Why use a spool when you can use a reel?

[CuzzA]

What benefit is there to using a spool over a reel in open water? I just bought a spool for an up coming class, but fail to see the benefit and justification for their popularity. The best comparison I can come up with is it's like hand fishing with a stick and some line when you could use a rod and reel.

 

[kelemvor]

I've asked that before. The answer I got was that a reel can jam, but a spool can't. I prefer using a reel for my flag.

 

[swimlikethefish]

I think it depends of the circumstances of your dive.

I use a spool when recreationally diving. It is small, easy to store, and light weight. When doing anything technical or deep I prefer a Manta reel. While it is heavier, and doesn't fit in a pocket. It does hold a tremendous amount of line. This allows me to shoot from depths a spool couldn't. (I know the blue H makes some 200ft spools, but their size makes them cumbersome. If I need 200ft I'd rather take my reels.)


Edit* I have used a spool for towing a dive flag. But much prefer to use a reel for that as stated above.

 

[Damselfish]

Spool simpler/lighter/cheaper, but mostly I care about more compact. That's desirable sometimes, like on a SMB I just want to make the whole package as small and tidy as I can, more likely it will actually go on the dive if it actually fits someplace.

 

[broncobowsher]

To me, a spool is more of a backup plan. Not planning on using it, but you have it in case you do. Easy to pack. Out of the way.
The reel is when I do plan to use it.
Generally, with exceptions depending on conditions.

 

[tomfcrist]

Spools are great for deploying a SMB or lift bag...they suck for towing a flag.

Any deeper than 130, I use a reel to deploy a bag of any sort...because 1) it has a boatload of line, and 2) it’s easier to reel in a boatload of line than it is to wrap it back on a spool without getting twisted all to hell...

 

[Cyborg Pirate]

when leading rec dives.... I carry a Manta reel and a lift bag, but I use the spool and safety sausage. Small quick to deploy as I already have them attached to each other. Example, busy weekend on the lake this last weekend with moderate winds. some large cruiser came too close to the dive boat and dislodged the anchor. The crew on the boat stayed at a safe distance to the previous anchor site idling awaiting the three groups of divers to surface. Upon returning to the anchor site.... No anchor. We were at 28ft deep. (submerged island that surfaces later in the season) spool and safety sausage quick bolt snap off the D-ring and deploy. Boats can see the safety sausage of not just my group but the other two groups as well.

The reels I do not have pre connected to anything as I use it for multiple purposes on rec or tec dives.

the answer to your question is really a personal choice.... that being said different tool for different jobs.

 

[Wookie]

I have a number of manta reels I rarely use. I always carry a spool. The spool won’t corrode. The spool won’t break. It will come unclipped.

 

[tomfcrist]

The spool won’t corrode. The spool won’t break. It will come unclipped.

Not if it’s in a pocket

 

[CuzzA]

Great replies. I picked up the spool as it is required in a class for shallow deco, or at least the instructor wants me to use it. In my few years of diving I've always just freely maintained my stops without a line.

I suppose as I'm sitting here looking at this thing I guess I'm having a little buyers remorse, not that it was expensive, though I did buy the stainless steel one. I have a reel, but it's too big and would be more suited for dragging a flag, something we don't do where I dive. I'll practice with it, but I've notice so many carry a spool and some reels are pretty small and it would seem a reel would be more user friendly than a spool. Though the jamming issue does make sense. Of course I see myself dropping this thing and letting out 80 feet.