Where is Best to Clip a dSMB & Spool? #askmark #scuba @ScubaDiverMagazine
Strigon46
@strigon46
Dear Mark, where's the best place to clip a dsmb with spool? Is it wrong to clip it on a d-ring on your weight belt? Thanks a lot for your service! #ASKMARK
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver
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00:00 Introduction
00:48 Question
01:03 Answer
Only recently decided on popping the lot in the left pocket out of the way. I found with the crotch D rings the spool just rolls around between the legs, which was annoying and I’d be afraid somewhat abraisive. Hardly any extra effort removing it from the pocket like this. :)
#askmark Any thoughts on mounting your octo on the left and not the right? Did some dives in French Polynesia, and two different dive operators had their regs set up this way. There’s a DAN article about it too (I’ll post a link if I can find it again), and it makes sense to me. On a semi-related note, I’ve heard a couple dive pros talk about panicky divers just taking their buddy’s primary instead of going for the octo. Any experience with that?
There are pros and cons to both sides. The main downside for me for mounting the AAS on your right is that when you’re face-to-face the hose routes in a zig-zag that crosses between you and often leads to the diver putting the AAS in upside down. Which is why when I was teaching I used to use side-exhaust 2nd stages like the Oceanic Omega and Poseidon Cyklon.
In my experience, divers who are truly panicking in an OOA situation head up to the surface and need to be caught. And whenever I’ve been required to donate gas I’ve had time to deploy a 2nd stage for the diver and surface without further incident.
As with most equipment configurations, as long as it works for you and your buddy then it’s the correct method. Personally I tend to stick to Regulators on the Right. But, I dive a long-hose-primary-donate regulator so there’s plenty of slack.
I’m guessing it’s this DAN article, it’s a good read:
https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/my-octopus-goes-where/
@Scuba Diver Magazine Thanks for posting that. I got distracted, lol. Appreciate the reply and content
👍😎🤿 Thanks!
#askmark Hi Mark, on the subject of dsmb and spool, precisely on pre-assemble ready to deploy dsmb, how do you safely secure the spool since the line is pre-assemble to dsmb and can’t be treaded through spool hole
The dSMB isn’t usually permanently fitted to the spool. I connect and disconnect my dSMB when I need to use it.
There could be a way to leave it connected and still secure the spool but, it would involve creating a loop with something like an alpine butterfly knot that you pass through the spool. It’s unconventional, but might be the solution if you want to leave the dSMB attached to the spool permanently.
What about keeping the dSMB separately in a BCD pocket and the reel attached to a D ring? Any thoughts why this could not be a good idea? I was taught that way
I have my spool in my pocket…attached and dsmb on the external D ring.
If it works for you then that’s the correct method. Personally, I find it hard to reach BCD pockets and I rarely dive BCDs with pockets. But, if it works for you and your equipment is both secure inside and easily accessible, then continue.
@Scuba Diver Magazine Thanks for your reply! I’ll try the other methods you posted also, have a good day!
As per a previous comment by someone else, can confirm by painful experience that a dring onca weight belt is good when handing up to boat crew with a steel lined coil, make sure to its rated and use a bolt snap, in gloves youll have a hard time with carabiners
Hi Mark, I have recently bought a full face mask, I plan to get certified at my local dive center prior to using it in September in the red sea. My question is : Can I take my AOW course using a ffm?
I don’t see why not. It shouldn’t affect your diving and your Instructor should be able to work with you. It’s rare but I don’t see why it would be an issue.
great advice #ASKMARK especially on the part of locking off the bolt snap with the extra wrap. I failed to do that last year on a dive near the Breakers Reef off Palm beach Florida and got back to the dive boat without my pretty blue aluminum spool. Thanks for the reminder. I also recently purchased an IST dive belt/thigh pockets setup. Planning to start keeping then new setup in them when I dive
Yeah, it’s very easy to lose a spool even when it’s clipped to a D-Ring. I keep mine in a pocket when ever I can, especially when it’s a fancy aluminium spool
If you really have to ditch your weight belt (or even if you have lost it unwillingly – things happen) , you are probably in a situation to signal your position once your at the surface. Better clip your DSMB elsewhere.
Perfect timing! Thanks for the video
Back when I was diving in the UK out of RIBs, we used to clip our weight belts onto a line attached to the boat before we released them and handed them up. It saved a weight belt from being accidentally dropped overboard more than once.
Also, I bungee my DSMB onto a couple of loops of bungee cord on the side of my backplate. Streamlined and convenient.
Hi Mark the d rings on a weight belt is used in places where people catch things like cray fish .. the catch bag is clipped on the d ring so in a emergency the belt and catch is dumped…
Great idea! I wonder why this is not more common. 👌
Where did you get your hip pockets?
I have thigh pockets factory fitted to my drysuit. For warmer waters if you search online for ‘Tech Shorts’ they should come up.
The ones that I use are Fourth Element Tech Shorts but, there are plenty of others out there
100% agree, why would you put anything on your weight belt apart from weights 😉
Right hand release and it’s gone 🤭
Dear Mark. Having just passed the open water course with my partner we are finding it difficult to find somewhere in the uk for our first dive (shore) any recommendations for beginners. Thanks
#askmark
There are lots of places, and now is a good time of year as the water temperatures are nice and warm. It depends what you want to see really
There’s plenty to see along the South Coast, lots of shipwrecks. The Farne Islands are one of my favourite, There’s lots of sheltered, shallow diving there with a chance to see seals underwater.
There’s a nice shore dive near Anglesea and Skomer Marine Reserve in Wales. Almost anywhere you are have a search online and you’ll probably find a shore dive near you. Just check currents and tides and contact your local dive centre to be safe
#askmark Hi Mark. What’s your current recommendation for thigh pockets/tech shorts? Still Fourth Element? I would like to have thigh pockets, but the price of the Fourth Element is holding me back and I’m wondering if it really is worth the premium over something much cheaper like the Scubapro Hybrid shorts. Of course there are also options from Mares and Apeks for example, but again, quite pricey.
I’d be using them over a 5mm wetsuit, sometimes with a 6mm shorty/vest over it.
The Fourth Element Shorts are *really* nice compared to the competition. I found some of the others use cheaper materials that certainly get the job done but, I’d always covet the nicer option.
The FE Shorts tick all of the boxes, they have large pockets, great anchor points inside, little zippered sections at the top, quality materials, etc. Other designs will certainly do the job but, until somebody releases a better version the Fourth Element Tech Shorts will always be my No.1
@Scuba Diver Magazine Thanks again Mark. You’re right, I also covet the nicer option, but my wallet doesn’t always agree. ;) I guess I’ll rummage a bit deeper this time though, see if some loose change is hiding somewhere.
Great video, quick question #ASKMARK – Love the rubber you applied to the snapbolt! What did you use and how did you apply it?? Keep up the good work!
It’s some heat shrink tube. I’ve tried a bunch of different ways to ID my boltsnaps and this is my preferred method right now.
@Scuba Diver Magazine Wow! no idea how you got heat shrink over the end of the boltsnap. Nice!
I don’t understand why most of the divers not pre assamble the spool an dsmb? I have mine set up so , I just have to launch it
I think it comes from technical diving where you carry different length spools and can send the dSMB up from different depths. If you only carry one spool then there’s no problem with leaving it attached
Good vid just a safety point, in the clip showing removal of weight belt the buckle had to pass through another harness of some sort, that placement would be dangerous in an emergency situation as the jettisoned belt could become entangled. Correct positioning should be weight belt fitted last therefore on top of any likely snag hazard so in case of an emergency led dump you would have the greatest chance of a clean drop
#AskMark Hi Mark, love all you content, its very helpful.
Question in regards to DSMB deployment, im running a long hose single tank reg setup, whats the best way to inflate my Dsmb with this setup? I am newly open water certified and have only done Dsmb deployment using octo on rental regs to inflate. Most of my dives are shore entry and exit, so haven’t needed to use my dsmb, any advice would be greatly appreciated
Many divers now use the oral inflate method. There are a few ways to inflate a dSMB this way and it depends on your dSMB style. The reason a lot of divers prefer the oral inflate is because your buoyancy doesn’t change until you take another breath.
If the dSMB is open ended you can use the exhaled bubbles from your 2nd stage to inflate the dSMB. If the dSMB is closed then you can blow into the inflator nozzle like a balloon and inflate it. Until you inhale again or let go of the dSMB then your buoyancy won’t change, you’re just moving it from your lungs to the buoy. At this point you can either put a 2nd breath into the buoy and release it, or if you’re deep enough, send it up with a single breath knowing that the gas inside is going to expand as the buoy ascends.
Another method, you’ll notice on a lot of modern dSMBs they have inflation nozzles that have the same fitting as your BCD. They’re designed so that you can disconnect your BCD hose and inflate the dSMB from your cylinder and then reconnect your BCD. It’s very fast, easy and ensures a full dSMB when it reaches the surface.
Hi guys!
I normally dive with an xdeep system, that means as Mark said two “butt” D-rings. Normally I go for the one on the right as the DSMB/Spool attachment, because I want free unencumbered access to the kidney dump valve that sits on the left. As for the D-ring on the harness’ horizontal belt, I normally use it to attach the SPG, so it sits close and is not a #flappysnaghazard.
Hi Mark, thanks for posting. I set up my spool leader knot as you suggest, but since I threaded it through the spool would I then have to unclip, unthread, and clip again in order to deploy it?
Yes, part of my dSMB deployment method is to attach the dSMB to the spool.
I suppose there is a way to leave it attached, it would just require an alpine knot type of loop on the leader. I’ll have a play about with a different way to set up your leader
#askmark hi, I am thinking of buying a Poseidon Cyklon X metal. There are not a lot of reviews of Poseidon products. I live in Michigan (USA) so cold and deep are my primary concerns, tho every few years I travel somewhere warm. Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks!
I love the Cyklon, they’re expensive brand new but, I love their simplicity and I’ve had a set for years and they haven’t let me down. Some divers dislike the thought of an upstream design but the OPV fixes that
@Scuba Diver Magazine Thanks, I understand that the intermediate pressure is set quit high for this system, does this mean that the first stage can not work with other second stages? I have also read that they are quite finicky, about service and such. Thanks again.
Nice info about the dove reel being tied. Buddy did that and didn’t think much about it, never dove with a reel
Hi Mark, thank you for the wonderful content. I once saw a dive master tie extra weights on an emergency safety stop station, if needed by any diver. Maybe those can be attached to the weight belt D-Ring.
Just thought of sharing..
Wouldn’t the weight belt D-ring be there for clip-on weights?
Yeah, that’s probably the best idea for them I’ve heard
Hey Mark, What brand of scuba tech shorts are you using in this video? #askmark Thanks for your time and videos
These are Fourth Element Tech Shorts. They’re a bit more expensive than others but, they’re really nice.
Hey Mark, What sort of scuba tech shorts are you using in this video?
Always an informative watch. Thanks
#askmark Hi Mark. What would be the best way to prep a spool for distance measurement underwater? For example to measure a object or wreck. I have already prepped my dsmb reel according to one of your videos and it works amazingly. Therefore I was hoping you had some great diy tips for measurements with a spool. Thanks so much in advance. Regards Rainer
I meant is there a better way than just tying a knot every meter? 😊
If you’re doing large scale measuring or surveying it’s best to just use a large surveying tape measure. Smaller measurements a steel ruler and calipers.
You can use your spool for measurements and you have a few choices: knots, shrink wrap or permanent marker.
Knots create a surprising amount of wear in that spot and will eventually break but, you can feel them as you pass. They also don’t work if you have a feeding guide on your reel, not an issue for spools.
Permanent marker can wear over time and need topping up but, it’s the easiest and you can create combinations such as different colours or dot-dash to keep track of distances.
If you find small enough heat shrink wrap, you can mark distances with those. Again these can be coloured.
Personally, I’ve used permanent markers to mark line before and that lasts a decent time and doesn’t wear the line as knots can. Line can stretch when wet so it’s best to measure when wet and keep the line taught when measuring. But for the best accuracy we just used a fiberglass survey tape measure, they’re mostly waterproof, easy to use with gloves and very accurate.
@Scuba Diver Magazine thank you so much. I am so impressed with your answering time omg. Thanks again 🙏