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(I didn't see John's message on the techdiver list, so I'm forwarding this response there also as I believe it's of sufficient importance to warrant the double posting. Please check addresses before sending any responses -- ongoing discussion is probably more appropriate to techdiver than to cavers.) Heimannj@ma*.nd*.gt*.co* wrote: >It's called "spider wire," and is apparently made out of braided kevlar. It >not only much stronger than standard mono, but is difficult to cut with a >knife, and has very little stretch. This means that if you try to break it >with bare hands, you will likely just cut yourself. Spider wire is an ultra-thin micro braid spectra line, manufactured by Allied Signal, then processed and distributed by Safariland. I've played with a piece of this stuff, and it is nasty. It's lighter and thinner than monofilament, and almost invisible underwater. Cutting it with a dive knife or EMT shears is nearly impossible, especially if the line is slack. It's easier if you keep tension on the line and use a sharp, serrated blade (new pre-dive checklist: 1. bubble check, 2. S-drill, 3. Sharpen dive knife... :-). There have been reports of divers entangled in spider wire, plus injuries at marinas from people trying to break this stuff with their hands. It's also potentially hazardous to marine mammals that might become wrapped up in it. At least one person has called the manufacturer and informed them of the hazard to divers, but received no response. I will try to get some more info on Spider Wire and post it on the NJ SCUBA web site; if anyone else has more info, especially first-hand encounters with the stuff, forward it to me and I'll post that as well. --tab -- Tracey [Baker] Wagner tab@pa*.co* *** NJ SCUBA Diving Info at http://www.panix.com/~tab/scuba.html *** "Far beneath the sea, the past and the present come together as one, and we have been allowed to touch them both." -- Brad Sheard, _Beyond Sportdiving_
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