Chad Carney
08-23-2008, 12:24 PM
OK I'm starting off with some general tips that can apply to all spearfishing dives, but are most important for depths and dive quantities at the maximum or beyond usual recreational levels.
This is just a starting list... so please feel free to add to it.
An overall quote I've used for years is: "Keep your gas in your tank and out of your body... unless fish are going on your stringer!"
Not sure where I got parts of that one from, but I think it helps for productivity & safety.
Following this principle can help avoid high PO2 & PN2 issues and stresses keeping gas management in mind.
Often I can save enough gas for another slightly shorter/shallower dive... have dropped 3 times on a tank once in a while.
Here are some of my dive methods to achieve spearfishing success:
* Hang high... like altitude for pilots, shallow water is your friend. Fish don't notice you much up there. If you're on a drop off, hit the deepest parts first and save the crest for when you're needing to prevent more gas loading.
* Dive like you're in molasses. Slow everything down, your breathing will follow and your fluid motions won't scare fish. (The only time to bolt is to pounce on prey.)
* Use high performance regulators and keep them tuned up. I like dual control 2nd stages because you can de-tune the cracking effort and venturi when they are not the one you're breathing on, then open them up when you are.
* Get fins with overdrive... they have high cruising speed without much effort. First found out freediving fins were great for scuba in the late seventies, before plastic fins hit. Have tried everything since, and to me nothing compares.
* Streamline your gear. "Everything you need... nothing you don't." (Thanks Nissan!) Spares are great unless they're too big and in the way.
* Get the lead out. Do a buoyancy observation at the end of each dive, especially if you change suit components or other gear. Any excess weight makes you a larger submarine, requiring more power to move through the water, and makes keeping perfect trim more difficult. You should be able to drop quite a bit by just (slowly and quietly) exhaling, and rise back up easily by taking a very large breath... much less need for constant inflator adjustment. Also use your spear or gun butt to push off before kicking (avoids clouding the bottom) and when possible, do much of your gun loading, fish stringing and knifing, high up off the bottom.
* Freeshafting is the safest shooting method when deep. It really takes away huge entanglement problems. Sure you can't do it everywhere or on all kinds of fish... but you might be surprised how good you can get at it, where it can work and how big of a fish it can drop.
* Get in shape and stay there. If you can't go diving as often as you'd like find another source of exercise. I swim without my arms, just scissor kicking, to build up needed muscles and maintain stamina. You don't need a big pool or long distances for this swim style and if you ever have to rescue somebody without gear it's the right stroke.
* Take additional training in the specialties you're interested in or take tech courses. I'll be attending all the professional seminars I can fit in soon.
Especially looking forward to the third Blue Wild Spearfishing Expo. ... it's now called "The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Seminar & Expo" and will be at the IGFA in Dania Beach again on Feb 8 & 9, 2009. www.thebluewild.com
Always enjoy hearing the latest from Kirk Krack, Terry Maas, Dan MacMahon & others. This year almost all the speakers are returning and there are new feature speakers like Steve Callahan, Manny Puig, Pipin Ferreras & more.
What did I leave out?
Got tips you'd recommend?
I've found good ideas from new or moderately experienced divers too.
Chad
This is just a starting list... so please feel free to add to it.
An overall quote I've used for years is: "Keep your gas in your tank and out of your body... unless fish are going on your stringer!"
Not sure where I got parts of that one from, but I think it helps for productivity & safety.
Following this principle can help avoid high PO2 & PN2 issues and stresses keeping gas management in mind.
Often I can save enough gas for another slightly shorter/shallower dive... have dropped 3 times on a tank once in a while.
Here are some of my dive methods to achieve spearfishing success:
* Hang high... like altitude for pilots, shallow water is your friend. Fish don't notice you much up there. If you're on a drop off, hit the deepest parts first and save the crest for when you're needing to prevent more gas loading.
* Dive like you're in molasses. Slow everything down, your breathing will follow and your fluid motions won't scare fish. (The only time to bolt is to pounce on prey.)
* Use high performance regulators and keep them tuned up. I like dual control 2nd stages because you can de-tune the cracking effort and venturi when they are not the one you're breathing on, then open them up when you are.
* Get fins with overdrive... they have high cruising speed without much effort. First found out freediving fins were great for scuba in the late seventies, before plastic fins hit. Have tried everything since, and to me nothing compares.
* Streamline your gear. "Everything you need... nothing you don't." (Thanks Nissan!) Spares are great unless they're too big and in the way.
* Get the lead out. Do a buoyancy observation at the end of each dive, especially if you change suit components or other gear. Any excess weight makes you a larger submarine, requiring more power to move through the water, and makes keeping perfect trim more difficult. You should be able to drop quite a bit by just (slowly and quietly) exhaling, and rise back up easily by taking a very large breath... much less need for constant inflator adjustment. Also use your spear or gun butt to push off before kicking (avoids clouding the bottom) and when possible, do much of your gun loading, fish stringing and knifing, high up off the bottom.
* Freeshafting is the safest shooting method when deep. It really takes away huge entanglement problems. Sure you can't do it everywhere or on all kinds of fish... but you might be surprised how good you can get at it, where it can work and how big of a fish it can drop.
* Get in shape and stay there. If you can't go diving as often as you'd like find another source of exercise. I swim without my arms, just scissor kicking, to build up needed muscles and maintain stamina. You don't need a big pool or long distances for this swim style and if you ever have to rescue somebody without gear it's the right stroke.
* Take additional training in the specialties you're interested in or take tech courses. I'll be attending all the professional seminars I can fit in soon.
Especially looking forward to the third Blue Wild Spearfishing Expo. ... it's now called "The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Seminar & Expo" and will be at the IGFA in Dania Beach again on Feb 8 & 9, 2009. www.thebluewild.com
Always enjoy hearing the latest from Kirk Krack, Terry Maas, Dan MacMahon & others. This year almost all the speakers are returning and there are new feature speakers like Steve Callahan, Manny Puig, Pipin Ferreras & more.
What did I leave out?
Got tips you'd recommend?
I've found good ideas from new or moderately experienced divers too.
Chad