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Diving Safety, Accidents and Incidents Post here to discuss accidents, incidents, ideas, gear, or anything else to improve spearfishing safety. Memorials and condolences threads should be placed in that separate forum. |
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06-27-2013, 01:40 PM | #1 |
Catholic Spearo
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Omaha, NE
Age: 39
Posts: 769
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The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety (This guide is by no means exhaustive nor meant as a replacement to formal training by qualified instructors!) If you're reading this you already know how awesome this sport is. Between the thrill of the hunt, the serenity of, and connection with, the underwater world, and the ability to put food on the table, there are many good reasons to engage in this lifestyle. With the many positives comes the reality that this can also be a deadly activity if not done with the proper knowledge and discipline. What is particularly tragic about the vast majority of the deaths and injuries in this realm are that they could have been avoided by following some pretty simple guidelines. ”A successful dive trip is one where you make it back safely to your family and friends.” Buddy Diving Having a dive buddy is essential to safe diving. Not only are they there to support you in the case of an accident or injury but you help keep one another accountable to the tenants of safe diving.
Proper breathing is essential to safe diving. Holding your breath while doing demanding activities underwater can be a quick recipe for disaster if not done correctly.
Being properly weighted not only helps increase the odds of your survival but makes diving generally more effective and enjoyable.
If diving deep underwater without oxygen was dangerous enough then adding a weapon designed to kill really puts it over the top.
In addition to the specific areas that have been outlined, there are several general safety guidelines when spearfishing.
In addition to following a set of rules/guidelines, it's important to take care of your body in general.
(This guide is by no means exhaustive nor meant as a replacement to formal training by qualified instructors!)
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He said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Last edited by OutdoorCatholic; 06-30-2013 at 01:28 AM. |
06-27-2013, 04:35 PM | #2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Venice, FL
Posts: 1,684
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
Thanks. This will be a good start for a beginner before they take a freediving class.
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06-27-2013, 04:45 PM | #3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Laguna Niguel
Posts: 81
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
As a Certified Scuba Diver for over 30 years, its rare to hear of anyone attempting Scuba Diving without proper training. but, when it comes to Freediving....all you need to do is add water?
There are so many people that take risks and don't even know it. Most of us had good mentors and have learned the ropes by trial and error. Now we have Fii as a certifying agency for reputable instruction. I formerly dove to 20 feet and held my breath for 20 - 30 seconds. Now as a certified Fii Level 1, i have made serveral drops to 70 feet and bottom times of up to 1:15. But, most of all i recognize the importance of a good bottom timer and an even better buddy. I was only snorkeling before. Fii changed my view and respect for our sport. |
06-27-2013, 08:55 PM | #4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: West Palm Beach Florida
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
Cat, did you come up with that? It is awesome
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06-27-2013, 09:02 PM | #5 |
Goletard
Join Date: May 2008
Location: suburbia
Posts: 3,616
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
Wow thats a pretty through write up. Lots of it I do, lots of it I dont.
One thing I think is central to dive safety over the long run: Dont push your limits! Jeremy
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06-28-2013, 12:50 AM | #6 |
Max
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Oregon
Age: 68
Posts: 6,272
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
OC, well done!!
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06-28-2013, 07:08 AM | #7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Monterey Bay
Posts: 90
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
Nice post brother! I place apnea and sky diving in the same category; there are no second chances... Thanks for your post.
Respectfully, Jay |
06-28-2013, 08:20 AM | #8 |
Catholic Spearo
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Omaha, NE
Age: 39
Posts: 769
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
Thanks, I wrote it but obviously the knowledge is from the collective community. There are a couple places online that have pretty good info but some delve too much into performance and others feel a bit limited in that they don't give you specifics about some important stuff. This was my attempt to take the best bits of the various sources I have found and make it somewhat clean, organized, and intuitive. I'm open to ideas to flesh it out and I was thinking of making it a sort of safety anthology with lots of links to articles and videos but I'm afraid that will end up missing out on the purpose which was to keep it somewhat simple and clean for the ADD among us.
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He said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. |
06-28-2013, 11:31 AM | #9 |
Lance
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,432
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
I think to the gun safety part you should add something like-- "always UNLOAD a gun before climbing back into a boat or exiting the water; a airborne spear has a much, much greater range than a spear in the water." It should be obvious but I've seen experienced guys in a hurry climb back into a boat or dingy before unloading a gun, and I have seen guys on their first time out with a gun clamber onto a rocky shore in pounding surf with a loaded gun--other guys on shore and easily in range of a airborne spear. Both things freak me out and start me foaming at the mouth.
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06-28-2013, 11:34 AM | #10 |
Lance
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,432
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
Also, I think the rule on scuba/freediving mix is 24 hrs, not several hours, and I think freediving BEFORE scuba is okay but scuba then freediving is a dangerous mix. I don't scuba so it isn't something I follow but somebody should clarify that.
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06-28-2013, 11:35 AM | #11 |
Catholic Spearo
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Omaha, NE
Age: 39
Posts: 769
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
Thanks for that feedback, I'll clarify in the "don't load until in the water" line. I also changed the scuba line to say "Never freedive after doing any scuba diving the same day." I'm not interested in the exact amount of time it takes to off-gas the nitrogen and I don't want anyone getting hurt as a result.
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He said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Last edited by OutdoorCatholic; 06-28-2013 at 12:55 PM. |
06-28-2013, 12:54 PM | #12 |
new shooter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: wellington, fl
Age: 37
Posts: 172
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
awesome write up OC! looking forward to how this grows as more is added(not to say this is missing anything).
2 basic rules i follow are 1) dive often and 2) have fun
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06-28-2013, 01:14 PM | #13 |
Catholic Spearo
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Omaha, NE
Age: 39
Posts: 769
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
Added symptoms of hypoxia as well as caution to stop diving following a SWB or Samba.
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He said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. |
06-28-2013, 01:27 PM | #14 |
Catholic Spearo
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Omaha, NE
Age: 39
Posts: 769
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
Heck, I added/modified several things after thinking about this more.
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He said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. |
06-28-2013, 04:19 PM | #15 | |
Shoot to eat
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ca
Posts: 1,613
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Re: The Idiot's Guide to Freedive Spearfishing Safety
Quote:
Great list! thanks for taking the time. |
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