Solitude....well, I have been know hover and watch the fish.   I had a =
staring contest with a large mouth bass one time that lasted more than =
30 minutes.

I agree with the low vis comfort factor.  You need to be "current."   I =
just got back from some Florida diving because I wanted to get away from =
the low vis for a while...that didn't happen, but at least we felt at =
home on a few dives of 3 to 5 feet vis.

As for the line issue...It really does depend on the bottom composition. =
 We usually have  trees, rocks, wreckage, and other stuff to tie off to. =
  In the case of a "mud" bottom...well, that throws a wrench into =
things.   Now there might be a valid argument as to which is better, =
that big yellow line clipped to your rig or the logistics of placing =
weights or something to hold the line.  Now I think we are back to the =
paranoid thing again.  With a 1/4" line just dangling in the water, you =
have little hope of getting out.  So let's see,  a tendor gets spooked =
because of cracking ice and is not dressed to be in the water.  Some =
moron from the same hole or another panics as they entangle in the line =
near the end of the dive when they weren't managing air properly.  It's =
cut the line and get the heck out or drown.  You are 100 feet out doing =
a circle and the line gets caught on some sharp wreckage and cuts, you =
give the O.K. tug only to find a slack rope.  How long were you =
swimming? Are you in range of the safety diver?  Is the safety diver =
O.K.?  How long do I stay here before I need to start looking for the =
entrance myself.  If you were watching your air pressure and it is =
getting lower and lower and lower, will you have the discipline to stay =
put until your tanks are dry?  I really doubt it.  Is it responsible to =
put all your marbles in someone else's bag and hope that they take care =
of you?   Too many things can happen that instantly take you from total =
control to NO CONTROL over the situation.  That is where I have a =
problem.   I am not a control freak or anything....unless we are talking =
about my life of course.=20

Maybe this is ridiculous, but if the 14 year old, hunting deer on the =
side of the lake thinks your tendor is a twelve point buck and doesn't =
miss that 1000 yard pop shot, you need to have an out.  That's my big =
hangup, having an out if the shit hits the fan.  I need to be totally =
self sufficient or the comfort level is just not there.  That's the =
independence thing again.  Don't get me wrong, the buddy system is the =
best but only if you can get yourself and your buddy out if it comes to =
that. =20

So then.  The real issue is......if your line no longer goes to the exit =
for whatever reason, using current ice diving practices, what form of =
self rescue do you have?  Emphasize the word SELF.

Jon=20

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