Do You Use a DSMB?

[Mr T.]

Given the recent 'lost divers in the Red Sea' news, and following on from the 'Do you use a snorkel' poll, and noting some of the comments from some members recently, I thought I'd pop (no pun intended) this one:

"Do you, when not in the pool, use a DSMB?"

Just so you know, I use a Buddy 'crack-bottle' (fire-n-forget) DSMB on a Manta reel with 120 metres of line on it.

Let your pleasure be known!

[beanie]

yep
one red ap DSMBi

one yellow CO2 auto emency

one red DSMB back up - when required

[Fathoms Down]

Yes, a red self sealer for end of dive and a yellow self sealer for emergencies.

[Andy Phillips]

Yes.

Andrew

[Mr T.]

Now go back and vote!

[Phoenix]

I always carry a Red DSMB on recreational dives and a Red DSMB with yellow lift bag on Tech dives. Always use the red unless surfacing very near to rocks (as dive boats out my way won't come close and no jet-ski's or other small stuff to worry about).

Ian

[Padowan]

I take 3 SMBs and 2 reels. A red self sealer for normal use, with my name in HUGE letters on and a yellow one with my name and HELP written on it for emergency signalling. Both of these are with my primary reel. I then have a smaller backup reel with another red one on. All this lot is clipped off on the D-ring at the back of my crotch-strap where it is well out of the way (except when sitting on the boat!)

Then there's the yellow flag bungeed on the side of the backplate and a 65kg liftbag and rigging bungeed at the bottom of the backplate. Sounds like lots of stuff, but I guarantee it's all very neatly stowed.

Just in case enyone's wondering, I only take the last couple of items when diving in the sea....

[KimH]

Never leave home without one.

1 red self inflating, 1 red self sealing (backup), 1 yellow self sealing for deco and any 2 on same line for emergency (normally agreed with the skipper beforehand) all with BIG initials on, plus a reel and a spool for backup.

[Dominic]

Always have one, usually have two.

It's actually a club rule that everyone (except Ocean Divers) must carry an SMB when diving in open water.

[ChrisP]

Yes always, me and my buddy.
I carry a red self sealer on a reel, which I use most of the time and I have a yellow one which usually means there is a problem unless I have forewarned the skipper I might use it as a lift bag!
I always take a bright yellow flag.
When I go abroad I take my red smb and yellow flag. I have had some funny looks about the flag but I think it is an essential piece of kit. I was on a boat once when someone was drifting fast away from our boat towards the shipping lanes out of Dover. We lost his red smb amongst the waves but as soon as he deployed his yellow flag he instantly became visiable again. I went straight out and bought one and it will be coming with me to the Red Sea.