Know your Ropes
Text, Photos and Animations by Freedive Flow Master Instructor MJ Kühn
When I see people tying or using knots incorrectly, I get a subtle urge to slap their hand. Like you would when seeing a toddler putting his finger in the wall socket. Rope work is definitely undervalued in freedive education. Simply put: That rope that you are diving on is going to save your life, long before your buddy even knows something is wrong.
Don’t disrespect your best friend in the water.
When it comes to knots, hitches and rope work, “It works – let’s use it” is definitely not the recommended approach. Yes, this knot or hitch may work but is it the best option? There are pros and cons to every knot/hitch and it is up to you to choose the best one.
Let me start with the basics: What is the difference between a knot and a hitch?
Knot
Knots are freestanding and hold their shape regardless of it being fixed to something. Example: The Figure of Eight
Hitch
A Hitch works solely with friction. Hitches rely on an object like a carabiner to hold its shape. Example: The Clove Hitch
Guidelines to keep you safe
Getting familiar with new knots.
In the beginning always tie your knot from the same direction in exactly the same way.
Example: Position your bottom weight in front of you, with enough space that the rope can be slightly tensioned as you make your knot.
If you do this, its like following directions on a map. If you don’t know your directions by heart and you turn your map upside down. You will probably end up lost. When I teach our master students knots, I see it all the time: When they try and make the knot from a different direction or position, all sorts of things pop out except what they were planning.
Dress your knots
This means keep your knots tidy. Make sure the rope stays parallel in the bends of your knots. It makes it a lot easier to untie once it’s been loaded. Undressed knots loose strength and security!
Tighten your knots
When a slack knot gets loaded it looses its shape (in other words: it gets undressed). The tension is not evenly distributed as intended for the knot. Slack knots that are tensioned create friction which damages your ropes.
Keep fingers and hands out of hitches
When a hitch “bites”, not much tension is necessary to keep you from getting your fingers or hand out of it. Let’s say your bottom weight gets stuck on the bottom with reasonable current, and it happens just as you were making your hitch: Your hand or thumb gets stuck in the hitch and you will be pulled below the surface instantly.
Sure there’s many of us who can get out of the situation. The whole point is not to end up in the situation in the first place.
The ones you need to know!
Clove Hitch
The clove hitch is by far my favourite hitch to use for setting depths on the buoy. It is definitely my favourite to use in most rope situations. Its easy to tie, easy to untie, strong and just bites tighter the more it gets loaded. So keep those digits out of the loops.
Water Bowline
The water bowline is a bowline with an added half hitch on the tail end. When under tension the half hitch grabs onto the tail making the knot more secure. Bowlines are great in general, super easy to tie and untie even if the knot was heavily loaded. The water bowline is ideal for example to attach a bottom weight to the dive-line.
About the Author
MJ Kühn, Master Instructor and Manager at Freedive Flow, Gili Air, Indonesia
Before becoming a full-time freedive instructor I spent my time as a whitewater river guide, a whitewater kayaker and worked on oil-rigs in Africa for 3 years as a rope access technician.
Especially during my work as a rope access technician my life often depended on one single knot! In this time I built up a good deal of experience and understanding of ropes, knots and hitches. No matter what the problem is, my first instinct is always to solve it with ropes and knots. There are few things as satisfying as uncoiling a brand new rope, even if it’s not mine. I want to cuddle it, make friends with it and tell it how amazing it feels.
MJ Kühn
Also follow my blog on Raw Adrenaline!
Awesome dude
Nice! Thanks for the good knot info.
What kind of carabiners are you using? I’ve tried some stainless steel ones but they do rust eventually.
Hey Paul
Yeah it’s very hard to get a carabiner that lasts forever. Good maintenance is the only option + replacing them as soon as they show any signs of erosion.
Hi!
I’m looking to figue out what are the caracteristique that need a good freediving rope…. Diameter? Elongation? Tenacity? gramms permeter? CLimbing rope can work well?
Difficult to fin that information… any advice?
Thanx you
Hi Steve! A good freedive rope is 8-12mm thick, where I prefer 9mm. The stretch-capability should be minimal, so climbing ropes are not suitable at all, but sailing ropes are generally good. Go for a Polyester rope that is heavier than water. Enjoy your dives!