Remember when we used to free dive to set anchors before they invented the shot line?

I was working a bridge job off the coast of Norfolk back in '98 and we spent all morning taking turns holding our breath to run lines. A guy from a different crew showed up with a portable shot line and I watched him set an anchor in about 5 minutes while we were still coughing up saltwater. Has anyone else seen these new diver recall systems that ping your wristband, or is that just another gadget that'll break on the first deep dive?

3 comments

3 Comments

perry.evan20d ago

Man a wristband that pings you sounds like something that'll fail right when you need it most. Saltwater finds every weak spot in electronics, especially anything that's supposed to keep you alive underwater. I've seen too many "game changing" gadgets turn into expensive paperweights after a couple dives. Honestly if you need a recall system that bad maybe your crew should just run better comms or agree on a dive plan before splashing. That shot line guy you met was probably just showing off, they've been around for decades and still get tangled or lost. People act like every new tool is gonna save the world but half this stuff is just marketing fluff for guys who can't be bothered to learn the basics.

elizabethhayes20d ago

Wait, did you just say that shot line guy was "probably just showing off"? That's a pretty wild take on someone who's literally using a system that's been around forever. I mean, I've seen shot lines save a lot of divers when current picks up and everyone's scattered, even if some people do get tangled. But calling it showing off feels like you're writing off a whole method just because you've had bad experiences with gadgets failing. Maybe it's just me, but that sounds like you're letting a few broken wristbands color your view of any backup system at all.

lopez.simon20d ago

Evan, I gotta push back here because I think you're being too hard on new tech. A lot of the gear that's standard now was once considered a gimmick, like dive computers or even nitrox. Sure, some gadgets flop, but if a recall system saves one diver's life because they're separated from the boat in bad current, it's worth it. The whole "just run better comms" thing sounds good on paper, but in choppy water or heavy surf, hand signals and radios can fail too. Plus, having a physical backup like a vibrating wristband is way better than relying on everyone's memory or a shouted plan. @perry.evan you're right that basics matter, but ignoring useful tools just takes options off the table for everyone.