DocCarl
Contributor
Good topic for discussion.
Newer divers are often surprised to learn that managing a flag is no where near as easy as it looks! It requires constant awareness and frequent attention by the diver, regardless of the type of line or spool or flag or float being used. Fortunately, it is a skill that, if learned properly, becomes MUCH easier with a little practice.
There are a few things that we must keep in mind when dealing with a flag, regardless of whether or not it's being towed or being tied off:
Safety
The flag & associated equipment should not create a safety hazard to any person in the vicinity. This includes divers that aren't actively using the flag in question, as well boaters on the surface. There are two big safety issues that I frequently see with divers towing flags:
1. Attaching the line to the diver.
Under no circumstances would I recommend clipping, tying, or otherwise securely connecting the flag line to the diver. There are plenty of reports about jackass boaters stealing dive flags from the surface, and gunning the motor without first cutting the line. Obviously, this could create a one-way ticket to a runaway ascent. Unknowing divers have forgotten to let out sufficient line, and inadvertently had the flag float pull them to the surface.
Most commonly, though, clipping the line to one's person immediately results in decreased awareness of the line which in turn leads to #2...
2. Failure to properly manage the line.
It really doesn't matter if the line floats or sinks. It doesn't matter if it #18 braided line, or 1/4" polypropylene rope. If the diver fails to keep the slack wound in, it's just a matter of time before there is a bird's nest of line either floating to the surface, laying on the bottom, or (most often) tumbling about mid-water like a giant underwater spaghetti monster.
When this happens, it's a sure bet that somebody is going to get the stuff caught on a tank valve, or in a fin strap.
Simplicity
The flag & associated equipment should not unnecessarily distract the diver from the dive, or prevent them from being able to effectively deal with an emergency situation. As is the case with many things, using the proper tools for the job is very important.
When towing a flag, it's important to try to keep all slack out of the line. If I drop down 5 feet, I let out about 5 feet of line. If I ascend a few feet, I bring in the slack while I'm ascending. . . not after I've leveled off. This is main reason that I personally don't like the big, plastic, yellow winder-thingies that are so popular with newer divers. Bringing in or letting out one 'wrap' of line from the winder is way too much for me. Additionally, 'big yellow' is just that. . .BIG. It's cumbersome and always in the way. Many of the most fantastic line tangles I've ever come across involved 'big yellow' and that 1/4" polypro rope.
Personally, I have a cheap 'ratchet' reel that's dedicated to flag use. I keep it wound with about 100' of #18 line. Although I wouldn't dream of using this reel for ANY other application, it actually works well for flag towing. The thumb release allows me to ease line out as needed, and the fact that the spool will click & lock about every 2" makes it simple to bring in just a few inches of line at a time - there's no separate control to lock the spool down. I purchased this reel years ago, once I realized that 'big yellow' was destined for the trash can.
With that being said, if I lost my ratchet-reel tomorrow I would probably not replace it. At this point, it's be just as easy to use a 100' finger spool. Just like a reel, though, a finger spool can be mis-used in many ways. Many people that insist that they "hate" finger spools have come to this conclusion because they were simply never shown how to use one properly.
I'll try to snap a couple of pictures of how my flag & reel are configured and add those later this evening.
Carl
Newer divers are often surprised to learn that managing a flag is no where near as easy as it looks! It requires constant awareness and frequent attention by the diver, regardless of the type of line or spool or flag or float being used. Fortunately, it is a skill that, if learned properly, becomes MUCH easier with a little practice.
There are a few things that we must keep in mind when dealing with a flag, regardless of whether or not it's being towed or being tied off:
Safety
The flag & associated equipment should not create a safety hazard to any person in the vicinity. This includes divers that aren't actively using the flag in question, as well boaters on the surface. There are two big safety issues that I frequently see with divers towing flags:
1. Attaching the line to the diver.
Under no circumstances would I recommend clipping, tying, or otherwise securely connecting the flag line to the diver. There are plenty of reports about jackass boaters stealing dive flags from the surface, and gunning the motor without first cutting the line. Obviously, this could create a one-way ticket to a runaway ascent. Unknowing divers have forgotten to let out sufficient line, and inadvertently had the flag float pull them to the surface.
Most commonly, though, clipping the line to one's person immediately results in decreased awareness of the line which in turn leads to #2...
2. Failure to properly manage the line.
It really doesn't matter if the line floats or sinks. It doesn't matter if it #18 braided line, or 1/4" polypropylene rope. If the diver fails to keep the slack wound in, it's just a matter of time before there is a bird's nest of line either floating to the surface, laying on the bottom, or (most often) tumbling about mid-water like a giant underwater spaghetti monster.
When this happens, it's a sure bet that somebody is going to get the stuff caught on a tank valve, or in a fin strap.
Simplicity
The flag & associated equipment should not unnecessarily distract the diver from the dive, or prevent them from being able to effectively deal with an emergency situation. As is the case with many things, using the proper tools for the job is very important.
When towing a flag, it's important to try to keep all slack out of the line. If I drop down 5 feet, I let out about 5 feet of line. If I ascend a few feet, I bring in the slack while I'm ascending. . . not after I've leveled off. This is main reason that I personally don't like the big, plastic, yellow winder-thingies that are so popular with newer divers. Bringing in or letting out one 'wrap' of line from the winder is way too much for me. Additionally, 'big yellow' is just that. . .BIG. It's cumbersome and always in the way. Many of the most fantastic line tangles I've ever come across involved 'big yellow' and that 1/4" polypro rope.
Personally, I have a cheap 'ratchet' reel that's dedicated to flag use. I keep it wound with about 100' of #18 line. Although I wouldn't dream of using this reel for ANY other application, it actually works well for flag towing. The thumb release allows me to ease line out as needed, and the fact that the spool will click & lock about every 2" makes it simple to bring in just a few inches of line at a time - there's no separate control to lock the spool down. I purchased this reel years ago, once I realized that 'big yellow' was destined for the trash can.
With that being said, if I lost my ratchet-reel tomorrow I would probably not replace it. At this point, it's be just as easy to use a 100' finger spool. Just like a reel, though, a finger spool can be mis-used in many ways. Many people that insist that they "hate" finger spools have come to this conclusion because they were simply never shown how to use one properly.
I'll try to snap a couple of pictures of how my flag & reel are configured and add those later this evening.
Carl
