I decided I should have a Jon line. I looked at all the pre-made options and decided I didn't like any of them, so I bought some parts and made my own.
Jon Line Clip - $8 from LeisurePro
Snap Shackle - $5 from Amazon
17' of paracord - can't remember - $5?
1' of bungee - $0.50 from Dive Gear Express
I tied a 1' loop into the end of each end of the paracord, to leave it at 15' long.
I did a Prussik loop to attach the paracord to the hole in the Jon Line clip and tied the bungee cord around the loop in the Jon Line clip, then tied 2 loops in the bungee cord, around the clip.
I did another Prussik loop through the snap shackle.
Then tucked all the coiled up paracord through the 2 loops of bungee cord. Snap shackle connected to the Jon line loop to keep it from being able to accidentally pull apart.
During the process, I pondered the hook at the end of the Jon Line clip and decided it is probably to facilitate doing something to ensure the clip doesn't accidentally detach from the anchor line you have it hooked onto.
I figured I could use it like this (corrugated hose standing in for anchor line):
Or this:
Or I could take advantage of my bungee loops to do this:
Comments and suggestions are welcome and invited.
Some explanation on my motivation. I have never used a Jon line, but I do dive wrecks in NC, where ascents are normally performed following the anchor line up. And I do some of those dives as deco dives. I have not yet had such a strong current that it was a major problem, but I have experienced crowding on the anchor line with people trying to hang while other people try to get by. Not an issue at all when there is little or no current. But it seems like it could be a real cluster if there were a strong current - especially if you're trying to do a longer deco stop, with a buddy or 2 at the same depth.
I know that some people say "never clip yourself to an anchor line." But, it seems like there might be times when it would be really helpful to have both hands available for things other than clutching a Jon line in a ripping current. And, my understanding of the main reason not to clip yourself to an anchor line is the danger of your line getting caught by a passing boat or some other thing where you're being dragged by the line you clipped to yourself. In that situation, a bolt snap or, His Noodliness forbid, suicide clip could be impossible to detach and your only option would be to cut yourself loose - if you can get a cutting device out and use it successfully.
Thus, the snap shackle. It's plenty strong enough to hold me in a current. But, it can be opened/released no matter how much load is on it, just by grabbing the little ring on the side and pulling.
The loop on the ends is big enough to hold onto or even stick your arm through and crook an elbow to hold yourself. But, I'm thinking that it would easiest to attach and to release from, if I just clip the snap shackle to my scooter ring on my crotch strap - or possibly a D-ring on my shoulder strap.
I determined the length of the line with this reasoning: If there is a diver my size that's holding onto the anchor line at the same depth I'm clipped off, and they are fully extended, with the arms straight and their fins straight out behind them, I don't want them kicking me in my face. So, I measured the length of myself from outstretched fingertips to fin tips, laying flat, then added the length from the top of my head to my crotch. That came out to just under 15'. So, I think, with a 15' line, I can clip it to my scooter ring and be pretty safe from being finned in the face.
I'm not entirely happy with the bungee cord and loops for packaging it. It should be reasonably easy to deploy, but I'm not so sure how easy it will be to pack away in the water, as I go to get out. I'm also a little concerned about creating an entanglement hazard for myself at the time of deployment. So, idea in that area would be especially welcome.
Jon Line Clip - $8 from LeisurePro
Snap Shackle - $5 from Amazon
17' of paracord - can't remember - $5?
1' of bungee - $0.50 from Dive Gear Express
I tied a 1' loop into the end of each end of the paracord, to leave it at 15' long.
I did a Prussik loop to attach the paracord to the hole in the Jon Line clip and tied the bungee cord around the loop in the Jon Line clip, then tied 2 loops in the bungee cord, around the clip.
I did another Prussik loop through the snap shackle.
Then tucked all the coiled up paracord through the 2 loops of bungee cord. Snap shackle connected to the Jon line loop to keep it from being able to accidentally pull apart.
During the process, I pondered the hook at the end of the Jon Line clip and decided it is probably to facilitate doing something to ensure the clip doesn't accidentally detach from the anchor line you have it hooked onto.
I figured I could use it like this (corrugated hose standing in for anchor line):
Or this:
Or I could take advantage of my bungee loops to do this:
Comments and suggestions are welcome and invited.
Some explanation on my motivation. I have never used a Jon line, but I do dive wrecks in NC, where ascents are normally performed following the anchor line up. And I do some of those dives as deco dives. I have not yet had such a strong current that it was a major problem, but I have experienced crowding on the anchor line with people trying to hang while other people try to get by. Not an issue at all when there is little or no current. But it seems like it could be a real cluster if there were a strong current - especially if you're trying to do a longer deco stop, with a buddy or 2 at the same depth.
I know that some people say "never clip yourself to an anchor line." But, it seems like there might be times when it would be really helpful to have both hands available for things other than clutching a Jon line in a ripping current. And, my understanding of the main reason not to clip yourself to an anchor line is the danger of your line getting caught by a passing boat or some other thing where you're being dragged by the line you clipped to yourself. In that situation, a bolt snap or, His Noodliness forbid, suicide clip could be impossible to detach and your only option would be to cut yourself loose - if you can get a cutting device out and use it successfully.
Thus, the snap shackle. It's plenty strong enough to hold me in a current. But, it can be opened/released no matter how much load is on it, just by grabbing the little ring on the side and pulling.
The loop on the ends is big enough to hold onto or even stick your arm through and crook an elbow to hold yourself. But, I'm thinking that it would easiest to attach and to release from, if I just clip the snap shackle to my scooter ring on my crotch strap - or possibly a D-ring on my shoulder strap.
I determined the length of the line with this reasoning: If there is a diver my size that's holding onto the anchor line at the same depth I'm clipped off, and they are fully extended, with the arms straight and their fins straight out behind them, I don't want them kicking me in my face. So, I measured the length of myself from outstretched fingertips to fin tips, laying flat, then added the length from the top of my head to my crotch. That came out to just under 15'. So, I think, with a 15' line, I can clip it to my scooter ring and be pretty safe from being finned in the face.
I'm not entirely happy with the bungee cord and loops for packaging it. It should be reasonably easy to deploy, but I'm not so sure how easy it will be to pack away in the water, as I go to get out. I'm also a little concerned about creating an entanglement hazard for myself at the time of deployment. So, idea in that area would be especially welcome.
