How To Prep A New Reel/Spool for Scuba Diving

[@Sherwoody]

One little tip. I like to put a knot at 4.5 metres (15 feet) for my safety stop. Comes in handy when you’re in bad lighting conditions.

[@cyrex686]

Me too, works great

[@gruffalocrumble494]

OMG Insta-sub at 3:38 when you said "I don't care, this is my channel". Kudos!!

[@goproasia9841]

3.39 "This is my Channel... I don't care' Brilliant mate. Very Ricky Gervais.... haha Keep up the great videos mate. Big fan of your work.

[@YuriyDel]

Basically the same way I rig my DSMB spools but I like to attach a Riptail Heavy Duty Barrel Swivel (size 7) 15ft into the line to act as a marker and prevent the line from spinning as it goes up. Most of the instructors and DMs have liked the setup so I carry extras when traveling and leave a gift last dive day-used to be like 10 bucks for a 5pack.

[@WeiseGuy91]

Can you upload a pic of this set up? I'm curious how you tie in the barrel swivel. Imgur would be great, or other mechanism to share a pic. I know this is 3 years old but still!

[@YuriyDel]

@@WeiseGuy91, welp, if you don't see a response beyond this one it wouldn't let me and deleted my previous.

[@DiveCuracao]

Great job... this should be included in all advanced training! Well done. Love this "Quick Tip" new series!!

[@sharleecrone3635]

As a new diver, this is so helpful! Thank you for all of your fun and informative videos! ❤️🙏🏼

[@shadowlandstudios86]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but if you’re diving from a boat, and have to deploy a DSMB to be picked up, do you pass the unrolled DMV up to the boat crew and roll it up on the boat, or do you roll it up in the water while you’re at the surface? Thanks!

[@DiversReady]

Hand it up and roll it on the boat. Boat ladders can be dangerous if the waves are rolling!

[@shadowlandstudios86]

@@DiversReady thanks so much for the reply!!

[@alanrossjohnson]

Funny story! The first time I ever used a spool was down in Cozumel, on our honeymoon, on our first ever real dive trip. On the second night dive I jumped in and unbeknownst to me, my reel had came unclipped from the carabiner. Eventually I looked back and realized I was dragging my line and saw a nice person from a neighboring dive boat "reeling" me in! 😂😂😂 Thanks for this video! Very informative. Had someone showed me this when I bought the reel I would have been in much better shape 😁

[@DiversReady]

Hi Alan! Thanks for watching! You're not the first, you won't be the last!

[@tazccl]

Thanks for the great video. That's the way I make up my reels.

[@Chogogo717]

I guess another question is if you leave your DSMB rigged to the line do you just pull the last little bit of the slack through the side of the spool to lock it off preventing it from coming off the spool? I ask because someone told me I need to leave the DSMB rugged ready to go. 5 seconds to run the loop through the DSMB and pull the spool through the loop being the difference between life and death seems like the dive was doomed well before shooting a buoy.

[@chatterboxer100]

Just got my OW a few months ago and have been collecting equipment. This lines up perfectly with my new purchase and lack of experience. Thank you for showing me this and look forward to more of the same.

[@DiversReady]

Great to hear! That's why we do what we do! Thanks for watching!

[@knightclan4]

Just do it! I don’t care, it’s my channel! Could be your new slogan

[@FALCONZAMORA1121]

Love it. Added extra loop cause I can be loop

[@DiversReady]

Nice! Dive Safe.

[@SteinStylerLP]

This is a very good video James. I used another technique for my spools but I changed every spoil to your technique because I think yours is way better!

[@toriless]

Quite frankly spools puzzled unlike most equipment

[@bornaluckyman1]

Catching up on skills during the UK lockdown , thank you invaluable information

[@kevins.9547]

Excellent overview of new reel setup! Thank you, James, please keep these great videos coming! 👍

[@alisongrundy9977]

I prep my spool exactly the same - easy to deploy especially in lovely British waters and if I have a few more spools all on the same ring they don’t get tangled or unclip 😊

[@DiversReady]

Good point! Dive safe.

[@raceno282]

Lol this was your best video ever. I was diving yesterday and has a trail of spool. Now I don't have to worry

[@DiversReady]

glad to help!

[@paulbaratta1566]

Just did my finger reel, added to my SBM thanks James

[@Teampegleg]

I used to configure my spools very similar to that, until I had to do a lost line drill with a blackout mask. I couldn't pick the line out of the spool. I now set them up similar to a Dive Rite Cookie Spool, using bungee to hold the line to the spool with a mid loop for my bolt snap. Also some spools don't require you to strip the line off, DGX, and Dive Rite are two brands that you can use without stripping line off.

[@phlarris]

As always, a useful and informative video. Great for all levels, but especially for us just getting back into the hobby. Keep ‘em coming! Thanks again…

[@toriless]

Yeah, apparently DSMB are required in Europe and Hawai'i but not a lot of other places yet

[@takashi0128]

Thanks for this. I was fiddling with my spool thinking how I should secure it and this tips are just perfect. I'll do it your way.

[@DiversReady]

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching!

[@revtechmarine]

Sweet cold water diver in Florida I'm assuming the bend and the real itself is to slow the line now coming off lol

[@michaellee2472]

Just rigged my first spool, thanks for the great videos James. Much appreciated

[@adeitsch]

That time I had my spool open up on me when descending to the Thistlegorm in a ripping current. Wish I had learned this tip before that dive! Great video!

[@piotrslataa2726]

Nice video! I'm confused how you artach this now to an SMB? I have the nice two loops that are not attached to an SMB.

[@bradallen5571]

Thanks for another cool video. I like the side loop idea and will be using that. I also tie in a barrel swivel below my loop. Why? because I saw it on the Apeks spool and it's supposed to keep your line from twisting on the dsmb accent. Plus, it looks cool and like scuba diving in general kinda makes me cooler than I really am. Yes, I know it's a potential failure point. But, like you said.......... LOLOLOL

[@YuriyDel]

I've done the same and one at only 15ft. Now, depends which spool I want to grab on the day but each has one at 15ft.

[@alle_namen_schon_vergeben708]

What do you guys mean by twisting? 🤔

[@toriless]

"...and like scuba diving in general kinda makes me cooler than I really am. Yes, I know it's a potential failure point." looking cool or SCUBA?

[@jpearce08055]

Hey, James - another great video. Here’s a suggestion for new one. I just watched an older video from Lake Hickory Scuba (thanks for aiming us there, BTW) in which they showed the effect of catastrophic failure in high and low-pressure hoses and also an O-ring failure. Of main interest was the loss of the low-pressure hose, which took only 3 minutes to drain the whole tank. They didn’t factor in the air use of the diver, but that’s minimal (about 1/1000) when compared to the leak using their numbers. What they didn’t explore, though, was how much time it would take to drain a less-full tank (perhaps 1500 psi), which should take longer to drain because the pressure was lower but is a more likely scenario than having a failure with a 3000 psi (full) tank. They commented, but didn’t do the math, to show at what depths the diver would run out of air before he got to the surface. For example if there’s 90 seconds of air left and the diver is 60 feet down he’ll run out of air 30 seconds before he gets to the surface at a 30 ft/min ascent rate. They also didn’t explore the training procedure that should accompany a catastrophic low-pressure hose loss (which is significantly different from a high-pressure hose loss - divers need to know the difference), which appears to be that when a low-pressure loss occurs the diver should NOT attempt to fix it but should IMMEDIATELY go to his buddy’s air and then surface. Even trying to repair it underwater (while breathing from the buddy’s octo) appears to be counterproductive because the amount of air lost already would require ending the dive. But I could be misinterpreting everything here, so it would be nice to get an expert opinion. Thanks for considering.

[@taylorgledhill]

What are the odds I'd find you here.

[@alle_namen_schon_vergeben708]

No, it wouldn't take longer to drain a tank with less pressure, it would take less time since you start with a less filled tank. It would probably take about a minute and a half, if a full tank would take 3min. Your first stage reduces the pressure from the tank from 200bar/2900 psi to something between 4 to 12 bar/58 to 174 psi depending on your first stage. This means at your low pressure hose is always max 12 bar/174 psi. I hope I could help you. If you didn't understand something due to my wording, please tell me. I will than try to say it different :)

[@hermangroenewald6939]

Excellent explanation, thank you very much. Regards from South Africa🙌🙌🙌

[@scienceisthesolution1351]

Thx for another great video. Question why don’t we attach the reel to the smb? Why are they separated until deploying?

[@DiversReady]

You can pre-attach them. I keep the separate because a) if they’re attached and you lose one, you lose both (this shouldn’t happen, but it’s not impossible!) and b) sometimes I use my feel for other things, such as laying a guide line.

[@edwardmiller578]

Just rigged my first reel, thanks for the awesome videos

[@lmlmd2714]

Nicely done.... I'm going to be stealing that technique, thank you very much!

[@DiversReady]

Go for it! Thanks for watching! James

[@AppraiserTVShow]

Question: where are you carrying your DSMB? If the real is only connected to you where did you put your DSMB?

[@bubblesandboats4010]

So simple yet so effective !! Thank you for showing us that, I'm off to change my reel setup right now..

[@DiversReady]

Glad it helped!

[@alexgilbert99]

Thoughts on adding a 3-4cm piece of heat shrink tubing to the end? It might make it easier to slip it through a hole, especially with gloves on. You would need to clip off to the larger loop instead of the smaller one but I think the trade off is worth it.

[@spaceman61]

thanks for the spool link, what size spool is that? 100' ?

[@bitaarmaments8004]

Any reason you’re running back through the underhand knot instead of a bowline or figure8 on a bight?

[@Chogogo717]

Two questions: what are your thoughts on keeping your DSMB connected to the finger spool in case of an emergency vs. separated? The second is what do you think about using a swivel to mark your safety stop and prevent line twisting? Thanks!!!

[@DiversReady]

Hi Caleb, No issues with keeping them connected as long as you can stow them without looking like an over-decorated christmas tree. The swivels are IMO unnecessary, but if you like them, go for it!

[@drewbursey6022]

Great video! I've never done that with my reel. I guess I'll try it out!

[@DiversReady]

Go for it! Thanks for watching! James

[@liamlefkowicz5378]

Great video, James!

[@asmfirefish]

Great video. What kind of spools do you like to use?

[@DiversReady]

Hi Andrew, I use a very basic spool from XS scuba. There's a link in the description of the video, but here it is again: amzn.to/3ds3d6v

[@asmfirefish]

Divers Ready great thanks!!

[@lindseylucciannio9244]

Thanks for sharing James once again great video

[@GusElliot]

Much better lighting this vid James!

[@jimmymifsud1]

Should put some Alpine Butterflies as the loops

[@pierre8685]

Hi James! I am setting up my reel ( XS Scuba) do you know if the line comes attached to the reel itself ( ie is there a knot attaching the line to the reel before they wind the line on the reel. Is it a standard practice by manufactures to your knowledge ) thanks, take care :)

[@jonramsay5123]

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

[@Fiery-venom99]

At the risk of sounding stupid and being new to scuba diving. What's a spool used or? Is it a line to help find your way back?

[@KimonFrousios]

Any use for which a string is useful. Mainly sending up a DSMB for the boat to find you and tying loose bits of kit together in a way that is solid and but can be cut through in an emergency. In more advanced diving also to find your way back. Search and rescue can use it to measure distance. Marine archeologists might use it to set up excavation grids. Etc.

[@piotrekjestem2538]

Mainly, to attach DSMB(Delayed Surface Marker Buoy) to it. So u can "shoot" it from certain depth and mark your position on the surface.

[@Teampegleg]

For open water divers the primary purpose is for launch DSMB for technical divers it is used for helping us find our way back to the exit.

[@lmlmd2714]

Depends on the diving you're doing. In British sea diving, DSMBs are pretty much universally carried, so reels are used for them. They are also used in survey diving and udnerwater archaeology for marking out survey sites. In cave diving they are used for line laying (either to find your way back out, or to lay trail for others in a team to follow - or both).

[@Yggdrasil42]

Some more advanced instructors also use them as a reference line to train neutral buoyancy. Shoot two lines from the bottom with DSMBs to the surface some 10m apart. Then tie another line horizontally between them, forming an H. Both the horizontal and vertical lines can be marked with plastic 'cave markers'. Then, students can use the lines and markers as a visual depth reference during various exercises. It really helps a lot.

[@benosborne6062]

What is your opinion on putting a swivel and or loop at 15 feet for safety stops?

[@petemartin1891]

New diver here 10 ish dives in. Can not stand the reel I'm being given on my courses when I use my dsmb. is a spool better? The reels are shit and so hard wind back in

[@391wombat]

Why not use a single end bolt snap to attach reel line to DSMB rather than “loop” it on?

[@fishingexchange3742]

Nice aqua lung computer 👌🏽

[@TreasureDivers]

Great info once again James thank you very much. :-)

[@sergejscepak4488]

Many thanks for these tips :)

[@dclangst]

DSMB shouldn’t be a “specialty” but I teach it in advanced. It’s an under explained topic from prep to use. I will run the line into a bucket of water, let it soak, them out on what I can. I will also replace the line with the flat wound stuff from DGX. More line one the same spool size.

[@jeffsewell7046]

Anyone have a good solution to the whole spool of line spinning freely on the spool? Both of my new spools had that issue. I took all the line off and tried a new slip knot to attach the line to the spool but it still slipped so I added a piece of waterproof gorilla tape to fix the line to the spool. Wondering if I should have tied the line off to one of the holes or passed the line out through a hole and then back in to prevent the line from spinning on the spool before tying the slip knot.

[@ChristopherRantall]

Thank you James :)

[@pierre8685]

Great video, any recommendations on type, size , make of DSMB ? I dive mostly in the Carabean and Antillies including drift dives ( cozumel ) Thanks . Keep up your videos !

[@DiversReady]

Hi Pierre, I like a 6' SMB from Dive Alert that I've been using for a good while now. Here's the link: amzn.to/35OuJ94

[@johnwilliams2014]

@@DiversReady Strange the yellow dSMB is $9 more than the orange one

[@toriless]

@@johnwilliams2014 They also have red one side and yellow the other side. The one I have from DAN also has a strobe light but is quite bulky.

[@pierre8685]

@@DiversReady Thanks, this is what I will get ! :) restarting to dive this autumn :). Love your videos, lots of info no BS no frills . Thanks again . Greetings from Canada 🇨🇦.

[@KAREPLAND]

well done! 😀🤙

[@kidoptikoftalmologiepediat4511]

Thanks!

[@iqbalmohamad3942]

Thank you for sharing..

[@barryinkpen6026]

Very nice..

[@MrDunk66]

Thanks

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Thanks James for this tip I don't understand how folks can sit on sidelines and tell you want to do on YOUR channel Lets see you have been a dive professional owned your own dive shop dived with some of the premier divers in the world and are good enough to support your family on your business and people have the nerve to tell you how and where to tie a knot on a spool.

[@YuriyDel]

You'd be surprised how much you can learn from some of those people at times but take it with a grain of salt.

[@Yggdrasil42]

Ivory Johnson Its never good to stay in your bubble and think you know everything, no matter how successful or experienced you are. That way lies stagnation. So weighing the value of any feedback you get is a good idea as long as it's given in the right spirit. That said, of course it's his channel and he can do what he wants, even disregard anything we say. ;)

[@theeclecticengineer1860]

Hello James, We spoke earlier about a presentation for ScubaDillos, a dive club in Dallas. Would you be willing to put on a quick presentation for our club. We are going to do this as a virtual meeting. I have been waiting for a quarterly meeting to propose having you present to us. Now is the time for a virtual meeting with our current situation. I Truly enjoy watching your videos, and want to share with the group. Thank you very much, Willie

[@marting8945]

Great!!

[@Pitoumotorsport]

Spool en métal très lourd, qui coule très vite ! beaucoup trop de fil !

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

"How to prepare a new spool" alternate version: 1. Buy an Apeks Lifeline spool. 2. Remove it from the cardboard card.

[@georghorger8811]

Thank you for this tip - My spool keeps making rats nests in my jacket pocket for the reasons mentioned in your video. So I have something to do with a used Spool this evening.

[@richardwilson1937]

Unfortunately the video did not describe how to tie the first not so I had to find another video to teach that :/

[@toriless]

This is the closest he has gotten to only being 5 minutes

[@brianmillsap6438]

It could be 4 minutes if you’d stop talking about 5 minutes or less.

[@gray_wolverine63]

A new spool that look already bent..🤣😂😅

[@DiversReady]

Hahaha! Wasn't mine...