i know but i have to start with the basics, beeeesides extras can always be bought later, there is a reason why wishlists exists

BTW those Fourth Element 3mm gloves. They're warm but quite stiff so I only wear them in winter. They also take forever to dry and you must turn them inside-out including the fingers. For basic exposure protection I prefer the Mares Touch 2mm.

The next buncha stuff you should look into getting if you continue to be serious in the sport, are signaling and communication. Most dives end well, but be prepared in case it doesn't. They are seldom rented out at dive resorts too. For example: SMB, lights, slate, whistle, pointer, air horn, etc.

This post has been edited by wKkaY: Dec 15 2017, 03:50 PM

well for the tidbit accessories i didnt list them but using your example list, i already bought the 4th and 5th items, still looking around for the first 3 but the last item on the list i saw a few variants but they look ugly QvQ, who says you cant dive with style x.D

with that said it goes without saying the SMB has to be bought with a reel but the reels ive seen are the finger types which i dont really fancy but the rotating reel types which i prefer are horrendously expensive D:

also the 3mm gloves arent so bad, kinda like the textures, its never bad to have more warmth at least for me

You don't actually need a reel or spool to use an SMB, if you limit yourself to inflating it at the surface. Purpose of the SMB is to make yourself visible to your boat or buddy.

In some circumstances it's crucial to launch it earlier, while in the water. For example, when there's current. During these minutes you spend ascending, you are drifting away from your boat. Or when you're surfacing in boat traffic.. although it's arguable whether random boaters will even pay attention and see the SMB.

The plastic finger spool is compact, effective, cheap, and practically bulletproof.. Give it a chance

Well if i get an SMB i think its also worthwhile to get a spool along with it since it tends to be a package, and oh noooes i dont mean the giant spool which allows you to reel, there are similar sized ones as your 40/50m finger spool with the reeling mechanism, i know you are referring to the larger ones but that defeats my streamline setup

Maybe its just me but the regular finger spool looks like trouble if you accidentally get snagged by it, just my 2 yen

anyhows my main equipment set is complete and the rest are just the bells and whistles figuratively though since the whistle came with my BCD x.D

rainbow runner having a SMB spool combo promotion for RM140. has a built in netting to store the reel when not in use.

http://rainbowrunner.net/index.php?id_prod...troller=product

No i wasn't thinking of the 100+m primary reels lol. But a reel has a winding and holding handle, so they have to be larger than the equivalent finger spool. Maybe you can link some that you're interested in?

Curious - what do you think is the most likely scenario that plays out to getting snagged?

Just saw on facebook there will be another dive expo in malaysia next year february: DRT show Malaysia.

Think its the first time the exhibition in malaysia. Not sure if its any good?

Well most of the spools/reels in japan are the large ones at 40/50m but looking at a non amazon jp shop like lazada i saw 2 which met the criteria of not being to bulky and still have the reeling mechanism at 30m/50m so i think they exist since i recall my instructor using something about that size small compact and has the wants i want



as for being snagged, pardon my imagination but i know this may not be true in reality, like while you are filling the SMB it might start to tug on you hard so while trying to slow down the reel you might accidentally hold the string and be pulled up abruptly? well not exactly being pulled/launched like a polaris missle but well, see i told you pardon my imagination but still id like to have a bit of extras instead of being too simple but not too complicated like the larger reels i have seen since they are oversized anyways for my liking

Ah ok that's pretty compact, but I don't know how robust that tiny ball joint is. If your instructor uses it and likes it, you could ask him.

When you fill the SMB you are holding on to it, it's not going anywhere so there's no line to hold on to slow it down. You need to put controlled amounts of gas in it, stabilizing yourself each time. If the SMB slips out, your spool/reel will unwind and let it shoot up.. at that point i don't think you will voluntarily grab the line and hold on to stop it.. it's just not a natural thing to do.

From experience, the problems I see with SMB have been line entanglement.. line always finds a way to betray you Could happen before launching if you're sloppy and let too much line loose and floating, during if again you let too much line loose or if you entangle yourself/your gear in it, and after if you don't clip the line securely. I've also seen someone abort a dive before it even started, because line popped out on the surface, wrapped around the reg and pulled it out.

Here's a photo of me ascending with an SMB. See all the line that isn't under tension, because I'm ascending faster than I can wind the line in. It could've gotten tangled around my tank valve and give me a bad day


This post has been edited by wKkaY: Dec 18 2017, 09:33 PM

its her not him x.D dont assume all instructors have to be him's, not to mention they usually look intimidating

anyways as ive mentioned mind my overzealous imagination, probably what she bought was an off brand since usually small knick knacks like those are hard to come by from major name brands, im not expecting anything fancy like a 24k carat gold spool decked with encrusted gems or anything (LOL imagination running amok again) or anything just something that is a little more than the super basic, just fullfilling my small extra wants thats all.

by the way are those jetfins from scubapro that you are using?

I heard its a smaller expo in Malaysia. But it should be a good replacement for MIDE in the up coming years.

Wasn't assuming, i don't pay close attention to whether my pronouns are gender-neutral when i write informally. My ow and aow instructors were both females in fact.

You can have all the embellishments you want but just be mindful how well-made it is.

Yeah i use SP jetfins.

Yea I came across this as well. Not sure who will be exhibiting but might give it a visit since I’m in town

Evan can be a male or female instructor too, depending on the student’s preferences

No wonder he keeps duct tape in his dive bag

Where got. Velcro straps only. Easier to take off.

ew gross LOL

This is why instructors can't help you get full discounts without taking a cut and why we can't teach friends at cost price.

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