What should I take?

[scubakat]

I usually leave mine in the truck, but it is just a 6ft. piece of nylon rope with loops tied in the end for handles. One guy I know uses shock cord.

-kate

 

[Walter]

You can use any size line you prefer, but don't get it with too small a diameter or it'll cut into your hand if using it in strong current. I believe the line I use has a ½ inch diameter, but I could be wrong. I buy 100 ft for about $3 at Walmart every 6 months or so. I'm constantly making and giving away buddy lines. I have one buddy line in the pocket of every BC I own. I store the buddy lines there, that way I always have one when I'm diving. It's pretty common for me to discover yet another use for it.

I've never seen then for sale at a dive shop, but they are so easy to make, why would anyone buy one.

Kate, you should keep one in your truck and one in your BC pocket.

WWW™

 

[scubakat]

You're right Walter, thanks for the reminder.

-kate

 

[Rick Murchison]

My "sissy" line is quarter inch poly (the yellow stuff) with a bolt snap on one end and a suicide snap on the other. The loops through the eyes of the snaps are big enough for a hand, so it can be used like a "classic" buddy line as well as clipped off to something. I keep it in a nice small package with a rubber band cut from a bicycle tire inner tube, which can double as a breakaway attachment if the situation warrants.
Like Walter, I keep one in every BC I own, and always have a couple of spares in my kit.
Rick

 

[Butch103]

This is the first I've heard of a buddy line. Why don't instructors suggest these things?? Or are they frowned on by the purests?? Sounds like a very intelligent idea. This is another reason I read this board daily.

Butch eace:

 

[ifukuda]

Thanks for the info. I am going to make a few of these "sissy lines" for myself and diving group weekend. But, I'm going to have to come up with a new name for the line because I usually dive with my GF...and "sissy line" will not go over too well. Any ideas on a new name?

 

[Walter]

Buddy line.

 

[Walter]

Instructors don't mention buddy lines because they probably don't know about them either. I learned about their use in low viz when I took my Silver Star Advanced class cough years ago, but I never applied what I learned. When I began to make lots of low viz dives with folks who were uncomfortable in low viz, I started using them. I kept a buddy line in my pocket and started learning new uses on my own. Since then, I always mention them in every class I teach of every level. I'm still learning things through trial and error that I wish I'd learned in my OW class. When I learn aomething like that I incorporate it in my classes.

WWW™

 

[Iguana Don]

That is what the SEALS call them also, Buddy lines.

ID

 

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by Butch103
This is the first I've heard of a buddy line. Why don't instructors suggest these things?? Butch eace:

I do teach the use of a Buddy line - in open water class, in the limited visibility class, in the light salvage class, in the spearfishing class, in the deep air class... in fact, I think I pull it out in just about every class I teach at some point or other.
Usually, I hear a lot of "that's a great idea" comments, but see precious few in actual use.
Rick
(I do slip up and call it a "sissy line" from time to time... called it that for twenty-five years before someone told me it wasn't nice - oh, well... my wife doesn't object and she has 51% of the vote!)