Reels and Spools - Which ones and why?

[TSandM]

We have a Halcyon 400 ft reel and a Salvo 800 foot reel. They are basically only used for cave diving, or for setting up courses for students (very, very rarely for executing a search off a shot line when the wreck isn't visible at the bottom).

We have a whole collection of spools of various brands and sizes. I carry a 100 foot spool and SMB, pre-rigged, on all boat dives and many shore dives. The rest are mostly used for cave diving.

I have a Dive-Rite mini-reel which I find amusing and delightful. Despite having been warned that it will jam or break, it hasn't yet. I like being able to use the reeling up function when I've run long jumps. It makes things much faster, and the line doesn't end up all twisted on the spool.

 

[PfcAJ]

I've have one 1200' and one 400' Halcyon reel, both for cave diving, a 150' safety spool that will occasionally double for shooting an SMB, and an assortment of 75' jump spools. I had a 100' spool, but a cave ate it years ago, never to be seen again

 

[MichelG]

I own a Dive Rite safety reel with 130' high viz orange line, I find it very useful in bad viz situations. I use it for shooting a SMB or for limited wreck penetrations.