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Old 11-03-2013, 11:29 PM   #1
WestCoastHunter
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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.
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Old 11-04-2013, 12:24 AM   #2
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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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Old 11-04-2013, 12:39 AM   #3
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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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Old 11-04-2013, 12:46 AM   #4
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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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Old 11-04-2013, 07:15 AM   #5
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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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Old 11-04-2013, 07:40 AM   #6
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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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Old 11-04-2013, 12:46 PM   #7
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Re: This tip could save your life.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rojodiablo View Post
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.
I like this method personally. I find an ab and drop my iron next to it, marking it. That way I don't have to pull the ab on the same breath as I found it. So I'll swim around the bottom until I'm ready to breathe up, and if I find a nice one, I can breathe up and take my time before getting it.
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Old 11-04-2013, 01:04 PM   #8
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Re: This tip could save your life.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rojodiablo View Post
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.
i like this method also, sometimes i attach my light to a 30 ft piece of polypro with a small float and a glowstick on the other end, this allows me to mark spots, find my light if i drop it, and leaves it unattached from my body.
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Old 11-04-2013, 01:22 PM   #9
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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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Old 11-04-2013, 04:08 PM   #10
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Re: This tip could save your life.

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexbeeintheUK View Post
Here is KWTony's guide to the lanyards he makes: http://www.spearboard.com/showthread...ht=DIY+lanyard
AlexB - thanks for that link - I had not seen it before - Tony is the MAN!

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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Old 11-04-2013, 04:19 PM   #11
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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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Old 11-04-2013, 04:23 PM   #12
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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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Old 11-04-2013, 06:08 PM   #13
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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
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Old 11-04-2013, 08:39 PM   #14
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Re: This tip could save your life.

Quote:
Originally Posted by riff View Post
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
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.
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Old 11-04-2013, 10:39 PM   #15
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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
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