Rope or No Rope

[IwakuniDiver]

If the opportunity arises for using a decent/ascent line, I will use one every time.

 

[Charlie99]

Then hold on to THEM...

Or just loop a cord or jon line around their neck a few times, and then do your stop 10' downcurrent from everyone.

I haven't had much trouble with other divers doing stops, but descending divers have been a problem. The descending divers tend to be moving faster, and are more likely to accidently kick you. OTOH, my experience is that divers on the way up aren't in a hurry and usually do a pretty good job of sharing space, and working their way past each other.

Using a jon line or other short line will let you get 10' or so away from the mooring/ascent line if you really want to.

 

[Bretagus]

Line for wrecks, but otherwise I love the feeling of freely 'falling' to the bottom. Especially in the tropics on a one of those 100ft visibility days... man, it makes you feel so tiny...

But yeah, if my buddy/group is using the line, I use the line. Getting seperated before the dive even starts doesn't sound like a good plan.

 

[scubamickey]

I hate lines with a passion. especially on descent. I prefer a heads down approach. Actually my new favorite is a freefall from the boat. That was nice to do on our recent trip to Oahu. My hubby/buddy and I got tired of the crowd on the line slowing things down so we just went off the other side of the boat and straight down.

Ascent lines-yuck! Maybe if people stopped going vertical it wouldn't be so bad.
I will use one in a strong current but otherwise I prefer an open water ascent, especially on a drift dive.

 

[PaulChristenson]

That's my biggest gripe with lines: I hate doing safety stops and getting swarmed by other divers. Crap... If you're at 18' instead of exactly 15', I'm not convinced that it makes a hell of a lot of difference, but man, people can get pretty grabby, if they happen to think that you're in their way.

That's what they invented Jon lines for....

 

[Storm]

That's what they invented Jon lines for....

Hey gotto love those "diver balls"

 

[IwakuniDiver]

...Especially in the tropics on a one of those 100ft visibility days...

I hate you.


On a "good day" on the Eastern Side of Japan the vis is 15' and averaging 6'.

Of course, I will admit that decending at night in 6' visibility with no line is a real rush.

... oh look! There's the bottom! <thud>

 

[Jason Ooi]

depending the situation

 

[Bretagus]

I hate you.


On a "good day" on the Eastern Side of Japan the vis is 15' and averaging 6'.

Of course, I will admit that decending at night in 6' visibility with no line is a real rush.

... oh look! There's the bottom! <thud>

Haha yeah that would be a rush. I've been too chickencrud to try that, but now that you mention it . . .

 

[EricJ]

I get a better frame of reference when I go down a line. Once at the bottom, I take a mental note of my depth and get a frame of reference using my compass. It makes finding my way back to the boat much easier.

On the other hand, I've done many dives where using a descent line wasn't necessary or even appropriate.