Here’s the breakdown of SMB management

SMB management with double-ender bolt snap

  1. Detach your double-ender from your BCD D-ring

  2. Pass the line through one end (clipping it over the line)

    It acts as a sliding guide, keeping everything controlled

  3. Hold the double-ender in one hand to guide while the other winds the spool

  4. Lock it by wrapping the line around the spool and clipping the double-ender through a side hole

  5. Re-stow the whole assembly back to your BCD

  1. Detach your double-ender from your BCD D-ring
  2. Pass the line through one end (clipping it over the line) it acts as a sliding guide, keeping everything controlled
  3. Hold the double-ender in one hand to guide while the other winds the spool
  4. Lock it by wrapping the line around the spool and clipping the double-ender through a side hole
  5. Re-stow the whole assembly back to your BCD

The important stuff

  • Keep tension on the line during your ENTIRE ascent. A slack line = tangled mess or a deflated SMB falling over on the surface.
  • If slack appears, reel it in immediately to keep your SMB vertical and visible.
  • The double-ender method also protects your hands from line friction during retrieval.