Salsette and Buccaneer, 3rd & 4th April 2005

[Bob Cooper]

Originally Posted by Ainsleyberryman

I was interested to read your report. Why do you shoot you bag late into the dive. Why not as you leave the wreck ? Whats your (DIR) thinking behind your bagging off practice ?

Deploying from the wreck can be problematical.
How long does it take?
Is it included in your BT or do you call the dive early and allow the extra time to deploy?
How deep can you safely deploy from?
Deploying deep means a big reel, lots of line and lots of potential for tangles, snags etc.

We prefer to ascend to the first gas switch (normally 21m), switch gas then deploy the bag. That way you are less impaired, have less to worry about (switching reel between team members etc) and you are actually deploying the bag in better visibility so everybody can see whats going on (unlike on a dark wreck at 50m)

If you work it out, even in a 1 knott current, deploying at the first gas switch you wont have drifted too far from the wreck by the time the bag hits the surface.

If all use the same procedure, same BT etc, all bags will hit the surface at a predictable time, leaving the skipper free to monitor all of them rather than chasing around a large area.

Probably some other reasons bur these are the ones that spring to mind.

Bob

[And]

Hi

Good piccies Bob.

For me the reason for deploying after the gas switch is simple. I don't want to wind in any more line than I have to. Its an absolute PITA. The ONLY reason to use a DSMB is to let the skipper know where we are, as we have each other for a visual reference and we can all free ascend and do deco etc. If we deploy within ten minutes or so of the ascent then we have not drifted very far, and we are only drifting in the same direction as the skipper is going anyway.

The problem with using an SMB for assisting your ascent is that you may become reliant on it and on the one day it isn't available you are screwed. You only need to read the BSAC incident reports regarding ascents to see what problems people have if the smb doesn't deploy properly.

Andy

[tom]

Originally Posted by Bob Cooper

Sorry no diving pics. We spent more time fishing than actually diving.

Not quite on the scale of the Salsette etc, but there's actually quite a nice little shore dive under that bridge.

When we did it last summer, there were people fishing as well - not that there was anything down there worth catching, apart from my fins - that took a few minutes to get out of!

[Rick Huggins]

Good report Andy, cheers for sharing.

[Mark]

Well done Andy. Cheers for doing the trip report, again!

I have put my argon trouble down to the reg dislodging when leaving the boat or during the descent. It's all been cleaned out, re-assembled and checked and is now working properly again.

Regards,

Mark.

[Fraser]

Nice report mate, thanks for posting.

Originally Posted by And

The salsette is a bit funny with currents I feel as this is the third time I had dived it and it was always slightly uncomfortable, the currents seemingly changing often and pushing you into the wreck which is annoying.

I can already hear you harrassing Mark into getting a scooter

Fraser.

[Bob Cooper]

Originally Posted by Fraser

I can already hear you harrassing Mark into getting a scooter

Believe me, a scooter wouldn't have been much use on Saturday....

Bob

[Ainsleyberryman]

Thanks for the comments on bag deployment. Interesting, but as Im using a large reel with 80m and a large handle radius its very easy to wind in. Also I take your point about ascending using it, but am carefull to make my ascent in a neutral situation. I also carry a 23m spool if it goes wrong and am happy with both techniques. Ive carried out lots of practice bagging off and will do it blindfolded if it was necessary. (it was part of my solo course to bag off and make an ascent in that fashion) I use the winding of the reel as an aid to ascent rate, one revolution is about 10cm on average.

But haveing said that I can see merit in some of your points.

Cheers

[izzyimset]

Originally Posted by Bob Cooper

Did you like the pics Andy?
Mark?
Izzy?
Bob

Ah, do you think I need a nose job? Seems the older I get the more crooked it looks. Can I have the next shot up front please? :-))

Good to see you guys.. The next time, I will have my boat! Just got the engines so no empty rods thereon... Best

Izzy