Suggested rigging for dive flag float

[rx7diver]

@doctormike,

Nice video!

A more substantial float will give you more options. For example, an automobile inner tube can be rigged with a net or crate to hold things while you're below. And an inner tube or a torpedo float can serve as back-up surface flotation. I understand that some FL divers often prefer a torpedo float when diving deep, where the surface current might be running in a different direction than the current at depth (since a torpedo float has less drag).

rx7diver

 

[Dominick Gheesling]

Just a thought,

The main line from buoy could be secured to the bottom via reel or whatever when you find a location you like. If you want to wander around a bit, it would be very simple to attach a cavern reel (200'-300') to the buoy line / anchor point and hand hold that cavern reel while exploring within legal distance from dive flag. Use cavern reel to lead you back to the main line. This is the method I'm planning to use out here in the PNW doing some exploratory, solo dives.

 

[justinthedeeps]

Ziptie cable ties can be used as modular breakaways, just add as many zipties as it takes to provide the breaking strength you want. Pretty cheap to test

More float options, just because. The best one I've seen strapped weights and a flag to the hard plastic "lifeguard float" (first item)

 

[rx7diver]

Just a thought,

The main line from buoy could be secured to the bottom via reel or whatever when you find a location you like. If you want to wander around a bit, it would be very simple to attach a cavern reel (200'-300') to the buoy line / anchor point and hand hold that cavern reel while exploring within legal distance from dive flag. Use cavern reel to lead you back to the main line. This is the method I'm planning to use out here in the PNW doing some exploratory, solo dives.

Here in MO/AR, if I am lazy and don't want to deal with a dive float, I will attach my back-up cave reel (i.e., my cavern reel) to my inflated Carter Lift Bag Diver's Float and pull it (the CLB) around as if it were a "real" diver's float. (It has a sleeve around the top that has a diver down flag stenciled on it. My back-up cave reel carries wreck line.)

From time to time, I will pause and do a "line wrap" around something (to "fix" the floating CLB in place), and then reel out as I go exploring not too far away from the floating CLB. Then I reel back in as I return to the line wrap, unwrap, and continue diving, continuing to pull the CLB.

Easy-peasy--except, I really don't know if I am violating any MO or AR dive flag rules when I do this. Caveat emptor!

rx7diver

 

[doctormike]

Just a thought,

The main line from buoy could be secured to the bottom via reel or whatever when you find a location you like. If you want to wander around a bit, it would be very simple to attach a cavern reel (200'-300') to the buoy line / anchor point and hand hold that cavern reel while exploring within legal distance from dive flag. Use cavern reel to lead you back to the main line. This is the method I'm planning to use out here in the PNW doing some exploratory, solo dives.

I don't get it. Maybe I don't understand the dive site. Why is having two reels better than one? If you are going to hold a reel, why not hold the one attached to the float?

 

[doctormike]

Ziptie cable ties can be used as modular breakaways, just add as many zipties as it takes to provide the breaking strength you want. Pretty cheap to test

Even small zip ties are pretty strong, I don't think that i could break one with my hands. Why would that be better than an O-ring? Don't you want the breakaway to breakaway under significant strain?

 

[Johnoly]

I don't get it.

Usually the purpose of anchoring the 1st reel & position is because you have a calculated a known distance and bearing back to your entry point. The 2nd reel attached allows you to go "play' and look around without losing your known point on the 1st reel.

We all dive differently,,,,Don't even ask why I dive with 2 buoy's spread apart at the end of the same reel line (it just works for us)

 

[doctormike]

Usually the purpose of anchoring the 1st reel & position is because you have a calculated a known distance and bearing back to your entry point. The 2nd reel attached allows you to go "play' and look around without losing your known point on the 1st reel.

We all dive differently,,,,Don't even ask why I dive with 2 buoy's spread apart at the end of the same reel line (it just works for us)

I think that we may be talking about two different things.

I use a reel for navigation on, for example, a broken up wreck to find my way back to the anchor line. But I tow a flag float on a shore dive when there is boat traffic to alert boaters to my presence. That float (the point of this post) has nothing to do with navigation, right?

 

[happy-diver]

Is it scuba regulators or local councils that don't realise how compromising these things are

or is it a lack of confidence in being able to maintain your depth a boat passes overhead

We just don't use them here

although it's not particularly confidence building, when it's impossible to gauge through
hearing where the boat is, coming from, going to, but I don't surface until the dive is, fin

But I suppose due to population, we'd have in an area 6 boats where you would have 50

Scary, you can have it all to yourselves the whole lot


If you grab your cable tie, and give it a bit, of a twist

 

[Dominick Gheesling]

I don't get it. Maybe I don't understand the dive site. Why is having two reels better than one? If you are going to hold a reel, why not hold the one attached to the float?

Sorry, Cave diver here. Multiple reels/spools is very common.

Shorter cavern reel (easy to carry) brings me back to main line (buoy line) and keeps me within legal distance of flag.