Tangled in Line

[Cold_Under_Here]

I was wondering if many of you have had an incident involving getting tangled in line while freediving? It's one thing I that plays on my mind when diving under... you can't see monofilament underwater and have only one lung full of air to sort out the situation.

I am not sure how I would react.

How did you?

cheers

 

[sheepeck]

When diving in lakes or anywhere where you could expect fishing or any other lines you should dive with knife because you hardly can get second pair of lungs

 

[Cold_Under_Here]

When diving in lakes or anywhere where you could expect fishing or any other lines you should dive with knife because you hardly can get second pair of lungs

I dive with two knives. Check my posts. My knives don't cut line by themselves!

 

[sheepeck]

There is no word about fact that you dive with knives in your post. If you wrote about that in some previous post - I didn't read it - I don't read all the posts here on the DB.
If you don't see it, then you will feel it, no worry.

I personally didn't get entangled and hope it will stay that way.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

In California, I feel our biggest danger is getting tangled on our own shooting lines when fish go down deep and wrap it all around the kelp, often in murky water. It is very difficult to see black mono when you are down there trying to cut kelp, and sometimes we cut line instead of kelp.

One guy diving from my boat went down to check his fish, and on the way up he line caught on his snorkel. All he could tell was that something was holding him down, but he couldn't find the line. He dropped his weight belt and that didn't help. Finally he gave one last kick before blacking out and broke off his snorkel and managed to get to the surface.

I try to avoid problems with two precautions.

I have a knife mounted on my forearm where I can get to it instantly, and I have a rubber wrist bungee on it so that I can't loose it after I remove it from the sheath.

And I use this fluorescent green mono that shows up well down deep in poor light.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

For some reason it wouldn't let me load three photos. Here is another try for two of them.

 

[sheepeck]

That's scary. I don't spearfish since it's illegal here, but hope to do it if I will be lucky and be able to move somewhere.
Guess the fluorescent line is a good thing.

 

[spaghetti]

This is a good sequence of to do's we might discuss about:
1) no panic. It's easier said than done, but yet it's fundamental: if you panic you'll waste more energy and air. Act very quickly but with the greatest tranquillity, as if you were changing a flat tyre: it's annoying, but it's got to be done...
2) grab your knife, watch the tangling how it's made and quickly decide where it's better to cut, and cut. (I know the time available is short, but you have to watch the tangling first: you have to cut the tangling in the right place to be freed from it)
3) release your weight belt to gain buoyancy, don't spit the snorkel (it will keep your mouh sealed if you're blacked out when you'll surface)
4) don't look upwards!

 

[sheepeck]

What do you mean by "spit the snorkel"?
I think that thing recommended by all freedivers is to dive without snorkel in your mouth. But - probably for spearos it's difficult to put snorkel back to mouth everytime you get to surface (having full hands of fish and gun).

 

[spaghetti]

What do you mean by "spit the snorkel"?
I think that thing recommended by all freedivers is to dive without snorkel in your mouth. But - probably for spearos it's difficult to put snorkel back to mouth everytime you get to surface (having full hands of fish and gun).

Indeed this is the most controversial aspect. Personally I always spit and flood the snorkel before a dive, to prevent noise and bubbles, AND for safety issues. When you surface it's better to have the mouth free to breath soon, and thus snorkel out is better as they say.
BUT in this case... talking of a guy that has been tangled and made it to surface God knows how, and will probably black out...well in the case, if you realize that you WILL surely black out, I think that snorkel In can seal your mouth preventing water to flood.
But this is not a rule, just a thought: I'm open to discuss this point and eventually be convinced that what I said is wrong.
Thoughts?

 

[Cold_Under_Here]

In California, I feel our biggest danger is getting tangled on our own shooting lines when fish go down deep and wrap it all around the kelp, often in murky water. It is very difficult to see black mono when you are down there trying to cut kelp, and sometimes we cut line instead of kelp.

One guy diving from my boat went down to check his fish, and on the way up he line caught on his snorkel. All he could tell was that something was holding him down, but he couldn't find the line. He dropped his weight belt and that didn't help. Finally he gave one last kick before blacking out and broke off his snorkel and managed to get to the surface.

I try to avoid problems with two precautions.

I have a knife mounted on my forearm where I can get to it instantly, and I have a rubber wrist bungee on it so that I can't loose it after I remove it from the sheath.

And I use this fluorescent green mono that shows up well down deep in poor light.

Scary!

Yup sheepeck I guess we'll just end up feeling it. I am thinking maybe scissors/shears would be more useful for fishing line??

It's illegal in my area to spearfish too, so I am mainly concerned with the people who enjoy polluting the lakes in order to catch fish. Pfff...but that's another topic.

 

[Cold_Under_Here]

Indeed this is the most controversial aspect. Personally I always spit and flood the snorkel before a dive, to prevent noise and bubbles, AND for safety issues. When you surface it's better to have the mouth free to breath soon, and thus snorkel out is better as they say.
BUT in this case... talking of a guy that has been tangled and made it to surface God knows how, and will probably black out...well in the case, if you realize that you WILL surely black out, I think that snorkel In can seal your mouth preventing water to flood.
But this is not a rule, just a thought: I'm open to discuss this point and eventually be convinced that what I said is wrong.
Thoughts?

I am a very novice at this whole freediving, but what I do is spit my snorkel after I have taken my breath for the same reason you have indicated.

I am just pointing out, that although the snorkel makes a seal around on the mouth if you black out, when you surface the snorkel will still be full of water (unless you have a valve type snorkel). In that case, taking the snorkel out would be the best precaution on a black-outed diver.

Actually maybe this discussion is beside the point as your [SIZE=-1]epiglottiswould prevent any water from entering your lungs.[/SIZE]

 

[riffehunter717]

I got tangled in line once will spearing. i had a grouper in my hands because the shaft had pulled and some fishing mono got wraped on my arm causing me to lose the fish so that i would be able to get my knife in time

 

[riffehunter717]

it was a nice fish but not worth my life

 

[T2K]

my gun got tangled a couple days ago and i cut it out with my knife. it cut through the fishing line fine. i've also had my fin get stuck while i was on the way up. i just stayed relaxed, reached down and cut the line. keep your knife sharp. the right serations will even cut through cable.

most importantly, you should always keep a reserve of air in case you get hung up. some guys will wait for fish until they start feeling contractions. pushing yourself that far is reckless. you leave yourself no room for error. i little to give myself a little cushion by heading when i know i've got 15 or 30 seconds left. that way i have some leeway if i get tangled or hit a big fish that i have to fight.

 

[riffehunter717]

ive found that the less agressive serated adges work better on mono or cable because the real deep edges are harder to drag across the cable without it getting hungup

 

[riffehunter717]

i hope that made sense?!

 

[Cold_Under_Here]

i hope that made sense?!

Perfect.
Good for line:
www.expeditionexchange.com/victor/DSC04654.jpg

My knives have these edges too.

 

[fflupo]

i am using a skydive hook knife which is specially made for cutting strong lines,
and i dive without keeping the snorkel in my mouth in case of a blackout the jaw lock will do the job,
and the surface i approach on my back hence i m diving a lot by myself which is not good at all, i know

 

[Hugh.]

You should definitely not have your snorkel in your mouth if you think you are going to black out. The snorkel will pump water into your lungs, where as if you had it out of your mouth, your mouth will close as a reflex and you will get no water in your lungs and have a better chance of survival.