ks54 - 9/15/2013 12:57 PM
There are a lot of things invlolved with dive reels. Capacity, deployability, Reelability and operability for example.
Capacity. dependant on line size. the larger # of line the heavier. you will probably want perhaps 36 or so for wrecks. that is line that is like 36# for 600 yards or something like that. Wrecks unlike caves are highly susseptable to cuting line if not tied down correctly. You need heavier line for wrecks. The larger of line the larger the reel has to be to accomodate a given length of line.
deployability. you want to be able to just let the reel hang and let the line pay out. However you cant let just free flow, major tangling occures. A brakeing mechinism is needed to put a drag on the reel line to prevent line form going where you do not want it to be laying and to keep it tight on hte reel to prevent backlashing.. there are reels the have breaks on the spool edge of the reel and on the side of the reel. of ones on the side of the reel many are locks and some are breaks. i prefer the ones that are side breaks that when tightened enough functions as a lock.
Retrievablility. the larger diameter of spool you have the less you have to crank the thing to reel in you line
operability. you have to be able to use it. for me holding a top handle is not comfortable. a side handle works better for me. next you have to have a handle that you can operate the reel with. if you are in cold water you will be aearing gloves. they may not work well with a sidemount handle. make sure your reel has a guide on it that covers the entire front of the reel to insure all line stays on the reel and not the reel shaft.
Lastly you will need multiple reels a heavy long line reel and 1-2 small reels perhaps 50-100 foot reels. these allow you to tie off on the mail line that has been laid perhaps by your buddy and explore other areas and get back to the mail line. Sont forget arrows need to be able to attach to the lines. They point to the way out when you loose your bearings. Lastly the reel that works well for your buddy may not work for you.
One last thing do not fill the spool with line. you are ooking at tangling. always tie off to a tree in hte parking ot and deploy the line and reel it back in to ensure it is tangle free and not broken.
these are all things i have learned in trial and error.
To get all these qualities that work for you you somehow always end up paying more than 9.95 for a reel. mormally in the 100.oo or so area.