How to Use a Scuba Lift Bag
Scuba lift bags are invaluable tools for any diver who needs to do real work underwater, because the use of a scuba lift bag is the only way to move a heavy object underwater or carry it to the surface. In theory, using a scuba lift bag is as easy as filling a balloon, but in actual practice, the use of a lift bag is trickier than that. Safety, in particular, is a serious concern, so every step of using a scuba lift bag should be undertaken methodically and with care.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Lever (recommended)
- Straps or netting for a lift bag
- Lift bag
- Air cylinder
- Scuba regulator
Instructions
-
-
1
Match the lift bag to the weight of the object. If you are lifting an outboard motor, you can look that up and match the weight exactly. Otherwise, use your best guess and favor a bag with more lift than you think you need.
-
2
Thread your straps or netting underneath the object you intend to lift. If necessary, raise awkward and especially heavy objects with a lever, and strap it or spread a net underneath it in stages. You can raise one end of an anchor with a lever, secure it with straps or spread a net underneath it, then release it and raise the other end to finish the job.
-
-
3
Clip the netting or straps onto the D-ring or O-ring on the bottom of the lift bag.
-
4
Place the second stage, or "mouthpiece," of your regulator just inside the lift bag. If you have brought a special air tank to use just for this purpose, use that second stage instead.
-
5
Press down on the valve button and release air into the lift bag. If you merely wish to lift an object to move it around on the bottom, release air in small bursts until the object is almost floating in the water, so you can easily move it without fear that it will start rising to the surface. If you wish to send the object to the surface, add air until it just barely begins rising on its own, then stop.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Netting and straps have their pros and cons when it comes to lifting objects with a scuba lift bag. Straps are easier to wrap around the object but offer less security in the event a strap breaks. Netting is usually much harder to wrap around an object because it is resting on the sea bottom but offers more security.
Take care to avoid heavy breathing while underwater. Carbon dioxide might build up in your mouthpiece faster than it can be purged, which can result in unconsciousness and drowning.
If you are sending on object to the surface, watch it as it ascends. If the straps or netting holding the object to the bag break, it will fall straight back down and might not make very much noise along the way to warn you of the accident.
Do not overfill the lift bag. The air inside the bag will expand as the surrounding water pressure decreases, giving the bag more lift and further expanding the bag. Too much air in the bag on the bottom could cause the bag to burst before it reaches the surface.
References
- Photo Credit Underwater landscape with bowls image by Olga Khoroshunova from Fotolia.com
