Scuba Gear Reviews by Michael Ewer

Scubamax Reel
Rating: Okay for the money 6/21/2008

Used this reel on a recent weeks wreck diving trip to send up my DSMB. It is quite compact but cheaply made. The line is quite thin and showed signs of wear at the end of the week. I had to trim the base of the reels winder knob as it did not rotate freely when its securing bolt was tightened and consequently when you wound the reel the knob securing bolt unscrewed itself. All that said the reel survived the week ( 9 dives) and never let me down. In hindsight I would buy the reel with the longer line.

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20 out of 43 people found this review helpful.

OMS Surface Marker Buoy (SMB)
Rating: Great SMB 6/21/2008

Just returned from wreck diving in Norway where I used this DSMB during deco so boat could track our location as we hang. Very easy to inflate at depth using exhaust from second stage. No problem with it at all once I worked out where best to store it which was permanently connected to reel cord and strapped to reel handle when not in use for easy ready access when needed.

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38 out of 75 people found this review helpful.