Deployment underwater. Retrieval on surface.

[jakehbk]

I was wondering if there were techniques or equipment that would facilitate marking a wreck or point of interest underwater and then retrieving everything on the surface after the dive.

It's not something I do every week, but at least a dozen times a year I'll find or see something that I'd like to mark for others to see, but it's not at the end of my dive so I don't want to surface and it would be pretty inconvenient to have to go back down to untie from whatever I tie or loop off to.

Is there a reel out there that has some kind of detent system that's weak enough to be floated up but strong about to resist unreeling in swell and chop?

Any tips or tricks appreciated. Thank you.

 

[D_Fresh]

If you're clever with your knots and have enough line, a knot could be rigged up to be released from the surface. I wouldn't say it's the simplest or most elegant solution, but workable...

 

[Celt]

Did it often, put a waster on it and let the bag of to the surface, when you’re finished snap the waster, any old cord will do for the waster once you can snap it on the surface.

 

[seaseadee]

Did it often, put a waster on it and let the bag of to the surface, when you’re finished snap the waster, any old cord will do for the waster once you can snap it on the surface.

For the uninitiated... what’s a waster?

 

[Jcp2]

Diving shot - Wikipedia

“The line itself may be tied to the dive site or a thin "waster" line may attach the strong line to the dive site. If a waster is used, the boat at the surface can be used to break the waster at the end of diving before the shot is lifted.”

Not exactly the same application but the same idea.

 

[jakehbk]

Ah. So maybe something like an additional spool with a biodegradable line like hemp with a 50lbs or under breaking strength. Take it down, cut a piece, tie it off to whatever, shoot the marker to the surface and then tie that off to the reel line. Once the dives done and we don't need it marked just pull hard on the line and the waster line snaps.

 

[Ben_3]

DSMB tied on to a weight if low or no current. I have tags at work that are like zip ties but that break if pulled. Might not be the best for the environment..

 

[Celt]

For the uninitiated... what’s a waster?

Piece of line that can be sacrificed to release a main line. Weaker than the main line

 

[decompression]

Often wrecks have railings......shoot a bag and loop your reel under it then ascend.......when you surface, release air/disconnect bag and reel it in. There are several caveats but that’s it in a clam shell. As mentioned a small weight works as well.

 

[jakehbk]

I was hoping to avoid ascending and descending multiple times. I think the waster line might work well.

This was the scenario that inspired this thought:
At a particular dive site I know of a small plane wreck. Only problem is that its sitting in sand at around 65ft. The dive site is up against the island in shallow water. Setting up a marker for other divers to descend along would save them a lot of possibly fruitless kicking at that depth. It would be awesome to use the waster line technique to mark it, then go about my own dive like normal