What does it say on your yellow DSMB?

[Digger]

Too many people see the shit hitting the fan and ignore it every day. Skippers given the opportunity will do what they can, but an easy get out of jail free is a bag with nothing on it. Could be anything, even with agreed procedures.

A bag with HELP down one side, and SOS down the other, can't really be interpreted as anything but a major problem.

Names aren't really relevant for me, as if I'm using a yellow bag proc then everyone is using a yellow bag proc, simple as that. I'm yet to hop on a boat where anyone objects to it, as it has become largely accepted practice. It helps the guys on the surface maybe to know who is down there, but then we're mostly diving CCR and the situation is roughly the same. Plus if it's a major one then I'm going to be in the water longer than everyone else most likely, especially if they're sending me gas, so it should become fairly apparent who it is fairly quickly when everyone else gets out

Digs.

[RogerViking]

Originally Posted by Garf

mine says "bollox!" on one side and "GARF" on the other.

i think i speak for everyone when i say that we allready thought you were one

[Gary K]

just my name, the fact that its a yellow bag says a lot without writing anything

[lloydwatkin]

Originally Posted by Garf

mine says "bollox!" on one side and "GARF" on the other.

...and who would have been working out the deco at this point???

[Gareth Burrows]

Originally Posted by lloydwatkin

...and who would have been working out the deco at this point???

ahh, if GLOC is working out the deco then we send the yellow bag up anyway so the taxi (sorry, chopper) can be ordered. Saves wasting time on the surface with all that uneccessary shouting and screaming "oh god oh god, I'm dying" etc.

[purple vonny]

This is an interesting thread. I was discussing with Smudge what the protocol is when someone sends up a yellow smb. Interestingly, there is no set protocol.

Do we call the coastguard? Do we send down a tank? What mix?

Some divers said that they attached a slate to their smb with the problem written on it. But have you ever tried plucking an smb from the water from the back of a hard boat?

So if you carry one, you really need to brief the crew before the dive as to what we should do if you send one up!

And those buggers that have half yellow half orange smbs..... what is all that about?

Just some ramblings and thoughts.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by purple vonny

And those buggers that have half yellow half orange smbs..... what is all that about?

Well that's for schizo divers who arent sure if they are ok or not

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by TerryH

Well that's for schizo divers who arent sure if they are ok or not

A bit like giving an OK signal and swivelling your wrist...

...could just mean you want a .....??

LOL, Paul

[Ferrets]

Originally Posted by purple vonny

And those buggers that have half yellow half orange smbs..... what is all that about?

Arrrgh, don't start on this. I have one of those!

I bought it when I was doing all of my diving overseas. In those places, it's not a common practice to put up a blob on every dive, so any colour generally indicates there is a problem. I think the two colours are supposed to be easier to see from a distance, for example if you come up a long way from the boat? When I came back to the UK I got so much grief and somebody explained the use of the two colours over here.

Anybody want to buy a Yellow and Red DSMB?!

[Mark]

Hi all,

thanks for the feedback. The British Diving Safety Group (link will download their pdf) advise that a yellow DSMB should have the word 'EMERGENCY' written on one side and the diver's name on the other. This is all very well but the word 'EMERGENCY' done vertically as in the picture would be about 75cm long and would no doubt be partially submerged when on the surface.

Cheers,

Mark.