Visual Jumps

[Cave Diver]

Does anyone see a difference between jumping back onto gold line to close a circuit, like TSandM did, and visually jumping to start on a tunnel?

Yes and no.

The argument against a visual jump is that you no longer have a continuous guideline to the exit in the event that you have to return in zero vis conditions, or are unable to find the line you jumped from for whatever reason. In her situation, she could maintain physical contact with the current line she was on while making contact with the line that would take her to the exit. I don't equate this as the same as doing a visual jump to penetrate, but I at the same time I wouldn't condone it.

If you want to stick to the "letter of the law" you could always take out your safety spool, tie off, make the jump to your primary reel, move the primary to your tie off point of the safety. You now have a continuous path between both lines, so you can retrieve your safety and reel back to your primary, stow your safety, retrieve your primary and exit. It took longer to type all of that than it would to actually do it, but it preserves the continuous guideline without having to backtrack the entire route.

[rjack321]

If you want to stick to the "letter of the law" you could always take out your safety spool, tie off, make the jump to your primary reel, move the primary to your tie off point of the safety. You now have a continuous path between both lines, so you can retrieve your safety and reel back to your primary, stow your safety, retrieve your primary and exit. It took longer to type all of that than it would to actually do it, but it preserves the continuous guideline without having to backtrack the entire route.

This is just silly. In TS&M's example, a dive I have done exactly the same, there is no "jump". You have a continuous guideline at all times (behind you until you pick up your reel).

[TSandM]

Yes, there were several ways I could have handled the situation, but my buddy and I both agreed that what we did was fine. I would do it again, in the same place and circumstance. I understand the slippery slope of making individual decisions about following the basic rules, but sometimes following them verges on ridiculous, as it would have in this case. (BTW, the intersection I described lies at 80 feet, so taking several minutes to futz around with a safety spool does impact the dive.)

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I wouldn't have run a safety in TS&M's example, for the simple reason of closing a gap thats 5' across, when I have a visual refference(my primary) a body length a way... and know I have continuous line out no matter what line I goto....

Although, if it took me several minutes to lay a 5' gap, I would probably opt to do so more often just to get the practice

[lowviz]

Never.

I'm in no rush and later on it's nice to find my line arrow just where it is supposed to be. I imagine that it would be even nicer to find it there it in an emergency.

[TSandM]

Although, if it took me several minutes to lay a 5' gap, I would probably opt to do so more often just to get the practice

Point conceded! Although I suspect that if any of us timed how long it takes to get a spool out of a full pocket, tie it in, run it over, tie it off, pull the reel and pull the spool, it would end up being longer than we think.

[rjack321]

Yes, there were several ways I could have handled the situation, but my buddy and I both agreed that what we did was fine. I would do it again, in the same place and circumstance. I understand the slippery slope of making individual decisions about following the basic rules, but sometimes following them verges on ridiculous, as it would have in this case. (BTW, the intersection I described lies at 80 feet, so taking several minutes to futz around with a safety spool does impact the dive.)

I stray more than 4 or 5ft from the line I'm "on" depending on the dive so I don't view your example as the same. You wander off 4ft and there's your real, pick it up and go. It not a "jump" because you never really left one line for another in the first place.

[Jaydubya]

I sometimes swim more than 5 ft from the gold line without tying in my spool. Am I violating the continuous guideline rule?

I don't really consider what TSandM did to be a jump and does not violate the continuous guideline to open water rule.

A related question, assuming that dive could be done on sixths, would it be a violation of the no circuits or traverses rule imposed on intro level divers to make the same dive?

[JahJahwarrior]

Yes but only if you wait till you are at the location to pull out your reel. Easy enough to have it out and ready. With a little practice you don't even need to stop swimming.

[Cave Diver]

This is just silly. In TS&M's example, a dive I have done exactly the same, there is no "jump". You have a continuous guideline at all times (behind you until you pick up your reel).

I agree, it's a clumsy solution and it's not one I'd use in this situation. Just pointing out that there are alternative ways of doing things when faced with a situation like this.

Rhetorical question, but supposing it was 10' instead of 5'? or 20', or 50'? At one point would it become a jump and necessitate a line? It's personal choice and just something for people to think about before finding themselves in that situation.