What length of line is most common for finger spools?

[Jimmer]

I'm seeing finger spools with between 75 and 150 feet of line, and was just wondering what is a standard length of line to use on a finger spool, before I go spend the money on them.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[texdiveguy]

My persl. pick is a spool with 125ft./#24....also I use large hole spools as they are easier to deploy with gloves.

 

[TSandM]

What do you want a spool FOR? That'll answer how big a spool you need better than knowing if there is any standard size.

For me, the most frequent use of a spool is to launch a DSMB on ascent, or for practicing drills. I have a 50 foot spool I use for this. I have another couple of 100 foot spools for diving in the caves, where the use of a spool is quite different.

 

[texdiveguy]

At least from the OP's picture and bio. it appears he is in cold o/w setting....best bet would be a 125 to 150' large hole spool.

 

[Jimmer]

Lynne, it will be for shooting a bag/DSMB when I take my NAUI Tech 1 in the spring. Tex, you got it, cold open water, Great Lakes diving. If I'm past 20 feet I'm wearing nice heavy gloves for the dive.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[texdiveguy]

Lynne, it will be for shooting a bag/DSMB when I take my NAUI Tech 1 in the spring. Tex, you got it, cold open water, Great Lakes diving. If I'm past 20 feet I'm wearing nice heavy gloves for the dive.

Thanks,
Jim

Jim... Dive Rite makes an ok spool w SS clip and 125' of line and a 'large' finger hole...I bought one through the ScubaToys store, you might give them a ring. Good luck in your course.
SCUBA Diving Equipment and gear for Technical, Wreck and Cave Diving: Dive Rite, Inc - Product Catalog - Finger Spool 125-feet

 

[fdog]

Lynne, it will be for shooting a bag/DSMB when I take my NAUI Tech 1 in the spring. Tex, you got it, cold open water, Great Lakes diving. If I'm past 20 feet I'm wearing nice heavy gloves for the dive.

Thanks,
Jim

I always assume I'll be shooting pretty deep, since if you're ever blown off for real, you want to let the boat know where you're going while it's still obvious. In current like this, the line can be bent over at a surprising angle. Hence I carry a 100' spool for the purpose.

If you get plastic or delrin, get the spool the next size up from the listed 100' capacity. This way the line doesn't bulge and it's easy to snap the double ender on without "worming" it by the line on the spool.

A spendy alternative, but easier to handle with gloves and actually smaller in the pocket, is one of Tobin's stainless steel spools from Deep Sea Supply. The 100' size actually holds an honest 100' of cave line, and is still easy to attach the double ender.

All the best, James

 

[Cave Diver]

A 150' safety spool lives in my drysuit pocket. It replaces a safety reel when doing cave dives. I have a variety of other spools that I carry ranging from 50-100' that I use for jump reels depending on the dive.

In open water recreational diving I carry a 100-150' spool in the event I have to shoot a bag. Anything deeper and I carry my Halcyon reel with 400' of line.

Previous experience makes me sure to carry at least 1.5 times more line than my planned depth.

 

[PfcAJ]

True story about having more than enough line to shoot your bag from depth. On my tech 1 course, my team quickly learned that 100' isn't enough if the bag is shot from 70'!

Jumps - 75'
Safety - 100' or 150', depending on what/ where I'm going
Bag - 150'
I missed the wreck bag - 400' reel

This is what I do, others do it differently, all good advice,more or less

 

[Cave Diver]

True story about having more than enough line to shoot your bag from depth. On my tech 1 course, my team quickly learned that 100' isn't enough if the bag is shot from 70'!

All's well that ends well, but it was certainly a lesson learned for us. We didn't plan adequately for the current (4~5 knots) and had to delay shooting our bag until well into our planned deco stops. The delay in spotting our bag caused a few anxious moments amongst the crew on the boat as well.

New, higher visibility, larger lift bag: $100

New 400' reel: $160

Ability to shoot a bag from the bottom, even in high currents: Priceless!