Mailing List Archive

Mailing List: techdiver

Message Display

John writes
>
>In the Bass, line reels appear to be more hazard than benefit, since the tight
>quarters and twisty path around machinery tend to cause line entanglement.  The
>"progressive penetration" technique, in which one familiarizes oneself with a
>room before moving to the next room, seems more appropriate.  As an aid to
>this,  we have started to use Ikelite C-Mark strobes at hatch entrances.
>The strobes flash every few seconds, and their light cuts through even fairly
>heavy siltouts.  They are not substitutes for knowing the layout of the wreck,
>but seeing the flashing light certainly adds some comfort when deep inside a
>wreck at 150+ fsw.
>
etc.

I am not familiar with the actual conditions inside this wreck and have not
done alot of wreck penetration, being primarily a cave diver, but I find it 
hard to believe that a reel would be more of a hazard than a benefit.  When 
following a twisty path, a line should be tied when the direction is changed 
to prevent entanglement and to prevent the line being pulled into a path too 
narrow for a diver to follow when exiting.  If there are no convenient 
points to tie off on you make them.  In a cave this involves hammering in 
pins or moving rocks from elsewhere, this being only worthwhile if you 
intend to visit often, as appears the case with this wreck.  In the wreck, 
if there are no tie off points you could use lead weights, possibly with 
clips attached, taken in and left for this purpose.

There are situations where a reel is not necessary but I believe that in 
most cases where silting or light failure may occur during a penetration 
there is nothing safer than good reel technique.

David Doolette
ddoolette@me*.ad*.ed*.au*

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]