Locking and unlocking the Dive Rite Slide Lock Reels requires only one hand and a simple thumb flick. The low profile, thumb operated and spring loaded locking pin has positive detents for on and off lock. The locking pin engages with the spool to either lock the spool in place or release it for use. When unlocked, the reel is free spooling, meaning that there is no ratcheting action like there is on other locking reels. The free spool allows for a smooth and effortless deployment of line.

The spool is an injection molded polycarbonate with a lifetime replacement warranty against breakage, cracking or warping. The marine grade stainless steel axle and anodized high quality aircraft grade aluminum frame are highly corrosion resistant. The included double-eye bolt snap is marine quality 316 stainless steel and the line stop bead is a low profile design. The reels are available with factory pre-load line choice of orange #21 polyester or white #24 nylon.

Dive Rite Slide Lock reels offer a couple of unique benefits associated with their design. The Dive Rite spools are held in place with an e-clip, making it a simple matter to remove and replace the spool. This means the diver can inventory spools loaded with several different types of line and quickly swap the line load in order to configure the reel for a specific mission. The design also means it is quick and easy to clear a reel jam by removing the spool. (The Dive Rite reels are not prone to jams, far from it, but we've yet to see the 'jam proof' reel. Reel jams occur regardless of brand or design because the proper function of any reel also depends, in part, on the skill of the user and sometimes just plain bad luck.)