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Hi Chuck, You have some interesting ideas about lift bag deployment. Thanks for sharing them. I have had several discussions about using air from my wings to inflate a lift bag, but I don't seem to have enough hands to refill the wings after I release the bag. And also, I feel a little uncomfortable with being negatively buoyant once I release the bag. For me after the bag starts up, my left hand is holding the handle of the reel and my right hand is lightly touching the spinning reel to act as a brake to prevent the reel from overspinning and snarling, and to prevent the bag from hitting the surface of the water too fast, jumping up, laying over on its side, dumping the air and slowly coming back down to me. If I had a third hand to use on my inflator hose, it would be just great. But I haven't worked out the details just yet. In my experience, if my students do not use both hands on the reel, a problem in putting up the bag is often the result. I do agree with you that << Closed bags are a good idea in many applications .... >> But I think that I would say "almost all applications." I use the O.M.S. 50 lb. bags and I really like them. These are "closed bags" in that once full, the air will not come out unless the pressure relief valve is activated. You say << Use a tall lift bag with enough capacity that it does not have to be full to provide enough buoyancy when it reaches the surface. A ball of air at the top of the bag with a length of empty bag hanging below it is less likely to be dumped than a full bag of any shape. >> I agree and with the O.M.S. bags not only do I get a bright orange "scuba sausage" sticking out of the water on the surface, but accidental dumping of the air is no longer even a consideration. The difficulty I have had in the past with large open bags is that the bags are so large that underwater they make deployment a bit more difficult. You say << An open bag can be refilled. >> So can closed bags. You say << It is not likely to bust a seam. >> Since they have pressure release valves, the same is true for closed bags. You say << It provides adjustable customized buoyancy. >> With the pressure relief valve, IMHO the closed bags actually provide better control of buoyancy. You say << It is quicker and easier to dump if necessary. . . . . >> Again, by using the pressure relief valve, IMHO a closed bag is actually easier to dump than an open bag. You say <<There is much to be said for simplicity! >> I agree with you completely. But I believe that the new closed bags seem to be a better product for the type of diving that I do. I would like to reinforce strongly, your suggestion about using a strobe on your bag. I believe it significantly helps in locating a diver when the proverbial feces impacts against the rapidly rotating blades. I'd also be interested in hearing your thoughts on deploying lift bags from wreck railings Of course, all of this is only one diver's opinion. Take care and safe diving, Scott In a message dated 8/10/00 2:23:20 AM, CHKBOONE@ao*.co* writes: I have lost the original post on this but here are a couple of thoughts: If hanging in mid water fill your lift bag from your BC and your buoyancy won't change till you let it go - pump your BC up again as you release the bag. This separates the two tasks of getting the bag filled and keeping the reel in order - a juggling act that often seems to result in tangles and getting pulled up. You have more time to make sure everything is in order before the release. Use a tall lift bag with enough capacity that it does not have to be full to provide enough buoyancy when it reaches the surface. A ball of air at the top of the bag with a length of empty bag hanging below it is less likely to be dumped than a full bag of any shape. Closed bags are a good idea in many applications but I would have a standard open bag on board as well. An open bag can be refilled. It is not likely to bust a seam. It provides adjustable customized buoyancy. It is quicker and easier to dump if necessary. . . . . There is much to be said for simplicity! TIP : If diving in the afternoon have a secure attachment on your bag for a small strobe light. Much easier to find in the dark if a boat with an emergency has to return for you after dark, etc., etc. I have seen several divers pulled up by tangled reels and though I will use one sometimes I don't like them. I like a tube with line faked down inside like a throw rope and the bag on top of the line - all inside a compact clean lined tube. Open the top, pull the bag out, drop the tube and line, fill the bag from the BC, stand back and watch it go as you shoot some more gas into your BC. Make sure the line is straight and clean before filling the bag - never had a problem with a tangled line. If something goes wrong with refilling your BC just grab the line. I have some special thoughts on lift bags deployed from wreck railings too but I don't have time for a fight right now so I will refrain. Chuck Boone >> << In a message dated 8/3/00 11:36:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time, donburke56@ne*.ne* writes: > This brings up two questions: > > 1. Is filling a lift bag from a second stage only bad in very cold water? > 2. What is a better way to fill a lift bag? > > Don Burke -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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