Which Reel

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by comet24

There is a reason good reels cost. I don't like ratcheting reel myself. They may be fine for shooting a bag but not running a line.

What is this for.

I think he was looking for a reel for a cavern class(?).

[CWSWine]

The coarse I looked in to was a minimum of 200 foot reel and the highly recommended a metal real not plastic. Here is the one that I purchased.






Call the Manta Jr reel.

[comet24]

If your going to go with a retching reel defiantly go with a Manta.

Any chance you can try some before the class. Know anyone with a reel. See if you can try out a tradition style, side handle and something like the above one. Find what you like and works best for you. Personally I like side handle reels for running line.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by comet24

If your going to go with a retching reel defiantly go with a Manta.

Any chance you can try some before the class. Know anyone with a reel. See if you can try out a tradition style, side handle and something like the above one. Find what you like and works best for you. Personally I like side handle reels for running line.

Actually, considering it's for a class, the OP should speak to his instructor and find out if there is a specific type the instructor wants him to have. Some instructors have a strong preference for sidewinders, others top winders, so buying now without doing some homework first could very well end up wasting money.

[Tassie Diver]

Started with a cheapo crappy reel for shooting a line. It lasted about 6 months before the teeth broke off the ratchet.

Now have a Dive Rite reel.

Buy the good stuff first and save your cash in the long run.

[Splitlip]

CD of course is correct. For a class, discuss with your instrutor.

As for sticks and bricks.The things (in OP) are of course crap. I use one for shallow dives and puling a float. Time will come (as it has with other reels) when I simply strip the line for other applications.

Now, I am just a dumb old warm water rec diver. I do shoot a very large DSMB from depth. I have used DR reels. Moved to spools, but now only use Manta reels with their anti-spool technology.

[FishFood]

Thanks folks. Waiting to hear back from the instructor on the issue. Ill give scuba toys a call once I do - Hopefully they have more reels in stock then what's on the website.

[frozenwarp]

i'm a big fan of sidewinder reels as they tend to in my experience get tangles less, i have a Hlacyon pathfiner but i know diverite and some other brands make some good sidewinders too

[IndyDiver]

Looks like a great reel for towing a dive flag. I wouldn't go into an overhead environment with it. At the very least, it would be very annoying to start into a cavern, have it jam/foul/break, and have to abort the dive.

I'm not a fan of dive rite reels either. I have had several people tell me they foul easily, and the one time I used a borrowed one, I managed to foul it by getting the string between the reel and the frame.

For a low cost cavern reel, I really like the 200' OMS cavern reel. I have used one wreck diving and am going to use it for my cavern class in December. They are pretty sturdy, very hard to foul, and are available all over the place for about $89. ST does not have one on its web site, but I am sure they could get you one.