent line" ever leaving my mouth. I doubt very seriously our boat or anyone elses boat for that matter would plow over an orange ball the size of recliner.

But hey....what do I know.

[MSilvia]

As others said, waves and current aren't a good reason to avoid shooting a bag, but you shouldn't need to if you're on the ascent line. Bubbles will tell the boat crew where you are, given that that's where they expect you to be.

The right time to shoot a bag underwater is when you expect to come up somewhere other than the ascent line. That's especially true when there's a current or waves, as the closer you are when the SMB breaks the surrface, the more likely it is the boat crew will be able to track your location as you ascend and make your stop.

[elijahb]

Wow seems like there is no set standard on where to deploy your smb from maybe the should talk about this in our aow classes

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by Goober

Yet I do not recall "deploying your SMB while on an accent line" ever leaving my mouth. I doubt very seriously our boat or anyone elses boat for that matter would plow over an orange ball the size of recliner.

An accent line is, well, an accent line. A DSMB is shot in my world (Jupiter) when there is no accent line.

Typical drift dives our accent line is the line attached to one of those orange balls pulled by a member of the team. If you need to come up early or away from the ball, you shoot your marker as you will be doing a drifting safety stop.

You guys were accending on the line. No need for a marker IMO.

Goob, just supporting your statement. Plus I really like saying "my world" because I live in Jupiter Florida. Get it? Jupiter

And seriously, keeping a marker upright and preventing entanglment with the accent line may have been difficult in the conditions descibed.

Where did the boat crew expect you to surface?

[BouzoukiJoe A.K.A. wrecker130 AKA Chuck Norris AKA joeforbroke (banned)]

I pretty much only do wreck diving in the ocean. I would not shoot a bag from the ascent line, seems to be more dangerous to do so than not do so. You better believe I'd use it if I could not find the ascent line and there was current.