Some thoughts from the world of sumps...................



 The standard line cutter used by the NEST,  North East Sump Exploration Team, 
consists of a pair of stainless steel EMT scissors  worn on the wrist of the 
right arm or for south paws the left.  The sheath is modified with a plastic 
stiffener so that it maintains its shape when the scissors are removed.  The 
scissors are attached with a lanyard to the wrist.  A small backup cuter is 
also carried stowed else where on the rig that can be accessed one handed.


This system is designed for the conditions under which we dive and like any 
approach has advantages and disadvantages.  We generally dive in cold water 
and in most cases solo with poor to no visibility and are moving at relatively 
slow speeds.  


The line cutters are carried for two main reasons, the first being routine 
line cutting when splicing line or replacing worn sections.  The second as the 
final solution to a line entangle ment that can not be resolved in any other 
way.  


 
The prime advantage of our system is that the cutter is always close at hand 
and can not be lost or dropped.   Lets face it any time you find yourself in a 
position in a sump when you might have to cut your line it has been a real bad 
day. 

  Picture yourself in a sump tangled hopelessly in your line.  You are feeling 
really stupid because you should not be in this position to begin with so 
something else has probably gone wrong as well to get you here.  You are 
exited and the adrenaline is pumping,  you have not panicked yet,  but you are 
not as coordinated as you would like because of all of those chemicals pumping 
through your body.  To all this add cold or possibly numb hands.
You reach for your knife and oups.... you drop it, it falls out of reach and 
disappears into the near zero visibility..........you die..........

   With our system you release your line cutter and you can drop it as long as 
your gas lasts and not loose it.   If you are conducting routine line 
maintenance you can even let it dangle for a short period while you use both 
hands for a task.     


The disadvantage is that wearing the unit on the wrist does add some clutter 
and reduces streamlining.    

In balance for our diving conditions the advantages out weigh the 
disadvantages.   I also use the same system for most of my wreck diving and 
find that it works equally well.


                                                 JOSEPH KAFFL
                                                SUMPDIVER@MS*.CO*  





 
 

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