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By the end of this topic, you should be able to answer these questions: 1 How do you locate and assemble (if applicable) your DSMB/lift bag and reel/spool? 2 How do you deploy a DSMB/lift bag using a reel/spool for use as a decompression line? 3 How do you ascend using a DSMB/lift bag and reel or spool? General Considerations As you recall from the Additional Equipment section, DSMBs (Delayed Surface Marker Buoys) and lift bags are an essential part of tec diving equipment, but how they are used varies widely in different locations. In some locations every diver will launch a DSMB/lift bag, in other places one per team is the protocol. If more than one diver will launch a DSMB/ lift bag it’s a good idea to take turns at each step to avoid the team drifting apart or changing depths because everyone is concentrating on their DSMB/lift bag. Have one diver locate, assemble and prepare the DSMB/ lift bag and reel/spool, while a team mate watches. Then switch roles. When everyone is ready, launch one at a time. If there is any appreciable current, divers may need to launch in close succession to avoid being pulled apart. DSMBs/ lift bags may be launched from the maximum depth of the dive or after some portion of the ascent has been completed. This is usually dependent on local conditions and boat traffic. Waiting to launch at shallower depths reduces on-gassing and gas consumption. image placeholder for 730x365 Photo credit Julian Mühlerhaus/Halcyon Dive Systems Assembly To assemble your DSMB/lift bag: Locate and remove your DSMB/lift bag and unroll it. Some divers like to loop it over their arm while preparing their reel/spool. Locate and remove your reel/spool and release sufficient line to attach it to the DSMB, but lock it off again. Attach the two together. Some divers prefer to put a puff of air in the DSMB/lift bag first so it floats a bit for easy handling. If you are using a loop of line, pass it through the DSMB/lift bag strap then put your hand through the loop of line, grasp the reel/spool and pull it through. If you are using a boltsnap, clip the line to the DSMB/lift bag strap and give it a tug to make sure it is secure. Before and after each step remember to check your depth and make any adjustments necessary. Ready to Deploy When ready to deploy, position the DSMB/lift bag and reel/spool to avoid entanglement. For an open DSMB/lift bag, hold the reel/spool in your extended hand, apply tension from a finger on the reel/spool keeping it in front of you with a tight line to the bag in your other hand. This technique keeps the line under control and in sight, and away from your gear so it doesn’t tangle. If you have a closed DSMB, hold the reel/spool with the line wound in as far as possible, maintain tension with a finger (do not lock the reel) and inflate the DSMB/lift bag as appropriate. Keep the reel and line away from your gear to avoid entanglement. Inflating There are several methods for inflating DSMBs/lift bags. The design of the bag will guide your choices. Inflation techniques include: Exhaling bubbles from your second stage into the opening by holding the bag slightly above you. Gently purging a second stage underneath the opening. Use short bursts to avoid filling too quickly. This method may not be suitable in cold water due to the risk of free flow. Use the oral inflation valve. This is very similar to orally inflating your wing/BCD. Take a breath from your second stage, remove the regulator, while blowing tiny bubbles, blow into the valve while retracting the valve skirt, then release the skirt to retain the gas. Repeat until you have sufficient gas in your DSMB/lift bag. Image place holder for images that are 365x365 Photo credit William Drumm/Huish Outdoors Use the LPI inflation hose. Some DSMB/lift bags have a valve that can be used with your spare LPI hose. The valve looks similar to a wing/BCD valve, but doesn’t have the retaining groove that locks the hose onto your wing/BCD. Pressing the LPI hose onto the valve releases gas into the DSMB/lift bag, but it can’t lock in place so will stop when you release the pressure. Use short bursts to avoid filling too quickly. Practice with a new DSMB/lift bag on land first to master the appropriate technique before trying it in shallow water. Launch When you are ready to launch your DSMB/lift bag, look up to make sure there isn’t anybody or anything above you. Release the line and let the DSMB/lift bag rise to the surface. Keep some tension on the line to avoid it being carried by current. Try to maintain a vertical line. DSMB/lift bags that are suitable for decompression diving have one-way valves, but with many DSMB/lift bags, you must maintain continuous tension as it rises and during your ascent or the bag will spill and sink at the surface. With either option, you should still maintain tension to keep the DSMB/lift bag under control. When the DSMB/lift bag reaches the surface, the reel/spool stops moving. Pull down gently and reel in to take up slack to make the line as vertical as possible. Maintaining some tension also helps the DSMB/lift bag stand upright at the surface. If the line jams, do not try to hold it. Release it and launch a back up. Ascending Once the team is ready, signal to ascend, then proceed slowly so that you have time to reel up, deflate your wing/BCD and dry suit, if applicable, alternately. Maintain tension on the line to avoid entanglement, but don't use the line for buoyancy control (unless you’ve had a wing/BCD failure and it is part of your plan to deal with buoyancy failure). Slow down below planned stop depths and move up more slowly to avoid overshooting. If everyone in the team has a DSMB/lift bag retain your relative positions, usually facing in toward each other, to avoid line entanglement. Reeling Up Free spooling reels have a handle to wind the line in. Keep tension on the line manually and lock off the line. For a short stop, such as if a team mate asks the team to wait while they attend to something, you may prefer to loop the line around the handle instead of locking it off. This holds the depth as long as you maintain some pressure on the reel. Spools can either be reeled in by hand, wrapping the line around the spool as you ascend or by using a double-ender as a winding mechanism. Clip one end of the double-ender to the line, hold the other end and wind the line around the spool. This is much quicker and less tiring over longer ascents. It also makes it quicker to lock the line off by clipping the same end of the double-ender to the spool. Locking a Spool To lock the line on a spool, you can clip one end of a double-ender through the holes in the side of the spool, capturing the line as just mentioned. This basic method is great for a brief stop during ascent, but won’t stop the line unspooling if you lose tension. Another method is to wrap the line around the double-ender before clipping it off for a more secure connection. There are various techniques, from a simple wrap to a figure eight. Particularly in cold water, some divers prefer to thread the loop of the spool through a hole in the side of the spool before clipping it off (with or without extra wraps). Whichever method you use, the clip should face inwards (towards the line) to avoid accidentally knocking on the spool and becoming unclipped.