All About Reels - Scuba Tech Tips: S05E17

Dive reels are an essential item when exploring wrecks, caverns/caves, search and recovery or releasing a delayed SMB. Alec explains the types of reels divers commonly use and the key features to look for when buying.
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[@tonymacy21210]

Honestly as a novice diver your videos help immensely. All of your videos have helped me be a better and a much more knowledgeable diver, thank you for the videos.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks for watching. Alec

[@bradhoughton1288]

Thanks for the video Alec!! I really enjoy the fact that your videos are so practical and helpful to the average recreational diver like me. I've learned a TON from your videos. Thanks!!

[@benday1518]

Alec. Being new to diving your videos have been so helpful. Keep them coming mate. I'm addicted to watching them and will soon run out of episodes! Best wishes mate. Ben (London)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

There's more coming Ben. Thanks. I'm glad they've been of help. Alec

[@raymoorhead3783]

Hi Alec, Thanks for the tech tips, how about doing a feature on buying 2nd hand scuba gear vs brand new scuba gear :)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I can do that. Good question. Alec

[@ABCDiver]

There's rarely a reason not to bring DSMB on an open water dive. They emphasize it starting in Advanced OW and especially rescue diver class. It takes very little space, but could make a huge difference if there's a problem.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Their small size and safety factor almost make it mandatory to have, like dive computers on a live aboard. A

[@dime275]

Thanks Alec!! Just got certified and took the advanced yesterday in Greece! I bought a finger reel back home in Buffalo, NY. Can't wait to dive into Lake Erie and maybe use the reel?? I enjoy all of your tech tips. Thank you!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Great! I can't think of a better place to put a reel to good use than Lake Erie. You can tie it to the shore to find your way back - 'cause you can't see it!! I recall many wreck dives in Lake Erie. I call them "Touch me-Feel me" dives. Great wrecks. I know because I felt my way around a lot of them! Good luck. Alec

[@dsmith3239]

I totally agree with you on your comment about thin line when diving. Some of the reels have very thin line and they quickly get out of control and become a tangle underwater. My line reel that I use when scallop diving has 1/4 inch multi-braded rope which is very easy to control and untangle underwater. Works great and easy to connect to a lift bag when sending it to the surface and leave the full scallop catch bag on the bottom. Plus, the larger rope make for a great dive line and makes it easy to perform the safety stops when heading to the surface.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Few things are more annoying, or dangerous, than a bunch of thin rope flying around a diver's head! That's why I lament the reels with 250' of line. Take care. Alec

[@Ryaa680]

Been a while but back and glad to see your videos again Alec. I was actually going to try my hand at mapping a dive site and I think being able to measure 100ft at a time using a finger reel would be great aid. I'm just trying to think of places I can attach the end of the line to with a only a snapback clip. I could tie it around a wide rock and swim out, but I'm afraid the abrasion would cut through the line. I've also seen some narrow metal poles (the size of an arm) that spiral into the sand and act as an anchor (but sometimes the bottom is just rock).

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Try using your buddy as an anchor point but the screw in peg (like a tent or pet screw) may work just fine.

[@Ryaa680]

That is a great idea, thanks Alec!

[@TheUnknownDutchman]

Just hanging a reel on your bcd, and “just pull it with you” has two disadvantages that WILL get you killed. - You seem to give the impression you don’t give one bit about a tie-off. Let alone a decent one. The line eventually WILL break. And without any tie off you could’ve just as easily have gone without a reel. - By simply clipping of the reel to your bcd your fins WILL get entangled in the line. Yes. I speak from first hand experience. Since most of your advice seems to be meant for starting divers who are looking to expand their diving capabilities (I myself was at exactly this point in my career when I got tangled up) I feel obligated to correct you in this absolute fault. About the tension: you might try using your finger. Press down with your index finger while laying line. It gives great feedback, and it will mean holding the reel in your hands, exactly the one and only place it had the right to be, when in use. For the clips: try to have as little as possible with you. And those that are used, make sure you can disconnect them by cutting them loose. Anything that might go wrong, eventually will go wrong. And wouldn’t it be a pain if you get tangled with the reel, and you won’t be able to cut your reel away?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks for sharing the finer points of reel usage for everyone. I like to focus on newer divers or old divers who never tried anything past their 1980's open water course. I may do a part #2 with these points. Thanks for watching.

[@hpeterson10579]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter I think normal people understand this was a broad video. I think its clear this isn't a "how to" Thanks for the video. What a lot of people dont understand is before you take your first wreck diving lesson they want you to have a reel. How in the word are you to know what to look for? This video was very helpful! Thank you!

[@briancowell1299]

Another awesome video! Can you tell us how we. should store our tanks? full, empty, upright, etc? what about maintenance? can we paint our own tanks? keep up the great work, you ROCK!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

These are good questions and rather than give you a fast answer, I'll do a video on exactly what you've requested. Thanks, Alec.

[@briancowell1299]

Alec Peirce Scuba I can't wait, your videos are addicting. have you ever thought about doing a full length movie? you would be great

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks for your support Brian. Alec

[@chadryther8710]

Alec, another great video! Can you do one on dive lights and noise makers?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I've done them both Chad. Check back over the series. I may do updates. Thanks for watching. Alec

[@tedreitsma478]

Hi Alec. This video is the first i actually dont like. The big reels often can jam. NO regular diver needs anything more than a finger reel. It can be wound up much better than you show and the way to connect the line to the bolt snap should be much different than how you do it ( viewers watch other videos on youtube about this). The finger reel has 100 ft and you should likely take 10-15 feet of it and get rid of it as it is too full a reel as you mention. I think all divers should have one and an SMB on every dive, even though unlikely to use it. Cave/wreck diving ( which i am training with TDI for) use the other lines and need special gear/training/line markers/multiple dive lights/redundant gas supply, etc etc. No one should use a line to go in a wreck/cave without the proper training & gear.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

100% good Ted. The longer lines (anything over 50') are for specific purposes only and for use by specialty trained divers. I always cringe when I see a diver on a recreational dive boat with a large reel. Take care. Ted

[@sparkyobrian6417]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter I have one counter point of sorts : one is making a grid with bottom stakes for recovery of items such as missing jewelry, sharks teeth etc. a single line 20 X 20 grid can use alot of line. the other is in some of my "work" i use a small reel for a 50' 'T' off of my down line 90 deg to my init departure point if its low/ zero viz. I pop a few cave arrows on it and it makes intercepting the down line on return super easy. so I still have another finger reel to use.

[@Cyjodev]

Another excellent video !! ... thanks ! ... btw .. had my first dives with my Dad in law in Punta Cana at the Be Live resort and used for the first time my new gears (bcd hydros pro, G2 dive computer, reg scuba pro MK25 /S600 50th) and it went well except didnt read before how to pair my transmitter so had to use the good old pressure gauge lol and used a red filter for my gopro Hero 3 + silver and that filter was way too red, so ended up by having my two dives in pitch red as if diving in coolaid .. almost cried seeing that .. would be great a vid on filters if you have that expertise also ;) take good care

[@benheckendorn2696]

Hi Alec, I really apprechiate how much I learn here, what do you think about to use two small reels? I think I would be more flexible. But I don't know if it's smart. If I would dive, and the first line would end I would try the secound one somewhere near maybe not just next to the other one, but close, maybe a feed away max. I don't know if it's smart but I guess 100 feet is mostlly enough but if not you would have a secound one which would give you 100 feet. I wonder what you would recommend.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

One large reel is safer and easier to manage than 2. What happens if the 2nd reel unspools? Entanglement, headache, cursing... The space for 1 large is much less than a 2nd reel so give this a thought. Thanks for watching Ben.

[@benheckendorn2696]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter great to know, I thought two small were easier to manage, because I thought one would go on the left the secound on the right side of the bc. But this is exacltly the difference between theory and practice. In theory, two small reels sounds smart, one left, one right pocket. :) sometimes smart is not that smart. :) Thanks for telling, this is how we learn, by asking and of course by listening to those who got experiance, because why doing the same mistakes again, if you know someone who could tell you what's just stupid or even dangerous. This is why I apprechiate your videos.

[@Liquid188]

Hi Alec, I am very unhappy with that suggestion (11:39) about the simple reel connected to a double ender outside and exploring caves, that is very dangerous and some unexperienced divers may try this and suffer an accident. Special training and more equipment is crucial to avoid this. But nice introduction of different reels anyways. greetings from germany, Chris

[@anmazomawa]

amazing! at 5:58 he mentions attaching real to the door. Clearly one cannot attach line to the door, but a part like handle or similar. You should mention this as well as this may lead to an accident. Very unsafe! You don't notice real "hidden" issues like the size of spool hole vs dry or wet gloves or slack line during deployment but pick up on obvious risk of going beyond certification and BEING VERY UNHAPPY about it. Try harder please...

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Well guys. I guess you missed the times during the video when I mentioned that tech diving involving wreck penetration or cave (no daylight) requires special training. So let me say it again, mainly for you since others seem to have got the point, any diving in an overhead environment should only be attempted after proper training. My videos are aimed primarily at recreational divers who use reels lots of times too. Clearly, if you are actually trained technical divers, you would see from the reels I was showing and from the techniques I was espousing, this video is aimed at recreational divers who occasionally need reels but have NOT been trained in their use. It certainly was not intended to encourage divers to do stupid things. They can do that plenty without my help. Thanks for watching. Alec

[@jonramsay5123]

do different line colors have different meaning? like for cave guide line or orange for DSMB, etc...?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

The Apek reels are colour coded by length while other makers have no colour length meaning. Most divers pick colours based on purpose and easy visibility in low vis/light condition.

[@jefflane4122]

how about a good reel for dive flags as i am usually the one that is dragging it

[@LevelShotgun]

I am in the market for a drysuit. I know how to "dry" the inside (S04E05) haha. There seems to be several different materials for the suits and for the wrists/neck as well as many different styles. Can you give us some insight? Thanks for all the tips!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

You're sure right about materials, options, features, etc on drysuits. It's confusing even for me and I used to sell them! Kev and I are planning on a series of Tech Tips on Drysuits. It will be a short while. Alec

[@alaind831]

that would be good as they are the most expensive part of most people gear... I ended up with a Bare NEX-GEN billaminate as they are 1/2 the cost, dry instantly and very light (just a shell) to carry around. But there are tradeoffs as they don't stretch so they tend to be more baggy (more wrinkles = less efficient underwater) and you feel the squeeze more as you descend and not as warm, so need a better fleece.. vs say crushed neoprene custom fitted.

[@Booboosik]

I see that a better reel was not presented. You mentioned that you don't like when a reel tangles... Then why not show Larry Green reels that totally solve the problem? See: tecdivers.com/images/reels20001.jpg

[@hpeterson10579]

what reel is this?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

The small one is just a finger reel, available anywhere. The right one is a Saekodive AR-14 Small Reel. Best for wreck or cavern diving where lots of line is needed to roll out & in easily.

[@djjoshua007]

The blue/ silver reels is OLD school junk. that old style reel WILL bird nest under water. the newer reels are WAY harder to bird nest. funny video :)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I found any reel can bird nest if not released / wound up properly. Practice makes reels safe. Thanks for watching.

[@raymondeverson7323]

line and rope are 2 completely different things alec. you know this.

[@AlecPeirceAtTheRanch]

Yes, but out of 10,000 subscribers, I'd bet not many others do. Landlubbers use line and rope interchangeably so to keep the video running smoothly I do the same. That way, when I get to the bitter end (pardon the pun), I don't get too many odd comments. However, line or rope, too much of it underwater can mess you up! Thanks for watching. Alec

[@user-rv6hb8ou2r]

Love this guy but he looks like hes never used a finger spool

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Between you and I and despite my suggesting they are an option, I hate them! If you need a reel, get a real reel. Finger reels take a lot of practice to be able to use them efficiently and without making a mess of the line. Some divers love 'em and are good with them. Not me! The only reason to buy a finger reel is they're cheap! Thanks for watching. Alec

[@user-rv6hb8ou2r]

I know what you mean they do take practice but worth it when you get it down keep up the amazing vids my man 👍

[@LMSILVIA]

Can't watch enough of these... Get off the man with the line suggestions, he is only making very vague suggestions about uses for the line and reels. Things as tie points for a wreck dive or cave exploring are very location and type of dive specific...