Do I really need to take a class?

[Gary H]

Here's reality - this is a dangerous sport, people die every year enjoying this sport, If you stay with it long enough you will be one of those people, or you will know one of them. Trust me from first hand experience, it's no fun coming home when one of your dive buddies died. It will be tough on your family and friends if you are the one that died.

Let me tell you about one of my second-hand experiences. My brother-in-law is in his early 50's, been freediving/lobstering/spearfishing since he was a teen - no formal training. Very comfortable in the water, good breath hold, 70 foot dives to unhook a stuck anchor was no big deal for him. Last summer he blacked out after a series of dives in 15 foot of water. Talking to family on the boat, I know his surface intervals were short, but he thought it didn't make any difference because he was diving so shallow. He drowned and floated to the surface. A recently EMT trained family member was on the boat, noticed his Uncle wasn't moving, pulled him out of the water and saved his life. He spent several days in the hospital recoperating because he inhaled saltwater. He almost died right in front of his wife and children.

I took the Level 1 course last year. If I didn't learn anything else, I learned how to watch and rescue my buddy. If it happens to you, the dying part is easy, if its your buddy, you have to live with it - think about that. I wouldn't trade the money and time I spent on the course for any piece of dive gear.

--- My 2 cents ---

edit: Flamencoguru was my instructor

[nyspear]

Excellent post. And Errol is an awesome instructor!

[killer chef]

I feel the passion in what you wrote, I agree with you 100%

[iamasalmon]

Wow! Thank you all for your responses and keep 'em coming!
I love hearing different perspectives! I started this thread because I know just how dangerous this sport is. This I didn't need to learn from a class.

I was diving with by friends who had come from out of town. It was such a crappy day, hardly any fish seen, terrible viz. We dove 2 different spots before we headed in to get lunch, then went back out for a third session. I was diving out in about 30 feet, for about 30-40 seconds (I usually dive for 60 sec). Not a long dive, not a deep dive. On my way to the surface, I got stuck momentarily (didn't even stop ascending) on some kelp and panicked, and my whole body tensed. I did get to the surface, and as I did, my whole body went into spasms. I had heard about the symptoms of SWB and I knew I had experience a loss of motor control. Had I stayed ONE SECOND longer, had that LMC occured underwater, I would have drowned. My buddy was nearby, but due to the low viz, he would never have found me. I aged 10 years during that 30 second dive... I was no longer indestructible. I had become a weak, fragile human being. The hardest thing was to tell my family what had happened, and to imagine that I was one split second away from placing that burden on my friends. I couldn't sleep that night, I felt that I should have drowned that maybe I did and that I was just a ghost...

I had thought before that being reckless with my life was a choice that would only affect me. It took something like this to realize that it is really for the sake of my friends and family that I should be careful to guard something that they love and hold dear. Being reckless hurts them way more than it will hurt me.

I think, considering the stakes, that a $300 class is cheap. But I was still unsure after talking to several freediving spearos that gave the objections I posted. I know that every spearo that hasn't taken a class is holding out for one or more of the reasons stated here, and I want to try and convince them (and myself) that no matter how comfortable you are in the water (I've been swimming since I was a tot), you owe it to your friends and family to be safe.

So now that I convinced myself to take the class, I had only one more objection: THE MONEY. I came up with a novel solution that has been a hit with my friends and family. CROWD SOURCING. I basically went around to all my friends and family (Facebook is good for this, if nothing else) who enjoy the fish I hunt (you don't eat it all yourself, do you? ) made them aware of the dangers of freediving and asked them if they would sponsor me so I could take the class. I was overwhelmed with the positive response! I'm throwing a fish-party this thursday for my co-workers, and will throw another fish-party this weekend for my family. It won't take many fish-parties to raise the 300 bucks and it gives me a chance to eat some of that fish I've been stock-piling in the freezer . If you want to take a class, but don't have the money, this is an excellent way to raise it. You don't even have to have fish, just the promise of fish and your safety will be enough to get people to sponsor you!

BTW, I'm taking the next class offered in SB with Mark Lozano if we can get 1 more person (See the SBpermaThread http://spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=104631&page=185 post #2775). pm killer chef or myself to reserve your spot! If we cant get that one, I'll be willing to travel to LA or wherever.

[flamencoguru]

Originally Posted by iamasalmon

Wow! Thank you all for your responses and keep 'em coming!
I love hearing different perspectives! I started this thread because I know just how dangerous this sport is. This I didn't need to learn from a class.

I was diving with by friends who had come from out of town. It was such a crappy day, hardly any fish seen, terrible viz. We dove 2 different spots before we headed in to get lunch, then went back out for a third session. I was diving out in about 30 feet, for about 30-40 seconds (I usually dive for 60 sec). Not a long dive, not a deep dive. On my way to the surface, I got stuck momentarily (didn't even stop ascending) on some kelp and panicked, and my whole body tensed. I did get to the surface, and as I did, my whole body went into spasms. I had heard about the symptoms of SWB and I knew I had experience a loss of motor control. Had I stayed ONE SECOND longer, had that LMC occured underwater, I would have drowned. My buddy was nearby, but due to the low viz, he would never have found me. I aged 10 years during that 30 second dive... I was no longer indestructible. I had become a weak, fragile human being. The hardest thing was to tell my family what had happened, and to imagine that I was one split second away from placing that burden on my friends. I couldn't sleep that night, I felt that I should have drowned that maybe I did and that I was just a ghost...

I had thought before that being reckless with my life was a choice that would only affect me. It took something like this to realize that it is really for the sake of my friends and family that I should be careful to guard something that they love and hold dear. Being reckless hurts them way more than it will hurt me.

I think, considering the stakes, that a $300 class is cheap. But I was still unsure after talking to several freediving spearos that gave the objections I posted. I know that every spearo that hasn't taken a class is holding out for one or more of the reasons stated here, and I want to try and convince them (and myself) that no matter how comfortable you are in the water (I've been swimming since I was a tot), you owe it to your friends and family to be safe.

So now that I convinced myself to take the class, I had only one more objection: THE MONEY. I came up with a novel solution that has been a hit with my friends and family. CROWD SOURCING. I basically went around to all my friends and family (Facebook is good for this, if nothing else) who enjoy the fish I hunt (you don't eat it all yourself, do you? ) made them aware of the dangers of freediving and asked them if they would sponsor me so I could take the class. I was overwhelmed with the positive response! I'm throwing a fish-party this thursday for my co-workers, and will throw another fish-party this weekend for my family. It won't take many fish-parties to raise the 300 bucks and it gives me a chance to eat some of that fish I've been stock-piling in the freezer . If you want to take a class, but don't have the money, this is an excellent way to raise it. You don't even have to have fish, just the promise of fish and your safety will be enough to get people to sponsor you!

BTW, I'm taking the next class offered in SB with Mark Lozano if we can get 1 more person (See the SBpermaThread http://spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=104631&page=185 post #2775). pm killer chef or myself to reserve your spot! If we cant get that one, I'll be willing to travel to LA or wherever.

That's was an amazing story and I'm super glad you're going to take a class!! Great brain storm on raising money!!! Super idea. Congrats to you!!!!

BTW, Mark is a good friend of mine and and UNBELIEVABLE instructor!!! You're not going to be disappointed!!! Long dive times, deeper, safer and MORE FISH!!!

Peace and good luck!!

Errol

P.S. Thanks for all the kinds words from my friends, colleagues and former students!! Keep it real and alive!!!

[aussie]

Asking about a class is like asking your mate what it's like shagging a girl. Doesn't matter what he says you're never gonna know till you do it.

Just do the bloody thing. It'll last a lot longer than 3 min.

[arice]

Uh, Tanc, if shagging a girl is only 3 minute engagement for you, I've got a class for you...

[aussie]

Originally Posted by arice

Uh, Tanc, if shagging a girl is only 3 minute engagement for you, I've got a class for you...

For the OP my friend.

[Smudge]

3 Minutes? Marathon man! She's lucky if she even knows I'm in the room before I'm gone! LOL

[Hank49]

If it takes you more than 3 minutes to please her, you're doing it wrong.....

[Ruger]

Well I bought the book, signed up for the class......while the debate amongst the live spearos may go back and forth.....unfortunately, there seem to be a long list of deceased spearos that can no longer voice their opinion. I think I'll listen to them and take the FII class.