This list of knots is not a comprehensive list of knots but does provide you with a list of what we consider to be the most commonly used knots underground and we feel anyone venturing underground should be capable of tying them all. The ability to tie and use knots quickly and safely is not only good for general rigging of rope but if you ever find yourself in a situation where your or someone else's life depends on knot tying then having learnt them before hand could potentially be a lifesaver. This page aims to give you a brief overview, if you wish to have more pictures or more detail on how to tie them please refer to one of the numerous books available for this purpose (see club library for such a book)..

Online resources - check out a great website with animated knots

Figure of 8 : One step better than an overhand knot, more preferable than an overhand for a stopper knot.

Figure of 8 (loop) : Either tied on the bight or threaded this forms the most common knot for a single anchor belay and should only be used where the direction of pull is along the line of the knot.
Figure of 8 on the bight : Useful for y-hangs, similar usage as bowline on bight but bulkier knot and uses more rope (there is an ever on going debate at which of the two does the job better - use your own judgement and use whatever you prefer!)
Figure of 9 (loop) : As for figure of eight knot but with an extra turn. It forms a stronger knot, although it is more bulky and uses slightly more rope.

Bowline : The standard bowline is well known and widely used, sometimes the tail is finished off with a stopper knot (third picture) but the most preferred and generally accepted better method is to rethread the tail back through the knot which creates a Yosemite Bowline (fourth picture).

Bowline (mountaineering/2 turns) : The same as a bowline but with two turns instead of one this forms a stronger knot than the standard single turn bowline, as with the bowline the tail should either be tied off with a stopper knot or threaded back through the knot.

Bowline on the bight : The most commonly used knot for creating a y-hang, has the benefit of the two loops being quickly and easily adjusted once tied. With a bight of rope tie a loose overhand knot, take the bight and then pass it over the knot, the loose turn in the overhand knot can then be pulled and adjusted to create the two loop.

Alpine butterfly : A mid rope knot that can be loaded three ways, at its most useful for traverse lines but can also be used for one half of a y-hang. Create two twists in a bight of rope, take the bight and pass it under the twists and then bring it over the knot and thread it through the middle twist.

Double fishermans : Useful for joining two same sized ropes together, although it can be difficult to undo after heavy loading. A double turn is created with the tail then threaded through the turns, the other rope passes through the turns the other way and is tied off using the same double turn principle as before - ie. two knots the same - when loaded they pull together.

Italian hitch (Munter Hitch)(HMS) : Commonly used for belaying people up and down pitches, climbs etc, the techniques involved should also be learnt which is not within the scope of this page. Create two loops as shown, fold them together and clip a krab through

Picture coming soon..
Tape knot : Only to be used for joining the ends of tapes to form a sling, never use this for joining rope. It is tied by starting with an overhand knot with one end and threading the other end back round the first knot.