Reels and Spools

Reels and spools give you a controlled, measurable line: for sending up a delayed SMB, running a guideline on a wreck, or holding a reference point when visibility drops. The range runs from compact finger spools through ratchet and primary reels with longer line, plus bulk cave line to respool your own kit. Line work is a trained skill, so choose kit that matches the diving you are qualified for.

Diver wearing a Santi drysuit using an Agir spool

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Posted across the UK. Ask about lead times on special orders.

What reels and spools are for

A reel or spool is simply controlled line, and that turns out to be one of the most useful things you can carry. Divers use them to send a delayed surface marker buoy up from depth, to run a guideline back to an exit, to maintain a reference point in poor visibility, and to measure distance on a survey or search. Which one you want depends far more on the diving you do than on the price ticket.

Finger spools

A finger spool has no handle, no ratchet and no moving parts, which makes it very hard to jam and easy to stow on a D-ring. That simplicity is why so many divers reach for one when sending up a buoy. Most come with a stainless double-ended bolt snap. Line capacity varies between models even at similar physical sizes, so check the manufacturer specification.

Ratchet and primary reels

Reels with a handle, and often a ratchet or lock, hold more line and are quicker to wind back in, which suits wreck work, guidelines and longer distances. Larger primary reels are built for laying and recovering line over distance. Handle design, locking mechanism and line length all differ by model, so check the manufacturer specification and match it to the dive you are planning.

Line, markers and accessories

We stock braided cave line on bulk spools in different diameters and colours so you can refill spools and reels rather than replace them, along with double-enders and related accessories. Clips and bolt snaps to stow it all are in our Clips, Snaps and D-Rings collection.

Line work is a trained skill

Sending up a buoy from depth and running a guideline, particularly in an overhead environment, are skills to be taught and practised in the water rather than picked up from a product page. We will not write you a procedure here. Get the appropriate training first, and talk to us if you want to know what course covers what. Our wreck diving guide gives useful background on where line work fits in.

Brands in this collection

We currently stock reels, spools and line from AGIR, Apeks, Beaver, Custom Divers, DIRZone, Divesoft, Halcyon, Lumb Bros, Nautilus, XS Scuba and Yasi. Availability changes, so if you cannot see what you are after, get in touch and we will check.

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Frequently asked questions

A finger spool is small, has no moving parts and is very hard to jam, which makes it a common choice for sending up a delayed SMB. A reel with a handle, and often a ratchet, holds more line and is easier to wind back in, which suits wreck work, guidelines and longer distances. Many divers carry both. Line capacity varies by model, so check the manufacturer specification.

There is no single answer. It depends on the depth you dive, whether you are running a guideline, and what your training and dive plan call for. Stated line lengths vary considerably between models even at similar physical sizes, so check the manufacturer specification, and tell us how you dive so we can point you at something appropriate.

A double-ended bolt snap lets you clip the spool or reel to a D-ring so it is stowed rather than dangling, and clip the line end where it needs to go. Stainless steel double-enders are the usual choice for UK water. Sizes vary, so check the manufacturer specification if you are matching one to kit you already own.

Cave line is thin, strong, low-stretch braided line used for running guidelines and for refilling spools and reels. We stock it on bulk spools in different diameters and colours so you can respool your own kit. Running a guideline in an overhead environment is a trained skill, so get the appropriate training before using it that way.