(10/30/03) Personal hang line?

[DandyDon]

I don't know exactly where to ask this, so I'll try it here...

Safety stops can get a little crowded at times, when 10 or more divers are hanging on to the same mooring line between 10 and 20 feet, bounced around by strong current and such. I've seen divers back off on their own lines, but then -

Afte I get out, I get sidetracked talking about the dive, treating my jellyfish facial sting, whatever, and forget to ask to see the line. Someone please take pity, and tell me:

(1) What are they called; and

(2) How do you suggest I make one...?

thanks, on

[Spectre]

They are called Jon Lines. They can be made pretty easily with a piece of rope, with two spliced loops on the end.

I tend to use my spool when I need one.

I know Walter is an expert at making Jon Lines, he can definately help out with the easiest ways to make them.

[DA Aquamaster]

The easiest way to make one is to take 7 to 9 feet of 1 inch nylon webbing and sew a 6 inch loop in both ends. Loop one end over a carabiner and use the loop in the other end to go around the anchor line and thread the strap back though the loop.

Alternatively, you can use a carabiner on both ends, but I prefer the loop as you can snug it up and it will hold it's position on the anchor line. If no one else is clipped in above you, you can just loosen it a bit and slide it up to the next stop. If someone is above you, you'll need to unthread it to pass the guy above you, but it still is not too much trouble, particularly on long stops.

As a compromise, you can buy or make a spring clip that will slide over the anchor line. It offers the advantage of holding its position on the line like a loop and also can be unclipped with one hand like a carabiner. But it is a bit of a specialty item.

My preference is to just keep a 6 foot long strap of 1" webbing with a pair of 6" loops sew in it and a carabiner in my pocket. It can be used as a jon line, as a buddy line, or for rigging a liftbag and lifting things like anchors off the bottom.

[teknitroxdiver]

An easier way is this:

Take a dog leash. Replace the crummy clip with a smallish stainless carabiner or clip of your choice. Now just loop it around the line. You have two options here. You can either pass the clip through the loop, so you end up with the clip in your hand to clip yourself to (?), or pass the line through the clip so you end up with the loop in your hand. Either way, you want the line passed through something so it snugs down. The just loosen it a bit and slide up to the next stop.

Clear as mud? Good.

[Doc Intrepid]

Don, don't ever clip the damned thing to yourself. I've seen some bizarre shizzle happen.

Hold it in your hand. If you need both hands loop one end loosely over your wrist.

If you need to unass the line you're going to want to do so real expeditiously...

[gfisher4792]

Hey, look, another thread from years past! I wonder if Don ever got around to getting a jon line?

[teknitroxdiver]

Ah crap. I guess this is what I get for using the search function, then forgetting I used the search function and not checking the date.


Sorry guys. I'll kick myself for you......


EDIT: Man, this is a REALLY old one!

[DandyDon]

Don, don't ever clip the damned thing to yourself. I've seen some bizarre shizzle happen.

Hold it in your hand. If you need both hands loop one end loosely over your wrist.

If you need to unass the line you're going to want to do so real expeditiously...
Well, this thread is nearly two years old, but - Pipe Dope made me one and mailed it to me, and I sent him one of my little desktop advertising calculators with my thanks. I carry it in a little pocket of my BC and have used it a few times to back out of the crowd. :35: Pretty neat.

I appreciate the heads up, but if I'm in a current, I know I don't want to be tied to the mooring line. :11: This one has loops on both end, and I can escape quickly if needed. The dog leash idea is certainly a good one, but I don't think I'd want a caribener anywhere in my dive bag. Maybe a bolt clip...?

[Doc Intrepid]

Holy not-checking-dates...



Glad you've survived this long without us, Don! :D

[teknitroxdiver]

Yeah that would probably be better, now that I think about it a bit.

[gfisher4792]

Alright! Now I have closure. Oh, and a reminder to get a jon line one of these days.

[DandyDon]

Oh, we discussed Old Threads once in the secret Greeters forum, and we were assured by The Big Cheese Himself :D that there is good reason for leaving threads open in years beyond. It's an old thread, but someone may benefit from this discussion nonetheless. Greeting someone who joined two years ago is a little much, but discussion of Jon lines is good. If you're going to dive the S.Grove off of Key Largo, they are a very good idea, as currents are common there, and a big boat load of divers doing a 5 minute stop on the same mooring line can get very crowded. Also good many other places.

The nylon dog leash idea has a lot of merit (got to look at leashes, as I haven't had a dog on one in years), as long as it has a escapable loop on one end and maybe a bolt clip that will secure to a ring tied 6 inches up the leash...?

[teknitroxdiver]

*whew* I live to post again..... *double whew*

[miketsp]

Yep, this "Golden Oldie" is a real "Blast from the Past" ;)