Grounds Multi diving

[BallzDeep]

Say some of you grounds experts left for a single day grounds trip and were going to dive a max of 130 but mostly 110-130. how many dives can you get in on one day diving nitrox?

Yes i am experienced
yes i am diving with computers
yes i have done plenty of dives in and around 120
These dives would be using 31% and 32%
no scrubbing

Just curious as to how many on average can you get out of a day with out scrubbing? Also bottom time is minimal due to smaller tanks. 80's and 100's

(not in tourney)

sorry for the confusion

[Spearo_Fla]

I need a translator? Is this english?

[Jaizzen]

I'd need a good bit more information to answer your question.

What would your average bottom time be?
What mixes are you diving?
Scrubbing?
Do you hug the bottom?
1.6? 1.4?
What computer or computers do you have and use?
How conservative is this person?
What percent of the dives would be at the deeper 130?
How experienced of a spearfisherman (diver) are you.

Alot of guys on the board can assist you with an average number, if they were provided the proper information. Judging by the way the question was asked, sounds like you havent done to many semi-deep grounds trips. If you go, be safe, shoot strait, and come home.

No worries on your English man, I understood ya, Good Luck in the Tourney if thats your intention.

Welcome to Spearboard!

Jason

[WreckDiver]

Another releated thread.
http://www.spearboard.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10547

[zds3488]

I have made anywhere from 3 to 7 in one day. As long as your bottom times arent absurd, you can get in 10 dives on a conservative computer.

[SpearDiverTampa]

If you aren't down there sight-seeing you can probably get 7-8 a day w/out scrubbing.
-Chris

[Denny]

You can count on a minimum of 4. Your model computer will be the single determinig factor. Some computers have far more liberal algorithyms than others.
For example, a Nitek 1 or old Zeagle Status will let you dive 4-5 dives at an average of 180 (yeah, 180) feet in one day. Most computers would have you errored out or doing two hours of deco after your third dive at these depths (some after your second).
Botom line is, only do what you feel comfortable with. If you are the most experienced diver on the boat and you are breaking new ground, BE CAREFUL. Your dive buddies do not want to watch you die.

[Chad Carney]

BD,

The number of tanks and divers aboard is the big determining factor. Running 75 to 110 nautical won't let you seriously overload the boat. 4 tanks each will get us 6 or 7 dives with 100s, even more with 120s. Put all the nitrox you can in your tanks and split your divers into two teams.

We dive by this rule: "Load your stringer, not your body!"

In other words...keep the gas in your tank and out of your body, unless you're sticking fish.

It's only recreational depths in the MGs.

CC

[Spear One]

3 to 5 minute safety stops (after each dive) are mandatory IMO, for repetitive non-decompression spearfishing dives. You must build in a safety margin while spearfishing. You are exerting yourself during spearfishing dives so you must add some margin of safety, especially if you are doing 4 or more drops per day. Safety stops are even more important if you are diving multiple days in a row.

[Spear One]

Originally posted by Chad Carney
BD,



We dive by this rule: "Load your stringer, not your body!"

In other words...keep the gas in your tank and out of your body, unless you're sticking fish.



CC

I agree completely Chad. If your goal on a spearfishing dive is to "load your stringer" try to develop this discipline:

1) Get to the bottom quickly & assess the fish situation

2) Give the site a fair chance (maybe 5 to 10 minutes) to produce & get what you can in that time.

3) If it is "not happening", get out and minimize your nitrogen saturation.

4) This will also save your air for another drop where you may land on a bigger batch of fish

5) Learn to stay off the bottom while shooting. Staying 5 to 7 feet off the bottom as much as possible, greatly increases bottom time and helps to minimize exposure. This will decrease your bottom exposure in 60ft. by about 10%.

6) Try to maximize your harvest while minimizing your exposure. Unproductive drops are a normal part of speearfishing. Learning how to properly/effeciently deal with them, separates the real shooters from the wanna be shooters.

[junior]

Staying off the bottom will definately help your bottom times and thus your number of drops in a day. But, when do you cut your losses and ascend or spend some time diggin in the bottom under ledges looking for that big ass grouper that is holed up?

[Chad Carney]

Junior,

Usually there is some tip that there are fish in the area even from above. Sometimes it's just a big dark nose sticking barely out from a hole. Shoot something legal and create a hot spot if necessary. Every once in a blue moon you pick a nice toad up from a crack when you never saw any signs, but damn seldom.

I hang as high as the vis allows 20 to 30 feet up in the MGs until my eyes adjust or I catch movement from a fish. From that height you can see much more of the reef layout. Shoot from above, pin your fish, grab his gills and shove off from the bottom with your spear, don't kick, take a breath and rise back up while stringing it. (Not with really big fish.)

Work out over the drop on the beginning of your dive, then head back up over the top near the end, if still seeing fish. Keep in mind you could use this tank again, unless you reach the "committed point," if you pass it still think about the gas you're taking on, a few small hogs or snappers may not be worth the time you'll lose on another dive.

Watch your buddy from above, often a fish is watching him, or he's spooked one out that has not seen you yet.

Don't dilly-dally on ascent while still deep , a couple minor beeps won't hurt you, you're still on-gasing an awful lot below 80 feet or so...that said really slow down from 60 feet up, make a good safety stop. (Context is the MGs depths on nitrox).

Chad

[junior]

Chad,

Is the presence of legal fish on a ledge a good indicator that some big boys may be hiding nearby? Inshore I have found that the smaller ledges may hold some good fish or be devoid of life. A quick check under the ledge won't usually hurt your bottom time too much while inshore. But, in the MG I am often faced with a system of ledges, cracks and caves that just baffle the mind. I guess there is just no checking all of the fine detail of the MG bottom structure if you want to preserve bottom time. Sometimes it seems more like an all or nothing venture. One could do drops all day on dead spots with massive structure and come home empty handed or get lucky and land on a minimal structure with the mother load. It makes my head hurt trying to figure it out:) Thanks for the input.

Doug

[diligaf]

Originally posted by Spear One

5) Learn to stay off the bottom while shooting. Staying 5 to 7 feet off the bottom as much as possible, greatly increases bottom time and helps to minimize exposure. This will decrease your bottom exposure in 60ft. by about 10%.


Spear One,

Am I reading this correct, you spearfish 5’-7’ off the bottom? That seems a little too close to the bottom, but I understand we each have our own spearfishing philosophy.

Personally, I’ve never been too much of a look under-the-ledge type of diver. I prefer to be as far off the bottom as my eyes and the visibility will allow, which is generally about 20’-25’ until I target my prey. I’ve always felt if you’re comfortable and act as if you belong in the water, the fish will go about their business in a natural manner, making them easier to spear. If you are to low in the water column, it is more difficult to get a good view of all the activity that is taking place below.

Anyways, I'd like to hear more about spearing 5'-7' off the bottom. It's always good to learn about others methods.

Thanks,

Dave