safety reel

[tstormdiver]

For my reels, I use Dive Rites. I have a basic DR Primary & Cavern/ safety reels that I use for primary tie offs & jumps. The regular primary, cavern/ safety reels is the line will jump off the spool & bind up in a heartbeat,.... goodness knows, I've had to untangle & rewind them countless times..... For safety reels I use the DR sidewinder reels. I do this because 1. they don't jam as easy because of the close machining, 2. they have a different feel from my other reels. I have knots tied into my safety reels every ten ft to use as a feel reference in 0 vis conditions.

 

[LiteHedded]

That just indicates that those two divers didn't practice using their spools and nothing more. I've had a lot more students jam reels than drop spools. And the one or two that have dropped spools were able to recover them even with a blacked out mask on. The several that jammed reels were not able to recover those.

or they died and dropped their spools

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I ended up going with a Ralph Hood ...

Ralph Hood Jump/Gap Reel - Cave Country Diving Store

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[USFpsychDiver]

I ended up going with a Ralph Hood ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Good reels. I've got 3 of 'em I got off ebay for $100. Had to change the #24 wreck line they had on them for #18 cave line, but other than that they were good to go. I have managed to foul them more than once, but my reel skills are still pretty rudimentary. Most of my buddies do use spools for jumps now, and I must admit they are lighter, quicker, and simpler -- they can lay down a jump faster than I can, primarily because I have to fiddle with a lock screw and they don't. I can maybe reel up a little faster with a knob and handle, at least until I let too much slack and get a loop-around; then I've got several minutes of untangle time...

 

[PfcAJ]

Good reels. I've got 3 of 'em I got off ebay for $100. Had to change the #24 wreck line they had on them for #18 cave line, but other than that they were good to go. I have managed to foul them more than once, but my reel skills are still pretty rudimentary. Most of my buddies do use spools for jumps now, and I must admit they are lighter, quicker, and simpler -- they can lay down a jump faster than I can, primarily because I have to fiddle with a lock screw and they don't. I can maybe reel up a little faster with a knob and handle, at least until I let too much slack and get a loop-around; then I've got several minutes of untangle time...

I think you're learning why some of us advocate spools so much

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I use spools for jumps. I want the reel for safety. I will put #18 high vis yellow line on it when it arrives ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[HenrikBP]

... at least until I let too much slack and get a loop-around; then I've got several minutes of untangle time...

I can relate. I don't have much in the way of line skills either. Someone once told me: "reel more, swim less", which seems like good advice

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Loose line has a mind of its own ... and it's an evil mind. I have a term I use for when my students allow slack in a reel or spool ... underwater macrame ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[rhwestfall]

... underwater macrame ...

I have earned a specialty in that.....

 

[Dive-aholic]

I ended up going with a Ralph Hood ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Great choice!