CO2 Shark Dart

[Reefrat]

I just got my hands on a co2 shark dart. My understanding is that it is part of a pole spear.,but I dont have the spear part. My question is does anybody have any info on it, or where I can get the right pole for it.
I can use it as a hand held PPD if I have to since I modified an old dive sheath to keep it in,and the co2 cartridge as the handle.

Oh and you ought to see what it does to an old watermelon. :D

[FredT]

The dart was developed to protect returning astronauts and capsule recovery divers. The threat from sharks was greatly overestimated. I don't know of any that were actually used on sharks during a recovery operation.

Several were used by shark hunters both in the keys and the west coast. I heard reports of them being used on the GBR. Target was the belly gut cavity to float the shark out of range, and distend the gut out through the mouth

It's quite effective on midsize critters at and near the surface but the effectivity drops off quickly at depth. By 60' the "standard" size simply annoyed them, so the hunters went to a much larger cartridge. Even so it is pretty depth limited.

FT

[Divin' fool]

PowerHead em':D

Saw one of those on the "old stuff" display at Sea Dogs Diver at NSB...I remember them, but always thought they were just another way to waste money.

[LowpassLew]

I still own one, bought it in 1974. Like they say, you have to hit in the body cavity. I screwed it on my spear gun, but never used it successfully. I switched to a .222 powerhead. Hit a shark anywhere and they get depressed.