Our choice for gas

Reels

For class, all you need is a safety reel or spool with 30 m/100 ft of line. I supply everything else you will need in terms of reels and spools. (This gives you the opportunity to discover what works best for you.)

Over the past several years, most of us have gotten away from traditional winding-knob reels for short distances. Spools offer several advantages (not the least of which is their lower cost).

• They can’t jam.
• They occupy less space.

For dives with multiple jumps, I’ve been able to fill a thigh pocket with four or more spools. Traditional safety and jump reels would have to be clipped to an external D-ring, where they can get caught on things.

The downside of spools is that it’s a pain to wind up any more than 20 feet of line on them. They also tend to twist the line.

For longer distances, it’s tough to beat a reel with a winding knob. Most divers have gravitated toward the kind with side-mounted handles — although I still like my old top-handle primary reel. Try them and decide for yourself.

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