So this week hasn't been going out as planned for diving. The current score between Mother Nature and I stands at 3-0, in M.N.'s favor. So while waiting for better conditions to come, some insight given to me by my friends on when to dive.
First, weather.com is your friend. Surfline.com is also your friend. Always check out the weather/surf reports a day or so before you go out to dive. Conditions you want to look out for are low surf levels, and low winds. If the surf reports says its a good day for surfing, that means its a bad day for diving. You want low winds because with high winds, there's smaller waves that come more often, essentially turning you into a giant rubber ducky stuck in a bathtub with 2 splashing kids. Not fun. Especially if you're like me and gets sea sick by just thinking about it. Not fun times at all.
Lastly, if you go out, quoted from a friend of mine, if the hairs on the back of your neck stick up, and you don't feel good about it, go get some coffee and a donut, and relax.
In general, use common sense before diving, and as usual, safe diving!
Friday, October 26, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
The equipment
So after a general lengthy introductory post, I figured a nice quick normal post on what one would need for spearfishing/free diving is a good idea.
Free diving is relatively simple compared to scuba diving. All you really need is a wetsuit, a weight belt and hard lead weights according to how much you weigh, a mask, snorkel, and fins. Pretty simple eh? Here's a breakdown for each piece of equipment.
Wetsuit wise, for diving in SoCal, you can get away with a warm water suit, or a 3/2 mm thickness suit. Any wetsuit can do, but I recommend one made for diving. An example of a pretty bang for your buck suit is this one: http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-43/149954/SubGear-3mm-Element-Jumpsuit---Wetsuit.html
For a weight belt, any will do. As long as you're comfortable, that's all you really need. The lead weights you would get for free diving would be the hard solid type, which can break your foot if you were to drop it. Other than that, you can get fancy with special belt buckles, and rubber belts, but that's more on the fancy (advanced) side. Another example of a no-frills weight belt: http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-154/044238/Pinnacle-Diving-Weight-Belt-with-Stainless-Steel-Buckle.html
Mask wise, whatever fits your face. No really, as long as it fits your face and it's comfortable for you, that's what matters. Don't worry about the shape or color. Go for what's comfortable, cause remember, that's gonna be on your face, and when you start diving deeper with the pressure building up, your face is gonna thank you for that comfy mask that's on your mug. However, for free diving, I would get a low-volume mask, such as this one: http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-32/027655/H2O-Onyx-Frameless-Mask.html.
Reason being is when you equalize the mask (blowing a puff of air inside the mask to prevent your mask from becoming a super suction cup as you dive deeper), a lower volume is better since you only have what air is in your lungs. So the less used the better!
A snorkel is pretty simple. Any will do, but the best is actually a J-style snorkel, since it provides the least resistance when you're diving down. You can get away with a snorkel with a purge *basically a drain to get water out of the snorkel*, or one that's semi-dry *has a cover that helps prevents water from getting in* but all the gadgets and doo-dads add resistance, decreasing your aerodynamics. As my old tennis coach likes to say, K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid. An example! http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-39/038042/Scubamax-Commander-Camouflage-Snorkel.html
Finally the fins. There's 2 styles of fins: one is a full foot fin, with an integrated boot that you slide on your foot, either bare or with a thin neoprene sock. The other is an open-heel fin, where you wear dive boots/shoes and the fins have straps that strap your feet in place. For free diving, you'd want full foot fins, since they provide more power transfer as you kick, which equates to higher efficiency, which leads to less oxygen and energy consumed. The downside is that they're tougher to travel around in when walking around the beach to a dive site, and they're not as maneuverable. Also, free diving fins tend to be looooooooooonnnnnnnngggggggg. As comparison, an average fin length will be around 22-24", whereas a free diving fin will be closer to 34", and can sometimes extend up to 36". As comparison:
These are free diver fins.
These are normal fins.
'Nuff said.
Some closing thoughts on free diving gear. All in all, you want things to be as comfortable as possible. Don't get the shiny just cause it's shiny. Sometimes the simple is all you need, since it gives you the most comfort. A good free diver is a comfortable free diver. So take what I said with a grain of salt. What works for one person doesn't mean it'll work for everyone else. Go to your local dive shops. Try gear on. Ask questions. If it doesn't feel right, by all means don't get it. Good luck with the future dives! And I'll do individual updates on each specific piece of equipment. Just wait and see!
Free diving is relatively simple compared to scuba diving. All you really need is a wetsuit, a weight belt and hard lead weights according to how much you weigh, a mask, snorkel, and fins. Pretty simple eh? Here's a breakdown for each piece of equipment.
Wetsuit wise, for diving in SoCal, you can get away with a warm water suit, or a 3/2 mm thickness suit. Any wetsuit can do, but I recommend one made for diving. An example of a pretty bang for your buck suit is this one: http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-43/149954/SubGear-3mm-Element-Jumpsuit---Wetsuit.html
For a weight belt, any will do. As long as you're comfortable, that's all you really need. The lead weights you would get for free diving would be the hard solid type, which can break your foot if you were to drop it. Other than that, you can get fancy with special belt buckles, and rubber belts, but that's more on the fancy (advanced) side. Another example of a no-frills weight belt: http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-154/044238/Pinnacle-Diving-Weight-Belt-with-Stainless-Steel-Buckle.html
Mask wise, whatever fits your face. No really, as long as it fits your face and it's comfortable for you, that's what matters. Don't worry about the shape or color. Go for what's comfortable, cause remember, that's gonna be on your face, and when you start diving deeper with the pressure building up, your face is gonna thank you for that comfy mask that's on your mug. However, for free diving, I would get a low-volume mask, such as this one: http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-32/027655/H2O-Onyx-Frameless-Mask.html.
Reason being is when you equalize the mask (blowing a puff of air inside the mask to prevent your mask from becoming a super suction cup as you dive deeper), a lower volume is better since you only have what air is in your lungs. So the less used the better!
A snorkel is pretty simple. Any will do, but the best is actually a J-style snorkel, since it provides the least resistance when you're diving down. You can get away with a snorkel with a purge *basically a drain to get water out of the snorkel*, or one that's semi-dry *has a cover that helps prevents water from getting in* but all the gadgets and doo-dads add resistance, decreasing your aerodynamics. As my old tennis coach likes to say, K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid. An example! http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-39/038042/Scubamax-Commander-Camouflage-Snorkel.html
Finally the fins. There's 2 styles of fins: one is a full foot fin, with an integrated boot that you slide on your foot, either bare or with a thin neoprene sock. The other is an open-heel fin, where you wear dive boots/shoes and the fins have straps that strap your feet in place. For free diving, you'd want full foot fins, since they provide more power transfer as you kick, which equates to higher efficiency, which leads to less oxygen and energy consumed. The downside is that they're tougher to travel around in when walking around the beach to a dive site, and they're not as maneuverable. Also, free diving fins tend to be looooooooooonnnnnnnngggggggg. As comparison, an average fin length will be around 22-24", whereas a free diving fin will be closer to 34", and can sometimes extend up to 36". As comparison:
These are free diver fins.
These are normal fins.'Nuff said.
Some closing thoughts on free diving gear. All in all, you want things to be as comfortable as possible. Don't get the shiny just cause it's shiny. Sometimes the simple is all you need, since it gives you the most comfort. A good free diver is a comfortable free diver. So take what I said with a grain of salt. What works for one person doesn't mean it'll work for everyone else. Go to your local dive shops. Try gear on. Ask questions. If it doesn't feel right, by all means don't get it. Good luck with the future dives! And I'll do individual updates on each specific piece of equipment. Just wait and see!
Monday, October 15, 2012
The Beginning(?)
So first post, first blog. Kind of jumped on the band wagon with all these blogs, but hey, why not. As the title suggests, I'm from Irvine, CA, and I'm a spearo, or spearfisher. Queue the required background story. Wasn't born in Irvine, but grew up here. Went to Irvine High, and then UCI, and now in the process of applying for more school. Enough of the boring stuff, and onto the awesome! Spearfishing is something I recently took it up due to a number of factors *it being pure awesome for one*, but the main reason is that I'm getting fat, and need some sort of activity to help force me to get into shape, and what better motivation is there than the high possibility of death! Seriously, with spearfishing (which will lead into free diving, which will be covered soon, ei now) one skirts with death with each dive down into the briny sea.
Let's back up a few steps now. Before one can spearfish *not with a wooden spear by the way. Usually at least*, one must learn how to free dive. Free diving is what it is; you go out with a wet suit, snorkel, mask, fins, and a weight belt, and you go down. No air *other than what's in your lungs*, no air tank, no fancy regulators, octos, bcs (buoyancy compensators), maybe a wrist computer/watch, just yourself free sinking down into the unknown. Sounds easy, but its so much further from easy than one would think. First, one has to be in pretty damned good shape (reason 1. See above) to be able to free dive effectively. Secondly, being able to be completely relaxed in the water is a huge mental barrier, at least for the average joe out there. You tell me that you're fine going down into depths of 30, 40 feet off the bat with that much pressure *literally and figuratively* on you. Yea, thought so. Thirdly, and probably the most important reason, is the understanding of limits. Limits on breath holding, limits on how deep you can go, how far you can push it. The most dangerous thing for free divers isn't something extreme like getting eaten by sharks, getting pulled down deeper than a fish they speared into the depths, never to return. It's actually the last 10 feet rising back to the surface that's the number 1 killer. This is where shallow water blackouts happen. Putting aside all the scientific mumbo jumbo *which will come later down the line, in a future post*, if you push yourself while ignoring your body's natural response that screams BREATH DAMN IT!, and then attempt to surface, the change in pressure essentially makes you lose whatever oxygen you have left, and, with an oxygen deprived brain, you black out, sink down, and thanks to us human's natural response to breathe when passed out, you take in water, and then drown. There's no signs of shallow water blackout, no warning signs. You just slip into blackness, and then, if you're unlucky, you won't wake up. Pretty depressing, eh?
So back to the spearfishing. Why do I do it one asks, especially my family. The risks are high, but the rewards are high as well. Getting into better shape, enjoying and exploring the unknown depths, eating the freshest seafood possible, and surprisingly enough, helping the environment all are included. With these reasons of many, I think this hobby/sport is something worth investing, and through this blog, I want to chronicle my progress, successes, and most importantly, pass along information on this seemingly niche sport for those that have seen guys and gals in wetsuits, carrying pole spears, spearguns, and a stringer full of fish walking out of the water and onto the beach, and want to join their ranks. Happy hunting to those spearos out there, and don't be afraid to ask questions newcomers, for knowledge is the key to power!
Let's back up a few steps now. Before one can spearfish *not with a wooden spear by the way. Usually at least*, one must learn how to free dive. Free diving is what it is; you go out with a wet suit, snorkel, mask, fins, and a weight belt, and you go down. No air *other than what's in your lungs*, no air tank, no fancy regulators, octos, bcs (buoyancy compensators), maybe a wrist computer/watch, just yourself free sinking down into the unknown. Sounds easy, but its so much further from easy than one would think. First, one has to be in pretty damned good shape (reason 1. See above) to be able to free dive effectively. Secondly, being able to be completely relaxed in the water is a huge mental barrier, at least for the average joe out there. You tell me that you're fine going down into depths of 30, 40 feet off the bat with that much pressure *literally and figuratively* on you. Yea, thought so. Thirdly, and probably the most important reason, is the understanding of limits. Limits on breath holding, limits on how deep you can go, how far you can push it. The most dangerous thing for free divers isn't something extreme like getting eaten by sharks, getting pulled down deeper than a fish they speared into the depths, never to return. It's actually the last 10 feet rising back to the surface that's the number 1 killer. This is where shallow water blackouts happen. Putting aside all the scientific mumbo jumbo *which will come later down the line, in a future post*, if you push yourself while ignoring your body's natural response that screams BREATH DAMN IT!, and then attempt to surface, the change in pressure essentially makes you lose whatever oxygen you have left, and, with an oxygen deprived brain, you black out, sink down, and thanks to us human's natural response to breathe when passed out, you take in water, and then drown. There's no signs of shallow water blackout, no warning signs. You just slip into blackness, and then, if you're unlucky, you won't wake up. Pretty depressing, eh?
So back to the spearfishing. Why do I do it one asks, especially my family. The risks are high, but the rewards are high as well. Getting into better shape, enjoying and exploring the unknown depths, eating the freshest seafood possible, and surprisingly enough, helping the environment all are included. With these reasons of many, I think this hobby/sport is something worth investing, and through this blog, I want to chronicle my progress, successes, and most importantly, pass along information on this seemingly niche sport for those that have seen guys and gals in wetsuits, carrying pole spears, spearguns, and a stringer full of fish walking out of the water and onto the beach, and want to join their ranks. Happy hunting to those spearos out there, and don't be afraid to ask questions newcomers, for knowledge is the key to power!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)