Shooting up

[Dinger]

Guys was wondering what sort of bag you boys use for shooting. I have used the british standard issue buddy which most seem to use and have had no problems with it bar once with a reel jam but that is it just let the sucker go no drama but was watching the video of a guy shooting a bag on the dutch DIR site and noticed that he used a bag with a valve female and filled using his drysuit hose. So several points
- i assume that these are the halcyon closed circuit bags
- is that not a bit on the risky side to attach something to it or does it not clip in place
- he did make it look very easy on the video
- do those who use them prefer them to the buddy style self sealing
- do DIR guys ever use a reel for shooting the bag or just the spool
I like to carry a manta with a bag attached as one unit and that is my primary and have a reel and 2 spare bags (one yellow) in case of a drama.

How many do you lot carry and always the spool? is it pre-loaded etc

Cheers
Dinger

[David Martin]

Originally Posted by Dinger

- is that not a bit on the risky side to attach something to it or does it not clip in place

THe Halcyon ones use a no-lock connector. You push the hose onto the connector, when forced together, air is added, but the two parts will come apart if pulled apart. However, the 3ft ones are small enough that one breath will fill them - I therefore usually just take my reg out and breathe into the valve, since this is easier than disconnecting & reconnecting the drysuit feed. If I were to fill a larger item such as a lifting bag, I'd use the direct feed!

- do those who use them prefer them to the buddy style self sealing

I do
They're (IMO) easier to fill and smaller.

- do DIR guys ever use a reel for shooting the bag or just the spool

I most situations, I believe that a DIR diver would use a spool. However, there might be times when a reel was felt more appropriate. Personally, I use a spool for all DSMB deployments now (certain teaching dives excluded).

How many do you lot carry and always the spool? is it pre-loaded etc

I have 2 x spools, 2 x Red 3ft closed-circuit DSMBs. One Yellow DSMB which I've modified. (open-ended, but with a restriction, and a no-lock connector). This gives me a primary, a spare, and an emergency signal. All are stored separately for flexibility, since I may want to use a spool for something else during the dive.

David

[NotDeadYet]

Originally Posted by David Martin

THe Halcyon ones use a no-lock connector. You push the hose onto the connector, when forced together, air is added, but the two parts will come apart if pulled apart. However, the 3ft ones are small enough that one breath will fill them - I therefore usually just take my reg out and breathe into the valve, since this is easier than disconnecting & reconnecting the drysuit feed. If I were to fill a larger item such as a lifting bag, I'd use the direct feed!

You don't even need to take your reg out, just angle your head and exhale so the bubbles come out one side of the 2nd stage.

I use a proper reel, I'd imagine a 30m spool was a little stingy somewhere there was a strong current. I've sent bags up from 60-70m with a Dive Rite 120m reel with no problem. It is a hell of a lot of winding though so I replaced it with natural fibre twine, send the bag up, tie off on to the wreck, ascend and cut free on the long stops if there is current or stay in place and cut the bag off at the surface. The line is biodegradable and rots within a few weeks but is quite strong.

[David Martin]

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

You don't even need to take your reg out, just angle your head and exhale so the bubbles come out one side of the 2nd stage.

The halcyon ones have a little valve to fill through. You can't catch the bubles underneath & hope that they go in. Blowing into the valve, is really easy though!

The DSMB we were referring to can be seen at (for example) http://www.dirdirect.com/dirdirect.htm

Or for a direct link to a picture, the valve is visible on the liftbag at the picture at the bottom of this link: http://www.halcyon.net/mc/liftbags.shtml

David

[Brass Monkey]

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

I replaced it with natural fibre twine, send the bag up, tie off on to the wreck, ascend and cut free on the long stops if there is current or stay in place and cut the bag off at the surface. The line is biodegradable and rots within a few weeks but is quite strong.

Any more info on this line? Do you only take this kind of line on dives when you know you'll be doing long stops or do you use it as a matter of course. As it is biodegradable does it rot if left on the reel even though it's been rinsed?



Regards,

Dave

[David Martin]

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

I'd imagine a 30m spool was a little stingy somewhere there was a strong current. I've sent bags up from 60-70m with a Dive Rite 120m reel with no problem.

One clearly can't send up a DSMB on a 30m (or even a 45m) spool from 60m!
My main spool is 150'/45m, I've removed some of the line to give 38m to make it easier to wind in at the end. I'll usually start a free ascent and then deploy the DSMB on one of the stops before the 21m switch, eg 27m or 24m. My buddies would do the same.

David

[HelenM]

No thanks, I'm trying to quit.

I have to say that I thought the DIR forum was a bastion of health and vitality, so I am shocked and saddened to find a post of this nature in here.

Thought better of you boys.

Helen, coat on, sauntering nonchalantly towards the exit

P.S. Buddy one with a little bottle. Fab.

[Mdemon]

Buddy Autoblob. The best toy ever.

[And]

Hi

I use the Halcyon CC type and a spool, either 30m or 50 m. Deploy it from 21 mtrs.

It is easy to use and the combination means that I can put the smb in the BackPocket, the spools in a drysuit pocket and hey, no danglies!

Andy

[Pierre Farrugia]

Hello I use a 25kg lift bag, I think it's called PFP25. What I do I just bungied it to the back of backplate, offers some cushion, out of the way and have a bit of cave line with a bolt snap and attached to my left waist d ring. When you need to you just pull and it will come out. To fill either with DV or from exhaust! Must consider more option when I will be diving CCR!

Regards

Pierre