PerroneFord:
It's about time for me to start purchasing some reels. I am interested in those of you who've pursued cave training, how you feel about the Manta reels. I didn't really see a lot in DIR about reels or types of reels, so I'd not like to run afoul of good DIR practices.
The reason why you don't see much about DIR reels is because for the most part, reels are not DIR.
DIR divers prefer spools for most applications - one-piece construction, easy to deploy, no moving parts, nothing to jam or catch on the line, and small enough to stow several in a pocket. The only time we use reels is for penetrations into overhead environments, to provide a continuous guideline back to open water. In complex environments where there is a permanent guideline (such as caves), we use a reel for the initial penetration from open water to the start of the permanent line, and then spools for all other purposes (exploring side passages, etc).
Reels that are designed for penetration are usually nothing more than large spools with attached handles. The moving parts of the reel are machined with close tolerances to minimize the space between them. This prevents the guideline from falling into the mechanism, which could cause the reel to jam (bad news if you're in a "no lights" situation).
I am not personally familiar with the Manta products, but a quick glance at their website shows a few items that would seem to be suitable for a DIR diver. Their
finger spools appear to be of a design that is compatible with DIR diving. Most of the reels, unfortunately, would not be as desireable - too many moving parts, with lots of places for the line to catch. The only one that seems like it might be "DIR compliant" is the
CR-1. It is basically an open face reel with an attached handle, which looks like it might satisfy the needs of a DIR diver.
