How to use a navigation reel properly?

[trekkindave]

Hi everyone, this may be the wrong section to ask this, but here goes


up here on long island the visability is on the low side... 3-4 feet usually when i have been out.

my buddy and I have just started to use a reel as a navigation aid in the following manner.

Swim out 30-40 feet from shore, drop a 5lb mushroom anchor to the bottom and attach a dive flag to a float on the top to give us a visual reference to the buoy and to let others know where we are.

Descend to the buoy and attach a reel to the anchor and then swim out with the reel to explore the area. when we reach the turn around point we follow the reel back and then ascend on the anchor line to the flag and then swim in..

due a sureface interval which includes lunch and then swim out and repeat for the second tank of the day.

Most of our dives are shallow (less then 20 ft).


I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on way to use the reel better to help us make the most out of our dives. This is all open water shore diving.

Our idea is that since vis is crap and if you stop to look at something and the buddy isnt paying strict attention that you can get seperated easily. hence staying with the line "OK'ed" allows us to stay found. would it be frowned upon to have a "john line" attached to the main line (we do a method like this at the fire house to search rooms faster).

Also, what length do you all think i need? right now we are using a 150 ft SMB line, i was thinking of a 400ft primary line by dive rite and getting the high viz line to install to make it easy to follow.


Are there any resources out there online that I can read up on for low viz or navigation? I doubt i will be able to find a navigation or low viz class before our season is done with.

[in_cavediver]

Originally Posted by trekkindave

Hi everyone, this may be the wrong section to ask this, but here goes


up here on long island the visability is on the low side... 3-4 feet usually when i have been out.

my buddy and I have just started to use a reel as a navigation aid in the following manner.

Swim out 30-40 feet from shore, drop a 5lb mushroom anchor to the bottom and attach a dive flag to a float on the top to give us a visual reference to the buoy and to let others know where we are.

Descend to the buoy and attach a reel to the anchor and then swim out with the reel to explore the area. when we reach the turn around point we follow the reel back and then ascend on the anchor line to the flag and then swim in..

due a sureface interval which includes lunch and then swim out and repeat for the second tank of the day.

Most of our dives are shallow (less then 20 ft).


I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on way to use the reel better to help us make the most out of our dives. This is all open water shore diving.

Our idea is that since vis is crap and if you stop to look at something and the buddy isnt paying strict attention that you can get seperated easily. hence staying with the line "OK'ed" allows us to stay found. would it be frowned upon to have a "john line" attached to the main line (we do a method like this at the fire house to search rooms faster).

Also, what length do you all think i need? right now we are using a 150 ft SMB line, i was thinking of a 400ft primary line by dive rite and getting the high viz line to install to make it easy to follow.


Are there any resources out there online that I can read up on for low viz or navigation? I doubt i will be able to find a navigation or low viz class before our season is done with.

The absolute best way to learn this is do either a cavern class or tec wreck class. Both will teach navigation and reel use. (especially the cavern class). Tec wreck would be a full blown tec class where cavern can be done in standard rec gear.

Reels are something that is best done with a mentor or instructor. Reading just can't do the same as showing in my opinion. Same thing for dry suits, smb's and trim. Reading will get you so far - seeing it done well will get you farther.

[CompuDude]

I agree with in_cavediver in general (as usual).

That said, given the easy extremely shallow open water conditions involved, I don't see how using the method you've worked out is going to actually hurt anything. You'd probably learn a lot of little tips and such in a more formal course, however.

[Lone Frogman]

In low viz I have a reel with the line is tied in knots every 6 feet. With the line attached to the anchor line I pull out 6 feet and swim a circle. Let out 6 more swim a circle and so on. You can cover good area in a short time. Than before I take up my anchor I mark a new spot and start over again. I mostly dive this way solo. Using a john line should be ok, just don't attach it to each other hold it and keep it short 6-8 ft.