Bad Vis Hunting

[Steel Shootin']

Discussing bad vis hunting in a diving safety section is kind of like discussing the correct way to play russion roulette at a gun safety class. Personally, I do not like to hunt when the vis is less than 10ft. However, if you're going to hunt in bad vis, what do you do to try to make it a safe experience? Here are some thoughts, most of which you will think are common sense, some you may disagree.

1. Use a line shaft. There is really not much need for freeshafting, and apart from helping you not lose your shaft, it'll be safer for other divers;

2. Hunt ledges, not wrecks. This is my personal preference. Wrecks pose a lot of dangers and have areas that can cut you to shreads, or even cut a high pressure hose. Not to mention all the entanglement issues. On ascent, divers can run into superstructure and such when the thought they were clear. If I have bad vis and I am on a wreck, I won't stay down.

3. NEVER shoot on a horizontal plane, or up (assuming you're not the only one down there). This makes bad vis hunting tougher because it takes a little vis to see beyond a fish. Pretty tough to do when you didn't even see the bottom in the first place. It is vitally important to know that your shaft will be stopped by what is behond the fish, or you risk hitting a diver that you didn't see 10 ft away.

4. Use a high powered flash light and keep it on.

5. Dive only with experienced divers who appreciate the risks, and you know will look out for you as you do for them.

Add to the list?

[Spearchucker]

6. Stay on the boat, break out a flat of sardines, and drink beer all day!

[Steel Shootin']

Originally posted by Spearchucker
6. Stay on the boat, break out a flat of sardines, and drink beer all day! That would be my preference too. I think having a contingency for bad vis is the safest thing to do, so do not think I am promoting hunting in bad vis. Contingencies might include lower 02 mixes to check deeper water, or fishing. I think a strong argument can be made that you shouldn't do it, and as stated in my last vis report, we BAGGED the trip after unsuccessfully looking for cleaner water.

I have to watch what I say, or I'll be sure to get a PM that says "I can't believe you're promoting hunting in bad vis. What are you thinking! Someone will now look for dirty water to practice your suggestions!" :rolleyes:

[Dangerous]

Maybe the readership could opine on the definition of "bad vis” and is the visibility quality, bad vs good, related to targeted species.?

[Big Pig]

Ritchie

200 feet exceeds the recreational dive limits. You should know better.

[Johnoly]

A side comment on HP vs. LP hose cuts.

About 4 years ago the local dive shop hooked up 2 identical rental regulators to AL80's and on the 1st tank/reg took off the 2nd stage and left the bare hose. On the 2nd tank took off the pressure gauge off the HP hose and left the hose bare.

Turned on both at the same time and let them drain. The LP hose drained the tank pretty fast, I forgot the time around 4-5 minutes I think. The bare HP hose almost froze up the 1st stage but was still hissing pretty good.

They put a tank gauge on both and the LP hose tank was just about empty. The HP hose tank still had about 800psi in it.

I'm sure real world water temps would have different outcomes, but the general concensus at the time was it was better to cut a HP hose rather than an LP hose.

Again, nothing scientific, just a dive shop practice session to see what would happen.

[FredT]

The trick is the setup and definitions

"Good vis" should be defined as being able to see the tip end of the shaft fully deployed if line shafting. Freeshafting would have to be defined as being able to see where the shaft impacts the bottom on a miss or shoot through.

In anything less the location of the buddy needs to be VERY well defined as well as any shooting angles. As an example when shooting on a smallish wreck one diver takes the port rail and the other takes the starboard, shooting out only. This while observing a 10° "no shot" safety buffer zone off the stern rail and bow.

I've had some great dives in vis where it was necessary to shoot the gun from the hip in order to see both the fish and the tip. Big fish and by the time you see them, and they see you, it's too late for them to dodge. :D

Treat it like a grouse hunt on a foggy morning. Location awareness is everything.

FT

[MarkD]

Good subject Scott and I appreciate the input from the experienced guys. I was out yesterday in vis that maxed at 15 feet and was mostly more like 10. I knew it was not good when I almost swam under a big ledge when the ledge took a 90 degree turn. :)

The only shot I took was at a hog that was between me and the ledge. I figured I would then just cruise around and burn some air, take another shot if it was safe. I knew there were two other divers down, one with a gun. I saw them at one point, they didn't seem to see me. :eek: Then two others from the boat also dropped on this big ledge and they swam by me, again they didn't make eye contact. At that point I uncocked the gun and decided I had had enough. I am sure I would only take a safe shot, but I wasn't sure about them.

I am a relatively new diver and new spearfisherman, but reading information on this board is helping me learn much quicker. Thanks again for all the solid advice and knowledge.

Mark