Bristol Channel Divers
Web Rants
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Bristol Channel Divers |
Hopefully everyone in the club has seen a Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB). If not, you should ask another member to show you theirs(!). The DSMB is used to indicate your position in the water to your surface cover. This allows them to a) follow you as you drift or swim along and b) not run you over when you surface. I'm sure we all realise the advantages in this! When you've done a bit of diving you'll realise that it also means that the boat is on hand when you surface meaning you don't have to bob around in the water for ages waiting to be picked up - definitely a plus point in my book!
This piece of kit is known as "delayed" because you only deploy it (send it up) towards the end of the dive. It is inflated using air from your cylinder (usually from your octopus). Sounds like a good idea so what's the big deal? you ask.
Normally one person in a buddy pair needs to carry a DSMB. Even if you plan to come back up the shot line, one of you should have a DSMB. Why? Well, in case you can't find your way back to the shot, you can send it up to indicate your position. Sometimes, you get back on to the shot and find that there is quite a current running. In this case, it might be more comfortable to send up the DSMB and then "let go" of the shot line to drift free in the current. In this case the boat needs to know where you are. Often, the skipper will ask you to come up on a "delayed". This might be because he wants to recover his valuable shot line once everyone is safely down or beacuse he knows there will be a current running at the end of the dive and he cares about your comfort. In this case, all divers should do the same otherwise some end up drifting with the current and others remain static on the shot - a boat handler's nightmare!
Your webmaster's pet rant right now is that all divers should carry their own DSMB and know how to use it. One per buddy pair is not enough! This means buying more kit and learning how to use it in the pool - but that's not a bad thing eh? It could prove invaluable on your dive or even save your life! I've been in the situation where being able to wave a long orange object above the swell has been the only way to attract the attention of the dive boat...and more than once!
Plus, consider this. Your dive turns into a swim through sludge - the vis is less than perfect and, through no fault of your own, you loose sight of your buddy. What do you do? Well, as per your training, you spend a short amount of time looking round for your buddy before surfacing alone. In this case, suppose your buddy was carrying the DSMB! How do you surface safely without being run over by a RIB and without drifting off and not being spotted? You guessed it! You deploy your own spanking new DSMB which you purchased for exactly this eventuality!
You may think this is overkill and that you will not become separated from your buddy. Rest assured, one day it will happen and it's best to be prepared for this. If you're currently training, your instructor will not let you out of his sight so it's not too much of a problem at this stage (this is one of the reasons why your instructor may cancel a dive - if he/she thinks there is a risk you could become separated). However, once you are qualified you need to think much more about taking responsibility for your safety. As ever, speak to a more experienced member of the club if you are in any doubt whatsoever.
Oh! And bear in mind that, if you do need to deploy your DSMB as a "reserve" you could be mid-water. So practise deploying when you're not conveniently kneeling in the sea bed.
There are various types of DSMB - again, ask others to see what they like and use. Most of them are orange or red sausages which are open at the bottom to receive air. Some have a self-sealing mechanism which stops them deflating on the surface. Still others come with their own small (0.1L) bottle which is filled from your cylinder before the dive. They are much easier and quicker to deploy and remain inflated on the surface. Obviously they cost a bit more.
Your Webmaster carries two DSMBs - just in case one fails (or becomes snagged on something and has to be jettisoned).
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