Mid water deployment

[ianwheeldon]

so far, whenever i've deployed an dsmb its been from the bottom or from a wreck. figured i'd better start practising some mid water deploying this year. is just a case of filling the blob and dumoing air from tour suit/BC to compensate? otherwise surley the blob will take you up a bit before you release it. Any advice?

[Fathoms Down]

It depends on how deep you are and how fast you fill it. If you are spot on when it comes to the fill the blob should be just slightly more than neutrally buoyant so it starts slowly and then speeds up as it ascends/the air expands within it so you shouldn't need to dump any air.

Its really just a case of practicing and being willing to let go of your spool/reel if you start to get pulled up!

[NeilP]

I don't change anything with my method - just stick the airhose in the blob, gently holding the edge of the DSMB with thumb and forefinger, inflate it whilst at the same time pulling back on the release catch on the reel.
Off it goes and I can start on my way up.

[kevFISH]

This is where a SMBCi 'crank bottle' style comes into its own - finger on trigger, turn valve and away it goes. You do have to be very aware of the throw away option mentioned by Nick though.

[finbar.taylor]

........inflate the blob from your wing/BC so as you add air to the blob you loose it from your bouyancy.

It works quite well but takes a bit of mastering!

Something I'm trying to get my head around whilst on a rebreather so I can still use a normal(no crack bottle) SMB

Fin

[ianwheeldon]

thanks for the tips. perhaps not as tricky as i first thought.

[Andy Phillips]

For what it's worth, after several years and the odd mishap I have found the best way is to pop a bit of air into the thing so that it goes gently vertical, release the catch on the reel then give it a couple of serious huffs and off it goes. The Buddy gas blob has revolutionised this, but the process remains fundimentally the same, I squirt a bit in, release catch then open the tap to let the rest of the gas in.

I have found this gives me time to make sure that the line is releasing from the reel OK (one CD reel and gas blob abaondoned in the channel led to this pre release check) and that the line is not caught on anything permenantly attached to me (one very unpleasent moment out of Dover).

I still, given half a chance, release the blob from the wreck, it just adds a bit of safety which I am all for, I can get a limb nicely wedged in something solid so I can haul my £200 worth of kit back down should it go horribly wrong.

Mid water release is easy enough, just don't be in too much of a hurry.

Andrew

[Fathoms Down]

Oh, and another tip, try to do the release when laying horizontally in the water. Yes, this can make things a little more tricky but it means that you are less likely to be pulled up quickly as your body shape offers more of a resistance to the water.

[Finless]

I used to try to exhale just I feel the first upward tug and blast the last bit of gas into the DSMB (purging/not from reg exhaust) and then let go and breath in.

Of course, I now use a DSMB with the mini bottle - marvellous contraption. If letting go from a tied off position I close the bottle off again before releasing the blob. If in mid water then I just open it and let it go.

[And]

Originally Posted by ianwheeldon

so far, whenever i've deployed an dsmb its been from the bottom or from a wreck. figured i'd better start practising some mid water deploying this year. is just a case of filling the blob and dumoing air from tour suit/BC to compensate? otherwise surley the blob will take you up a bit before you release it. Any advice?

I tend to breathe out normally, and during the exhale put the gas in the smb until I can feel it lifting me a little. Then I fin down a little against it, whilst laying out the smb and spool in front of me, ensure all is well, and deploy , then breathe in again. Takes about 5 seconds, probably less I always deploy midwater, I don't like reeling in very much As with everything, the more you practice the easier it becomes.

Andy