Paul Toomer: Wreck Head

Published 12 years agoon June 13, 2014

Part 2 – Laying Line

I can clearly remember my first attempt at “Laying Line”. I think I can still hear my instructor roaring with laughter as I knitted myself tighter and tighter to the wreck. I felt like Spider Man gone wrong! In all honesty the laughs started during the dry training sessions where I walked into a tree about 40 times while simulating a lost light drill. Now unless you are already wreck or cave trained you probably will not have a clue what I’m on about, so I shall attempt to enlighten you.

Let’s get serious for a moment ok? As I discussed last month wreck diving can be the most incredible diving ever while all is good, but as soon as it goes wrong you can find yourself standing at the Entrance to Hades within seconds. It’s just amazing what that horrible little Murphy fella will throw at you as soon as something even thinks about going wrong. I can’t tell you the amount of times that when struggling to spot a good place to tie the line, I suddenly find silt percolating down onto me to make my seemingly simple task nigh on impossible.

In my humble opinion, laying line (after buoyancy control) is the most important skill a wreck diver can learn. It seems amazing that it’s 2014 and we’re still relying on a ‘bit of string’ to safely take us home to our loved ones. For the average diver, there is no Sat Nav for us I’m afraid unless the two Toms have designed something while my back was turned.

Why don’t we begin by looking at line laying equipment selection? I am a ‘spool’ man and my mate Al is a ‘reel’ man! He will be so chuffed at that comment. So why reels and why spools? Reels generally are able to carry more line and are therefore brilliant for long penetrations. Using spools for long runs requires joining them together which is simple enough but does take up time and as we all know, time is precious underwater. Reels however are prone to problems, mostly due to user error but sometimes simply because they are more complex than spools. I bet you can’t believe I am saying that reels are complex, but they are. Reels have an axle, a grip, a winding knob, a frame, a clutch, a gate which the line flows through and also some form of clip to secure them to your rig. A spool is….well it’s a spool. Just that. No axle to wrap the line around, no winder or gate or piston clip to jam the line around. Theoretically, they should be problem free. That is unless your name is Adam Raman or Digby Crowther (fame at last boys), the only two people in existence that can jam a spool anytime, anywhere.

Picking your equipment as we all know is a very difficult task. Get it wrong and you will not only waste your hard earned money but you may end up putting your safety at risk. Get it right and you will taste a little slice of heaven every time you use it. With that in mind I recommend you get a proper dedicated wreck/cave reel for penetration. These are purpose built for the sole task of making line laying as easy and fluid as possible. Using a standard SMB reel is ok for entry level wrecking but once you are at an advanced level they will show themselves as being inferior for the job. You have to depress a clutch while reeling out and when reeling back in you have a ratchet fighting your every turn. Wreck reels have an adjustable clutch that is set by the diver so the line comes off the reel smoothly; the diver doesn’t need to hold anything down to let line out or reel it back in. Nice hey?

Most major manufacturers make quality primary (100 metres plus) and backup (50 metre) penetration reels. They are not cheap but they will ooze quality. Regarding spools, you want 40 to 50 metre length spools, preferably with a large bore centre so that you can use them with thick gloves. All clips on spools and reels MUST be stainless steel, nothing else will do. Remember, brass rhymes with arse!!!

I always have a good 150 metre wreck reel and a few spools on me whenever I wreck dive so I have every option available. Why so much gear? The rule to carrying lines is really simple. You can carry as many penetration lines as you deem neccessary for the particular dive you are attempting but You MUST always have an emergency (50 metre or so) reel/spool. This emergency line has many uses. If you lose your main line it can be used to help you relocate it. If you lost a team member you can use it to search for them. If you needed to make an emergency exit, this line may help you get there.

The emergency reel is never deployed to increase penetration distance. It has one use and one use only – it’s a last attempt life line.

Hopefully now you will be able to pop into your local dive emporium and purchase yourself some Gucci wrecking lines. I guess the next thing we need to do is learn how to lay the damn stuff so we don’t look like idiots the next time we are trying to do a push through the Stanegarth at Stoney Cove!!! Perhaps though, you need to wait for the next installment of Wreck Head otherwise I will have nothing to write about!