Scubamouse911
Registered
Was just wondering what the proper usage of a reel (not a spool) was? Thanks, Scubamouse
Using a reel
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OBXDIVEGUY
Contributor
depends how you want to use it. caves, wrecks, smb, tying up buddy?
OP
Scubamouse911
Registered
smb and to tie off to an anchor we have at one of our dive sites to go over a plateau and down over an edge to about 130' - the current is quite strong & I want to make sure I come back up in the same place.....as for tying up a buddy....I will add that to the list....thanks....
OBXDIVEGUY
Contributor
It may sound silly, and look silly, for that matter, but practicing with reels on land really helps. In the cave world, you use line placements. Sort of hooking the line over something, without tying it along the path. To tie to the anchor, I would tie it off, and then a few feet away, do a secondary tie off. As you pay the line out, you have to keep tension on it to prevent it from getting tangled.
When deploying an smb, be very careful not to let it hook you and pull you up in an uncrontrolled ascent.
When deploying an smb, be very careful not to let it hook you and pull you up in an uncrontrolled ascent.
We use one often for navigation in not so great viz. They are a bit tricky if you have no training on how to use them. Easy to foul them up and entangle them. Typicaly the diver running the reel will lead the dive while the buddy will help secure the line behind the lead diver if needed. On the return, the buddy then leads the dive back while helping to keep tention on the line while the reel operator reels in the line. Upon return to the starting point the buddy will undo the line for the reel operator.
OP
Scubamouse911
Registered
Is there anyplace on the internet that you know of that describes the training procedure.....
The procedure is at a high level as described below.
But depending on where you dive (the other post), tie off's/wraps are different, more/less frequent, the line thickness varies, marker types and placement, traversing/crossing a line etc.
Also think about protocols for following the line in complete/near complete zero vis (the reason for the line): how do you follow, how do you communicate etc.
It is not as simple as reading on-line, it takes practise and practise. A birdnest (completely wrapped up reel) is easily created.
Where do you intend to use a reel?
But depending on where you dive (the other post), tie off's/wraps are different, more/less frequent, the line thickness varies, marker types and placement, traversing/crossing a line etc.
Also think about protocols for following the line in complete/near complete zero vis (the reason for the line): how do you follow, how do you communicate etc.
It is not as simple as reading on-line, it takes practise and practise. A birdnest (completely wrapped up reel) is easily created.
Where do you intend to use a reel?
OP
Scubamouse911
Registered
Off Deer Island point - the currents can be strong and you don't always come up the way you went down - there is an anchor at about 97' (high tide) and then a plateau to go over before going down over a ledge.....I dive this site quite often and many use a reel for this purpose....there are also other sites but this is the most used one....
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