Tips for Running Line

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Originally Posted by Garth

I have some freebee money on DRIS.com and thought I might get a primary reel as I don't have one yet.
I might be 6mo to a year away from cave training but would like to get one that I can use when I do.
Ive been looking at the light monkey explorer reel. Do instructors require more than 400' say the 800' version? Sorry to hijack the thread.
Thanks

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400' is a great size. It's actually a bit on the long side for most cave but useful for OW wreck dives and stuff like that. It's also enough to do the catacombs the long way. I recommend you skip the safety reel and get 150' and 50' spools. The 150' spools are great for safety and the smaller 50' perfect for most jumps.

Try to get a good primary reel. It all comes down to what you like better but I'm a big fan of the Light Monkey/Halcyon type. Easy to control friction.

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Originally Posted by chimie007

..Try to get a good primary reel. It all comes down to what you like better but I'm a big fan of the Light Monkey/Halcyon type. Easy to control friction.

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Has anyone tried the new Manta reel? The one that looks like the Light Monkey/Halcyon, but is made to work with a Goodman light handle. http://www.mantaind.com/images/dive_...1_divereel.jpg

I am not trying to push their products but, I love and have never had any line complications with the OMS primary.

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Originally Posted by chimie007

400' is a great size. It's actually a bit on the long side for most cave but useful for OW wreck dives and stuff like that. It's also enough to do the catacombs the long way.

/snip/

Try to get a good primary reel. It all comes down to what you like better but I'm a big fan of the Light Monkey/Halcyon type. Easy to control friction.

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Exactly - expecially at the Intro level, a 400' reel gives you some more options within the limits of the cert, and it isn't too large for every dive use.

I am a fan of side handle reels and in particular a big fan of the Larry Green / Ralph Hood style reels.

http://www.tecdivers.com/images/reels20002.jpg

The Halcyon/Salvo/Light Monkey approach is based on the idea of minimum toleraces to prevent a birds nest. It's effective 99% of the time but that remaining 1% will be really tough to clear.

The Larry Green / Ralph Hood approach uses a very open design that is very easy to clear in the event you do end up with some backlash.

Both designs are well done in terms of being abel to control line tension, but personally, I prefer the Larry Green / Ralph Hood design for both control and the ability to resolve any issue in the water with no tools.

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I also agree spools work well for gaps and jumps, but I prefer to use a small jump reel for longer jumps, especially in flow, and I am finding finger spools work great on the short ones.

The good points about 150' spools for a safety reel is that they are almost impossible to jam, are compact and are very easy to put into use in the dark, by feel alone.

I love my Larry Green reels for warm water when I don't have to wear gloves. If I use them while wearing dry gloves I find the lack of a barrier between the handle and the drum results in my fingers accidentally rubbing against the drum. In cold water I use my Light Monkey reel.

Awesome advice from all. I do a lot of cold water diving in a quarry with blue gloves so it seems like the halcyon 400' explorer will be the reel I get. Thanks again.

I appreciate everyone's advice. I am putting some of these tips to pratical use and it is helping.

if you really want to be good at reels, get an DR or even better an OMS reel, if you can manage to get out with the whole line inside the reel and not outside from 1 every 3 dives you are VERY good at reels :)

this thread reminded me my killer oms reel lol, that was 1 every 2 dives jam, I guess I never got good enough :(

Hey Garth, if you would like, you can try my OMS the next time we dive.

I have jammed up my reel so many times, I'm starting to think thats how it's supposed to be done.