Halcyon DSMB's & DIR

[Medusa]

<font color='#32CD32'>Just an observation! I am not DIR but having seen a few acquaintances doing the DIR thing some things puzzle me. I have seen said people using Halcyon DSMB's which are not cheap. They are inflated by disconnecting a direct feed hose and using said hose to fill the blob. Is this surely not a means of introducing extra task loading and possible points of failure???. I have observed people with very damp undersuits after this operation.
I use an AP valves crack bottle DSMB, personally I think this is one of the easiest, safest ways to deploy an SMB.
As I said just an observation not intended to cause offence or start a war.

[And]

<font color='#000080'>Hi

Just disconnect your drysuit and reconnect. No more task loading than unwrapping your long hose or trying to catch bubbles from your reg exhaust (which we do not do). A common mistake is not reconnecting, which means you get wet if you try to put gas in your suit, but if you forget then your buddy should point it out.

As far as failure points go, if you have lowered the IP of your drysuit first stage (as GUE divers tend to have seperate drysuit inflation) then the chances of freeflow are less than using a reg.

The only snag is when using a wetsuit. Better to use a normal one or the blow up one in that case.

Andy

PS How 'cheap' are the AP valves ones? Once money is spent I find it is quickly forgotten yet the quality of the product reminds you every day.

[bang-on]

<font color='#0000FF'>medusa,
i used both the lp hose inflate type and the ap dsmbci at the weekend and they both work ok although the lp hose type does involve connecting a hose to inflate it.
the ap dsmbci is simpler/safer to use because when the contents of the cylinder have been released into the bag at depth (55mtrs or deeper) it can be held without effecting buoyancy by the time it reaches the surface it is fully inflated and will remain so untill deflated.
the lp hose fill type is harder to judge and usualy just disappears out of your hand when inflated but will also stay inflated untill deflated.
if cost is not the deciding factor go for the ap dsmbci as it can be sent up quicker/safer and it can be done with one hand the other type needs two hands.

cheers
barrie

[beanie]

<font color='#8D38C9'>the ap dsmbi is sooo easy to use i even managed it at 5m totally mid water all one handed- having a spool on it helps this bit