What SMB ?

NordicDiver

The lifting bag shape or the long sausage shape ?

I use a Halcyon small Alert Marker that is 6lbs lift and are 3,3`long. Why i picked this one is because i can inflate it with one breath and stay neutral in the water while i deploy it because the air goes from my lungs to my smb and then i let it go before i take a breath.

Now maybe this size is ok where i did most of my diving before, in calm deep fjords with no swell. So i should maybe buy a bigger one when diving off Ireland with heavy swell ?

I have also the lifting bag shape smb (50lbs) that i take with me if i know i be lifting something for example a goddiebag full of scallops or if two diver hang on it, its great but it sometimes act as a drift anchor ): so i prefer the small sausage from Halcyon .

What SMB do you prefer and why ?

Evil Phil

I don't have one yet but I've only started puting my own kit together. I'll take yours into consideration though. Oh, and you pm mailbox is full.

donny

http://www.scubapro.co.uk/products.asp?P=371

is mine. When I can afford it I aim to get Buddy one with mini cylinder. just feel its one less thing to worry about when deploying. pricey tho.

btw a big boooo to weather this weekend. laurentic looking dodgy

Apache01

The buddy SMBs seem to be the biz, I am currently thinking which one to get, my last one got a small hole on the top which really done my head in, when it got to about a meter of the surface and started to sink again it really puzzled me, until my buddy discovered the hole.

The buddy SMBs with the deflation valve near the bottom also seem popular and cheaper than the mini cylinder one. Does that Halcyon SMB have to be inflated orally or can you use a reg aswell?

Yes the Weather is not looking great this weekend, hoping we get a window for a few dives.

Apache

NordicDiver

No the Halcyon you can`t use your reg. You can use your LP hose, the hose does not "clip" on so it will slide off. I prefer to oraly inflate it, but i see that it would be necceserly to use the LP hose when the SMB gets gigger than mine..

The plastic one with melted edges are BAD stuff, i have seen several including mine tear. You could fix the tear by melting the edges again, or throw it in the bin.

Don now about the Buddy one, looks sweet but pricy and an extra bottle ?, not sold on that one.

Peace

I have the buddy self sealing smb and its pretty good. No cylinder to forget to fill before the dive and is reasonably compact.

NordicDiver

I was sitting inside BT (Brown Thomas) in a nice leather chair looking thru the last Diver magazine this evening, hoping my lovely girl didnt find anything that fitted. And then it hit me..i saw a picture of a diver with a yellow flag..i have never used it but i see it`s a few pictures of it in UK Diving magazines..
I know its not a SMB but..

Anyone using a flag?

dublinbay

[I have also the lifting bag shape smb (50lbs) that i take with me if i know i be lifting something for example a goddiebag full of scallops )

Dont get caught Jan:ninja: The men from Fisheries take delight in taking your dive gear from you:) I use both Halcyon dsmbs and a yellow emergency dsmb with CO2 canister, ideal for doing what it says on the box. The Buddy is a nice piece of kit tho a bit of a hassle if ,like me, all your valves are DIN. Also dont forget to fill and check the bottle before each dive.

NordicDiver

Dont get caught Jan The men from Fisheries take delight in taking your dive gear from you

I Know I only do it home, it`s a bit strange here, you have big trawlers out harvesting scallops but picking a few when your diving is not allowed. Where i come from its not alowed to use trawlers because they are havoc on the sea bottom. Soo the only way to harvest scallops is to use divers. And its a nice $$ in it too :cool:

I have two 50 lbs deco bags one yellow and one red and of you need assistanse you are ment to shoot up the yellow one.....is this something that are practiced in Ireland ?

Peace

Originally posted by NordicDiver


I have two 50 lbs deco bags one yellow and one red and of you need assistanse you are ment to shoot up the yellow one.....is this something that are practiced in Ireland ?

Yup, it sure is. I also have 2 smb's now but its always a good idea to make sure the boat cox knows what the deal is when a yellow smb comes up. Some folks might not know.