KITTED-UP
Reel & Torch
I initially considered this reel and torch combo as something of a gimmick , but once I had it in my hands I was completely won over by this unique offering from Northern Diver . Manufactured from anodized aluminium and synthetic polymer , the reel is supplied with 60 metres of bright orange line . Holding down the thumb-operated spool lock allowed line to flow freely during
DSMB deployment . Then , rewinding via the extendable sprung handle – great for when wearing gloves – was very efficient . The 6-LED top-mounted torch isn ’ t the most powerful of lights , but makes a great spotting / signalling device that lets your buddy know exactly where you are . Thanks to its compact form , the torch doesn ’ t intrude on the operation of the reel in the least , but it can be removed in a jiffy . It has a burn time of 19 hours on the two supplied AA batteries and offers a continuous emergency flash mode too . Lightweight , compact and inexpensive – the reel alone without the torch would still be a bargain .
45m Dive Reel
Made from a tough , impact-resistant ABS plastic , Lomo ’ s compact 45m Dive Reel is as straightforward a reel as you could imagine . Comprising a flat backing plate with an integral handle plus a 75mm diameter spool with winding handle , it uses a thumboperated lever that allows the reel to lock , ratchet or free-run . While there was plenty of room for the four fingers of my own gloved
SPOOLS
hand to fit inside the handle , this did prove more difficult for the much larger digits of my dive buddy . While he did leave his little pinkie overhanging , he had no real complaints about doing so . The tough nylon line has a breaking strain of approximately 75kg , which unreeled smoothly once my DSMB was inflated . While all 45 metres of the line fits very snugly around the spool when factory-wound , once used in the real world it can appear that you ’ ve more line than you went in with . To avoid potential overspill , I ’ d recommend trimming the line by a few metres or alternatively go for Lomo ’ s 82m version for just a few quid extra .
Pandora Zero G Spool
Manufactured from a single piece of Delrin , the 7cm diameter Zero G is not just lightweight but feels incredibly robust . As its name suggests , it ’ s as near as neutrally buoyant in the water as it ’ s possible to be , so it doesn ’ t rush off to the surface or descend rapidly into the depths when deployed . The spool ’ s flared design also made winding in its buoyant – and luminous - line very easy . I ’ ve always had a fascination for glow-inthe-dark products since childhood but this is definitely a case of less novelty and more necessity as it ’ s perfect for night dives , wreck and cave diving or just poor visibility . After charging the Lumiline with my LED video light for 30 seconds , it produced a nice green glow that remained illuminated for around 20 minutes . Complete with a stainless-steel bolt snap , the Zero G is available in 20m , 30m and 40m lengths .
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