Hopping my way to full cave...

[Manatee Diver]

My BP/W rig was "too complicated" for one rescue class I assisted with, so I was not used as the "diver needing rescue" for the scenarios where the diver's rig had to be removed... Good to know that without plastic clips they can't get me out of my gear in the water.

I have a transplate, so I have clips on everything including my crotch stop. He just didn't think to stop and look to see why my rig wasn't coming off.

I'm not sure that it's as relevant for Florida-based divers, because it seems like most state and county parks disallow solo diving.

It is useful in a boat context, I got it so while diving rec boats that I don't have to worry about an instabuddy, but instead have my (little) pony bottle on my side. Particularly since when I am diving recreationally I probably have a camera in my hands, and I want to be more focused on it than wondering where my buddy went in the 30 seconds since I last looked up from the screen.

That being said, no one has asked to see it since I got it. So money well spent I guess.

 

[Caveeagle]

You know, most people take rescue long before, say, trimix or cave…

Really? I know quite a few cave divers who never punched that ticket. If you are not looking to be a divemaster, or instructor, nobody ever pushes that.

 

[Dark Wolf]

Really? I know quite a few cave divers who never punched that ticket. If you are not looking to be a divemaster, or instructor, nobody ever pushes that.

If it weren't required for Tec 45, I would not take the class. But it is, so I suppose I will take it.

DW

 

[tmassey]

Really? I know quite a few cave divers who never punched that ticket. If you are not looking to be a divemaster, or instructor, nobody ever pushes that.

Let me be more specific: If people take Rescue, they usually take it long before Trimix or Cave... As you imply, they’re not necessarily on the same path. (And it was a joke aimed at @Manatee Diver, not intended as a statement of general reality, judgement or requirement.)

 

[J-Vo]

If it weren't required for Tec 45, I would not take the class. But it is, so I suppose I will take it.

DW

My instructor required it before Tec 40. I thought it was a PADI requirement.

 

[Dark Wolf]

My instructor required it before Tec 40. I thought it was a PADI requirement.

Tec 40 | PADI

Sounds to me like a decision on the part of the instructor, unless the link I posted is an old link. I have run into some instructors that require it before 40. The one I will go with requires it before 45.

DW

 

[Manatee Diver]

TIL
1. The line on Dive Rite reels is indeed attached to the spool at the end.
2. That it is hard to start a reel where you have let out all the line.
3. That the jump from Olsen to the Well is longer than a Dive Rite jump reel.

I wonder, if you attach two spools together, is that considered two jumps?

 

[tbone1004]

TIL
1. The line on Dive Rite reels is indeed attached to the spool at the end.
2. That it is hard to start a reel where you have let out all the line.
3. That the jump from Olsen to the Well is longer than a Dive Rite jump reel.

I wonder, if you attach two spools together, is that considered two jumps?

that is considered a bad idea and you should carry a longer spool with you if you intend on doing that jump... I usually consider those little 50ft things gap reels and while I do carry quite a few of those with me depending on the cave, at least one of my spools is about 100ft and another one around 75ft. I don't use spools inside of the cave, they're a PITA when there is a bunch of them IMO

 

[Jack Hammer]

I prefer spools for jumps and find it easier for me to just carry 100' spools. I find them pretty versatile and really not much bigger than the 50' ones. For long jumps though, I carry a small Halcyon reel (Defender?). I put 18# line on it so has over 250' on it and fits nicely in my pocket. Spooling up over long distances suck and seems super slow. Reels are way nicer for that.

 

[tmassey]

that is considered a bad idea and you should carry a longer spool with you if you intend on doing that jump... I usually consider those little 50ft things gap reels and while I do carry quite a few of those with me depending on the cave, at least one of my spools is about 100ft and another one around 75ft. I don't use spools inside of the cave, they're a PITA when there is a bunch of them IMO

Did you mean "reels" in that last sentence? If not, can you expand on that?

Also, while I certainly understand not *planning* to use two spools... If you're at the end of your spool and you're 25' short, what do you do? I see three options: 1) Tie two spools together. 2) Rewind the spool and re-run a longer spool/reel if you've got it. 3) If you don't, don't take the jump. I personally have never had this happen -- but that's because as a new cave diver I've standardized on 100'+ spools and 250'+ reels, and if I think it's greater than 50' I'm probably pulling out the reel... And I *have* had my much more experienced buddies come up short (three times I think) and in every case they've taken choice 1. What would you do?

I've standardized on the 130' spools because they're what I had.. Having said that, I haven't seen that using the longer spools has that much of a disadvantage: they're not that much larger than even a 70' spool. Maybe when I get to the point of needing a half-dozen or more, but for now they work well for me.