Josh H Do you use these while diving attached to a reel so that it follows you while you swim or is it for surface use? And does it come with a reel?
DANIEL G Josh, We are normally live-boating while diving so we use these at the end of our dive to signal the boat as to our position. We deploy them at the time of ascent using a reel. They are easy to manipulate and small enough that they could be dragged behind you at the surface while diving. Reels are extra and can be very expensive. I have had many reels, but still prefer the finger spool because of its small size and ease of operation.
MICHAEL N This does not come with a reel. It can be used in either way you describe, however it is most commonly used as a surface marker to return to a location or to increase visibility when you surface (very helpful if you surface away from the boat or flag for any reason). This is small enough to pack away easily for dive trips abroad. For using from a reel while submerged, be aware of your local laws regarding the requirement for a "diver down" flag..this does not meet those requirements for the states I'm familiar with.
Dan M Nope, this is NOT a dive flag. You do not inflate and tow it using a reel so no, it does not come with a reel. It is an emergency surface marker to employ IF you surface away from the boat and need to get someone's attention. Roll it up and clip it to your BC. That's where it will stay until you need it.
STEPHEN W No reel it stays rolled up clipped to ur bc and you inflate it on the surface wave it around in case u are to far from the boat
MARK E It is an emergency signal device to be deployed either on the surface or during your safety stop using a reel to mark your position for the boat.. It does not come with a reel but I carry a thumb reel in my pocket.
RANDY J Surface use only I would not use it as a dive flag, does not come with reel
PAUL A No reel, surface use only
CHARLIE V Ok, good question. I do all of the above. You have to provide your own reel.. this then could be improvised for other uses as well. Also, you can use a little up line with a float, what I usually carry, and have that in my BC pocket, and the sausage connected to it and it being outside of my BC clipped to a D ring.
This way I can deploy it as a signal from the bottom, or from a drifting safety stop, so the boat hopefully sees you drifting off since no longer hugging tight to the bottom on your planned route. Also for dangerous traffic in traveled areas. The Safety sausage is a little small, very small, if you really use it in anything close to a big chop and any distance. Use your whistle of blaster, but then there are running motors. :)
I also carry the little strobe, so if the worst kind of happens, you can try and jerry rig it to the top of the signal. Or signal a drift on a night dive. (Dangerous right?) Anyway you should have all 3 and practice making your brain and hands work even in slightly stressful conditions on deploying all the various combinations. Then it actually can happen when you have the big time stress creeping in. I have stories. Feel free to contact me
FREDERICK K No it does not come with a reel. And no, it isn't used to "follow while swimming." A floating dive flag is used for that purpose. The SMB is used to alert the surface of a diver's location. It also is used as a tool for the diver in situations where a free ascent is required. The bag is shot to the surface, attached to a finger spool and line(sold separately), and the spool/line is used more or less as a visual reference for the diver in ascent.
CLAYTON L It is intended for surface use. It does not come with a reel, but I know people who have attached a reel to it.