Which colour DSMB should I get?

[cheryl t]

Looking at getting a new DSMB the self sealing type and havign had a scoot throught the archives, it seems that yellow is normally assumed to be sent up in an emergency. REd is the standard one. The one I am looking at is orange - a kid of mustard looking colour in the pic (it could be a totally different orange colour by the time I get it).

Question is: If I sent up an orange DSMB - would it been seen as standard or emergency.

Hope it makes sense and ta in advance for replies

[Lou]

Red and orange are the same thing in SMBs. There would only be real confusion if you were on a boat with techie divers who had agreed a yellow signal and your SMB was actually yellow.

Which one are you looking at?

[cheryl t]

Thank Lou - That was my underdstanding - its more applicable with tec divers. Am only going off the pic and description which say orange.

[Mark Chase]

Orange should be OK all my ones are orange rather than red or brick red for want of a better description. The yellow ones are very yellow and we would appreciate it if they were kept as emergency only. This protacol is becoming widly accepted and it worth preserving.

ATB

Mark Chase

[tom]

There's some info on the BDSG pages that's worth a look - http://www.bdsg.org/safety.htm , look at the 'advice regarding DSMBs' pdf.

Excerpt from the page:

The following procedures are recommended for the use of Delayed Surface Marker Buoys (DSMBs). These procedures should be thoroughly discussed with and understood by all team members prior to undertaking any dives. This includes all divers and members of the surface party and boat skipper.
• Divers using surface marker buoys should clearly label buoys with the full name of their owners. Avoid nicknames as these may not be known to the dive marshal. If using the delayed surface marker buoy for decompression the buoy should be clearly marked with the words “Decompression” in addition to the diver’s name. To avoid confusion it is recommended that the colour of a single DSMB should be orange or red but not yellow.
• When carrying two DSMBs on a dive, the general European consensus is that an orange or red buoy is deployed under normal diving conditions. In an emergency, or when assistance is required, a yellow buoy should be deployed.
• When using a yellow buoy clearly mark on the buoy the word “Emergency” together with the diver’s name. Once a yellow buoy is seen the support team and or boat can then initiate the standard emergency protocols depending on the situation.

Interesting that this is recommending the yellow blob=problem protocol for ALL divers, not just techies.

[Mandlebrot]

I know a lot of people seem to dislike the use of a yellow and red two tone DSMB but that's what I've got and if anyone had a look at the RNLI stand at the diveshow they would have seen that some of the life boat crew use these two tone type. I spoke to the heli pilot who said that the two tone one's were the easiest to spot from the air, he also went on to advise that we all put a few pieces of reflective tape on them thus making them even easier to spot

[cheryl t]

Originally Posted by Mandlebrot

I know a lot of people seem to dislike the use of a yellow and red two tone DSMB but that's what I've got and if anyone had a look at the RNLI stand at the diveshow they would have seen that some of the life boat crew use these two tone type. I spoke to the heli pilot who said that the two tone one's were the easiest to spot from the air, he also went on to advise that we all put a few pieces of reflective tape on them thus making them even easier to spot

I saw quite a few stands at the diveshow selling these, which is why I asked the original question. Personally, I am not intending to go tec. But obviously don't want to have emergency procedures initiated because I'm using the worng bit of kit. Think I will go for the orange one.

Cheers for the answers everyone.

[Kent Tooling]

If you would like to give me at Kent Tooling a call as we have in stock SMBs in RED or YELLOW, either with CO2, SEMI SEALED, or WITH A .1 liter crack bottle SMB,

John

[Hazel W]

Originally Posted by tom

There's some info on the BDSG pages that's worth a look - http://www.bdsg.org/safety.htm , look at the 'advice regarding DSMBs' pdf.

Excerpt from the page:


Interesting that this is recommending the yellow blob=problem protocol for ALL divers, not just techies.

Not going there ...my views on the subject are known .....DO NOT assume everyone follows your protocol and check with the skipper/DO/other divers


Hazel

[chrisch]

There is no "European" protocol that yellow dsmbs are an emergency signal. I am aware of this use in the UK but please be assured it is not used in Belgium, France or Italy (or here in Luxembourg for that matter!!) In fact the dive shops we use have never heard of it.

If you want to use this system it must be agreed with the skipper. Likewise if other divers are using it you should not send up a yellow smb unless its an emergency.

Dive magazine did an article a while back and came to the conclusion that the yellow was easier to see under certain conditions and therfore better. It did not say yellow is emergency.

This "protocol" is nothing of the sort. NEVER assume it is and that simply by sending up a yellow smb something will happen...

Chris