Buying, Launching, Using a Buddy DSMBi...all Q & A?

[Justin Owen]

Is there a nack to this?

Did my advanced nitrox a while back and tried to launch mine from 6m, but the bottle is so blinkin slippy i needed both hands on the bottle to do it... And then nearly got the line tangled on the reel...

So far I'm finding it more awkward than my standard smb...!

Anyone got a technique....?

[MATTBIN]

Hold the bottle by grabbing the smb as well as the bottle. Gloves palms need to be sticky sort perhaps. Not had a problem with mine. I would however prefer to wrap my arm under something so if it tangles etc it doesnt take me with it. I have also tied it off in the past.

Matt

[Jules]

Get grippier gloves? never had this problemwith mine and I am a total weakling.

Jules

[turbanator]

I tend not to wind it all of the way open and just let go.

On a deeper dive, the air's going to expand on the way up anyway.

[David A]

I tend to open the bottle a little then close it straight away, just to get the blob to unravel and straighten, then open it again to fire it off. I suppose it's just like most things, needs a bit of practice. I wouldn't be without it now.

[CotoChris]

I also need two hands to crack open the bottle. I open it it very slightly first using both hands, then with one hand press down the latch before opening the rest of the crack bottle with the other, It does take practice but yesterday also at 6m the blob was a bit 'droopy' but that is more due to depth then anyhting else.
Try cracking the bottle with one hand on land, resting the knuckles against the SMB to reduce the slipping.

[Phoenix]

I've only used mine a few times but I hold the reel with my right hand with the screw backed off and hold the bottle in my right hand too, I then crack the bottle with my left hand and the DSMBi inflates and off it goes, I keep the reel in my right hand and use my thumb to maintain tension. I think this is a great device and I'm perfectly happy with it.

Ian

[nigelH]

I have a reel that has a close loop handle and I wind the Velcro tail through this and then clip if off to me with a double ender.

When I want the thing I unclip it and swing it round in front of me. I pull the tie and it all spills open. I feed the fingers of my right hand through the handle and check that my thumb lands on the release. Then I grab the bottle in my left hand and undo the valve with my right - just flash of gas so the blob unrolls. Then open the valve a turn or so hold things for a moment and then thumb down the catch and let it roll.

It has failed when there is no gas in the bottle when I fill it from the AutoAir which then dribbles gas so I shut it off or when the reel jams when I just give it one jerk to see if it will free off and then let it pull of my fingers.

[Mark Chase]

I have had it jam closed in cold water and these days cold water is all we have in the UK. I dropped the reel held one hand around the cylinder and one on the valve and twisted just enough to crack it. The gas goes in reeeeeeeelllll slow so plenty of time to reorganise the hands back on to the reel unlock the reel or hit the release button. Usually by this time I get \ bit fed up waiting so I crack it open a bit more. Once loose this is a single-handed affair with no need to hold the bottle.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Allan Carr]

I also put just a little bit of air in first to pull the DSMB taught, turning off very lightly after I have done this. If everything is OK, I then open the valve further and let it go. I found that the most likely thing to catch the line on my reel was the winding knob - so I have taken it off. It is easy enough to wind in without the knob and it makes the unit much more compact.