DSMB - Drop Line V Reel

[stu.graham]

Hi all.

Just wondering what people prefer out there, drop line or reel, and reasons for/against.

I cant make my mind up :confused:

[Nigel Hewitt]

I use a reel because one reel does for all dives.
I have deployed it from over 60 meters and the same reel has run as an SMB on an inshore reef at about 10. If you only use it as a marker for a shallow stop a weighted line might be more convenient to deploy but you still have to reel it up before you are recovered to a boat or you crawl up the beach so I'm not quite sure what it saves.

[Mark]

Same as Nigel...

A reel does the job well, okay some of them can be a bit bulky, but there are some good pocket versions available (but not the buddy one! ;)).

:)

[Woz]

Narket at 60 Delta Mini Max reel is compact, well made and has loads of line on it. My favourite DSMB reel.

I use a spool, though.

[Andy Moll]

I use both,

reel for all previous reasons

drop as a backup as it tucks away and is very small.

[STEVE MC]

I use a spool, Advantages : simple no latches to hold undone as you deploy it so excellent for mid water deployment, nothing to snag, fits in a drysuit pocket easily, you can get them positive or negatively buoyant, the spools tend to spin infront of you when your deploying them so you don't have to hold onto it like a reel.
Disadvantages : you need to put a double ender into them to 'lock' them in place when not in use or at deco stops, they can be easily dropped and or the double ender dropped and lost, you'll struggle to get 60m of line on one (if that's an issue) and they're definitely not for those people that like to wind themselves up from the wreck.

[MattS]

Just wondering what people prefer out there, drop line or reel, and reasons for/against.I used to use both. Reel for deploying a large blob from 15m+ and a drop line for deploying from shallower. I was never that happy with the drop line, tangled, fouled the bottom, not longer enough for deeper stops etc. So I now carry two reels. One being a medium sized aluminium number, heavy, ratcheting, easy to operate in thick gloves and carrying 65m of line. The other is adapted from a spear fishing gun. Small, friction locked, carries 50m of line, mainly used as a ground line and measuring line, cheap enough I would not worry about leaving it tied to the bottom, light enough to travel with.

[Hickdive]

I used to use a drop-weight and never had the slightest problem with it, combined with a self-inflating dSMB it was incredibly simple to use; took under 10 seconds to deploy from a pocket. I never even had to reel it up underwater on ascent, once I was on the surface I just hauled the line in and wound it round the weight at my leisure whilst waiting for the boat, took about 30 seconds.

However, I stopped using one, primarily to avoid the problems that other divers had with it, either real or perceived.

For example;

One BSAC FCD no less confidently declared on an interweb forum that had drifted further, faster and in a completely different direction from those who deployed from the bottom with a reel:confused:

On a nitrox course I was accused of 'cheating' as the instructor signalled me to deploy my blob, looked away momentarily and when he turned back my SMB was hanging ready for the ascent. I had to 'redo' that with a reel, which wasn't a problem for me either.

Some divers, never having seen a drop weight, would instinctively 'chase' the weight thinking I had accidentally dropped it and they were doing me a favour in catching it. Instead it just meant I couldn't crack the bottle until they could be persuaded to let go and keep clear.

So now I go with the crowd and use a regular reel and SMB with a spool and mini-smb as a back-up.

[NJT]

Reel...... Main one with DSMB clipped and bungied to it and clipped off to a hip D ring.
I can depoly it very quickly

A small backup reel and small yellow DSMB in pocket.
Never used either of the backups in anger.........yet

Regards
Nick

[David Walker]

My main reel is a Custom Divers something-or-other... black with metal bits :rolleyes:

I tend to use my backup much more now though - which is a delrin spool (sold as a 30m spool, but I only have 22m of line on it so there's no chance of it spilling off the edge and tangling). I use that for any drift that's not going to go past it's usable depth, and in any case almost always on the second dive of the day. Firstly it's good practice in case I need it as a backup, it's much smaller to carry (fits in my drysuit pocket), and it's actually very nice to use on a drift dive - just floats along nicely with me, I prefer it to my bigger reel. It's also the only thing I take with me when I dive abroad.

David