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On Fri, 10 Jan 1997 21:00, Mark Welzel wrote:

>A line is perhaps a good idea in some instances. When
>wreck diving in the North East I feel it is a good idea for
>newer divers to deploy a line due to it being very easy
>for inexperienced divers to get lost on a wreck.

	Mark, any diver can get lost in a wreck.  This can be the
result of poor visibility, vertigo, or disorientation, especially in
wrecks which rest in strange orientations.  To lay line requires almost
no effort, and may damn well save your life.

>My sometimes unpopular belief that no penetration lines
>should be run into a wreck stems from my feeling that
>you should not count on that line being there to guide
>you out. 

	True, don't count on anything... but having a line to guide you
out is a proven and effective safety measure, so why not?

>Someone might cut it for any number of reasons,

	I would certainly like to hear these reasons.  It seems to me
that if anyone is cutting your line they must not like you very much. 
What kind of IDIOT would cut a line in a wreck, when the only reason
for a line to be in there (permanent or temp) is as a guide to escape? 
This is a perfect example of rule number 1.   If people consciously
remove your life support equipment, are they the people you want to be
diving with?

>it might be cut on the wreck 

	It might be cut on a wreck, but this is why we plan on every
eventuality.  Sure, having a line accidentaly severed on a sharp edge
reduces your probability of using that line to find your way out, but
when you refuse to lay line in the first place, this probability is
zero.

>or you may lose it in poor
>visibility or due to malfunctioning light(s).

	This is ridiculous, if you're laying line, you are holding the
reel.  If the line is permanent (rare in wrecks), you are holding onto
it in poor vis (always, if possible). 

>I think that progressive penetration is the only way to
>safely explore a wreck. It does take time and dedication.
>You need to learn all you can about the wreck, study
>deck plans. other's drawings and you mostly need to
>develop skills that will help you identify wreck layouts
>and landmarks. 

	I agree 100%.  It never hurts to get as much information as
possible about the wreck you are diving.

>This way no matter what happens to your
>line, you can find your way out of the wreck and back
>to the anchor line.

	Not true.

>Mark Welzel

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