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11-03-2013, 11:29 PM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Ventura County
Age: 48
Posts: 72
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This tip could save your life.
I've met two divers who almost drowned because of nylon lanyards. Both were abalone diving when their irons slipped between rock crevices. They each told me as they turned up to surface, panic set in realizing they were locked to the bottom by nylon with a 400lb test strength. Each diver shared with me how they almost died-- both accounts are long stories, but the bottom line is. USE AN ELASTIC LANYARD.
There's a reason they are stretchy--if you get stuck you can pull out! About 6 years ago, my abalone iron slid between two rocks. I was deep, but I was able to break free, and shot to surface with no air left. Luckily i had an elastic lanyard--it stretched enough to let me free. If it wasn't for my friend, Lambert, who taught me this valuable lesson a year before my close call, I might have been another statistic with my old nylon lanyard.. After reading the tragic story of Craig Willes, who was found with his arm deep in a cave--I thought I would share this tip my fellow divers. Be safe. Last edited by WestCoastHunter; 11-03-2013 at 11:41 PM. |
11-04-2013, 12:24 AM | #2 |
Snorkel Master
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Lower Keys
Posts: 5,588
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Re: This tip could save your life.
I tie 30lb test in a loop on at least one end of the lanyards i make. This goes for the one on my go pro and also my knife. I just need one decent tug and boom, its off.
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11-04-2013, 12:39 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Ojai, CA
Age: 63
Posts: 3,351
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Re: This tip could save your life.
Great tip!
I always used amber surgical tubing for my abalone lanyard. In a pinch, easy to break.
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11-04-2013, 12:46 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kona, Hawaii
Age: 42
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Re: This tip could save your life.
That's a really smart tip. I've also had a frayed nylon weight belt get stuck to coral, scary stuff.
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11-04-2013, 07:15 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 505
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Re: This tip could save your life.
Here is KWTony's guide to the lanyards he makes: http://www.spearboard.com/showthread...ht=DIY+lanyard
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11-04-2013, 07:40 AM | #6 |
My spawn kills on....
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Huntington Beach, Ca
Age: 53
Posts: 8,572
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Re: This tip could save your life.
Not wanting to sound like such a simpleton..........
Ever think about a KNIFE???!!! Others have been known to run their ab bar on a line of 10-30ft long, with either a tiny float on the end, or use polypro which floats...... And the ab bar is not attached to Mr. diver.
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Safety is but an illusion; Every grain of sand was once a mountain. Every speck of dust..... was once a man. Nothing can stop this, in time. So use the time you have well..... you won't get it back. |
11-04-2013, 12:46 PM | #7 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2013
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Re: This tip could save your life.
Quote:
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11-04-2013, 01:04 PM | #8 | |
Pass me the lube
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: orange county
Age: 43
Posts: 3,065
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Re: This tip could save your life.
Quote:
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11-04-2013, 01:22 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: HB, CA
Posts: 1,135
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Re: This tip could save your life.
3X Floatline attached to ab bar and light. Mark the spot exactly.
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11-04-2013, 04:08 PM | #10 | |
Max
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Oregon
Age: 68
Posts: 6,272
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Re: This tip could save your life.
Quote:
And x2 on the float line on the ab bar. Leaving the ab bar on the bottom helps you return to the same spot to resume your search systematically and not skip or lose good spots.
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nec timor nec temeritas (neither fear nor foolhardiness.) |
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11-04-2013, 04:19 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Benicia Ca
Posts: 4,456
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Re: This tip could save your life.
The floatline works great attached to a bar, Don't forget some people like to dive with an ab gauge often attached to a wrist. Many places you can reach to check or pry off an abalone you will not be able to reach with both hands. If one hand gets stuck and you can't pull it free you also may not be able to reach it to cut it free. Do not attach anything to your wrist you can't break with ease or stretch to get your hand out.
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11-04-2013, 04:23 PM | #12 |
Monterey Bay Triton
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Fresno, CA
Age: 56
Posts: 1,244
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Re: This tip could save your life.
I switched to elastic lanyards on all the lights I use when freediving a few years ago because I tangled in a lanyard once. Much safer. I always keep the lanyard lose enough to pull my hand out if needed.
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11-04-2013, 06:08 PM | #13 |
><>
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: the Bay Area
Posts: 1,462
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Re: This tip could save your life.
I have a 100 ft float line which is usually connected to my banks board..
I will then have my gauge about 5 feet from the end and my iron on the end. i just schmam that bad boy next to my trophy and pee in my suit and get it |
11-04-2013, 08:39 PM | #14 |
My spawn kills on....
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Huntington Beach, Ca
Age: 53
Posts: 8,572
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Re: This tip could save your life.
I used to use boards when ab diving. We would clip them off to the kelp; they get hung up too much when scrounging around the bottom, so tie it off, dive and bring the abs back to the board, then swim it in when done.
__________________
Safety is but an illusion; Every grain of sand was once a mountain. Every speck of dust..... was once a man. Nothing can stop this, in time. So use the time you have well..... you won't get it back. |
11-04-2013, 10:39 PM | #15 |
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco ca usa
Age: 65
Posts: 932
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Re: This tip could save your life.
Here's a set up that I McGyvered together & have used for many years. Yes, that is a bicycle handle bar grip. The loop is for a tuna clip from the floatline. Good luck & dive safely. T
Last edited by Tommy T; 11-04-2013 at 10:40 PM. Reason: Add text |
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