Deploying a DSMB with a spool.

[Ron MacRae]

As an emergency backup I carry a spool and one of the small oral inflate DSMBs. As with all kit I have a practice from time to time.

I'm having a problem with the spool once I release the DSMB and the spool starts to spin, or rather doesn't. I can't seem to hold the spool in a way that spins freely in thick gloves. If I have thumb and finger lightly across the holes then the edge of the spool catches my gloves and it doesnt spin. I've ended up just letting the spool go. It normally spins and rises about a metre as the DSMB goes up and then falls back into my hand. Unfortunatly last time I tried I didn't catch the spool and a) ended up having to pull up in 10m of line to get it back and b) almost caused my buddy to spit out his reg laughing.

I've had a look at a few videos but all these guys are not wearing gloves, which makes it easy.

What am I doing wrong?

Options I can think of are a) remove glove or b) carry a pencil to use as an axle.
I though about putting the double ender through the hole in the spool but it won't fit.

What do other people do?

[ebt]

palm facing down, had slightly curved downwards, line goes up through middle two fingers. Another way is to make an "OK" around the line with the spool below.

Provided you're using a bog standard cheap as chips delrin spool it'll pay out then when the bag hits the surface the spool will start slowly dropping, so you can grab it.

[Steve Clark]

I just let the line run between two fingers with the spool spinning about below. Give it a prod if it gets stuck. Hold on to it when the bag reaches the surface.

I also don't bother much with the boltsnap. I see a lot of people using it as a winder on the line or clipping the spool off whenever they stop. It's all unnecessary, if you are just holding the spool, it can't rotate and line can't come off. No need to clip off.

Steve

[Garf]

I also don't bother much with the boltsnap. I see a lot of people using it as a winder on the line or clipping the spool off whenever they stop. It's all unnecessary, if you are just holding the spool, it can't rotate and line can't come off. No need to clip off.

Steve

horses for courses. I find it easier to have it clipped off if we are passing the bag around the team during the gas switch. Less likely get dropped.

[Ron MacRae]

Thanks guys. Seems simple when explained. I'll give it a try.

[nickb]

Stick your finger in the hole like Witchieblackcat*

* don't do this!!!

[ebt]

horses for courses. I find it easier to have it clipped off if we are passing the bag around the team during the gas switch. Less likely get dropped.

If you're worried about dropping it, you want something smaller. Maybe a pony?

[matt]

horses for courses. I find it easier to have it clipped off if we are passing the bag around the team during the gas switch. Less likely get dropped.

You pass the bag around?

[Steve Clark]

You pass the bag around?

Yup. One bag per team. It's a common GUE thing to give stuff to the least busy person to make whatever task you are doing very easy.

I do quite a bit of support diving and the easiest dives are the ones where people are happy to give, and most importantly accept, assistance at every opportunity. Sure, you could do it without sharing the load with someone else, but it's faster and safer not to.

In the bag example, you lose the tension feedback by giving away the spool, but keep/gain a visual reference and have two hands free to do a robust gas switch. (which does need two hands if you follow procedure).

Steve

[Tim Digger]

Stick your finger in the hole like Witchieblackcat*

* don't do this!!!

I have had my buddy rapidly ascend due to a trapped glove and finger. He was fine just continued in his usual accident prone way.