Need some tips guys please

[Granitu]

lol better than me went diving today targeting white fish but only hriebex around

diving in 10-15 meters is not worth, it was like desert

all the fish was collected in the 5 metre range and they were too small

as they say it was a capotto today


with regards to what happenned to spearerr, you have not a faulty gun. it is just that the trigger mechanism does not withstand the bands together

for double bands, you need a trigger which is designed to that. while some withstand it, even if designed for single band, many others are designed to withstand less load for cost purposes

just asking... what thickness of bands you have??

if i can mention brands.....(skip you tell me) i tell you which withstand it and which do not

[fabrizioviper]

I think you ve got something wrong in the trigger , broken or something even from the inside where you cant see the crack. what happens when you load it with one sling  to the full?  NEVER LOAD IT ON LAND.

[baghira]

Hi mates.
As regards the defective gun. Granitu is right in telling that the gun is designed for single rubber, but I have owned other guns which are much older models and I modified, and experimented with them. I never had a gun which shot by itself. I would be very carefull with this gun. What about then changing rubbers to thicher ones, and how would you know if you are safe when loding it to the full (as fabrizio said).

Melliehi Before I got so\ much into spearfishing. I also tried to experiment on my own for years, without seeking any advice, and without any help, and without any websites helping me. I started the way you said, with the gun tied to the buoy. My fear was of loosing the gun, and like that I was safe. I learned that in that way many of the techniques that are much needed, cannot be applied that way. you are also limited in your movements, and you have something to give you hassle when you aim. This also strains your hand. Whilst if you tied your buoy to a weight attached to the belt, you could release it whenever (or pass it to your buddy). In this way, you can mark a spot not visible from the surface, and you can freely move.
A common feeling is that the buoy pisses you, it is boring many times esp. in currents, when loaded etc, but it is a very comfortable way to carry other items, and it is needed when open water,(you will see in summer).

As regards weight issue. Spnotta said it right. I usually use around 7/8/9 kilos in winter, depending on the depth. You might ask??? how? I have to plan my dive beforehand if there is no dinghi by, or attach some weight to the buoy.
In summer the weight drops to 6 kilos (but I am really buoyant compared to other buddies) and also the suit makes the difference.

Hope I helped you as you did when I needed you mate.

[Granitu]

the modern technique to wiegh the needed weight is that at 2/3 of your target depth you become neutral

it much depends on wetsuit and weight distribution rather than you baghira different neoprene have different buoyancy levels and also the type of neoprene and the fit of the wetsuit. a perfect fit wetsuit has lower buoyancy

ankle wieghts are recommended too at medium depts. a commmon problem for spearos is that the fins remain dwindling, uncovering our camoflauge

[mellieha]

Hi guys,

I thank you all for the help.

I am trying alot recently and I am finding myself t do passes of giants very quickly especially in terms of equipment and some techniques.

In terms of weight I will have to try with 7 now although I will have to buy more 1 kg weights.  I only have 2 kgs.  I will also try ankle weights eventually.

I need to buy a reel.  I was told of a couple of models at Mr. Fish (my financer and greatest supporter - Nadine my fiancee) but she does not understand much.  She saw a model that is attached with cable ties and another one that attaches with a clip.  I will have to find time and see them for myself but it is not easy.

Hey guys regarding bouys and drag does it make a difference to have a round or an oval one or is it just tastes.

Hope to be good enough to be able to make a buddy dive and not be of trouble to anyone.

Thanks

Adrian

[baghira]

Granitu
I have been diving and freediving ages now, and I tried load of suits, along with my buddies. I can assure you that body makes a lot of difference in buoyancy. Many times me and my buddy tried same suit and I required 3 more kilos than him, and he is also my same weight.

As regards buoy, I would never buy a round one, since a sausage type creates les drag. It is also more visible. Drag is also created with what you affix to the buoy, so be careful. There are also plancetti which are bigger, more visible for summer (due to boats) and can carry more equipment, but create more drag.

Go and buy a reel. they are all good, some of them maybe a bit lighter, and some more easy to operate. I would go for a smaller one. Forget the trident and buy a spear with a tip, and I recomend not a screw on type. You will train and get better results for sure. The trident makes you lazy. We still use is but just jor octopus or tana.

I forgot to mention that when you tie yourself to the buoy, be sure to have a fast release weight attached with a clip, and also make sure that you are able to fastly release you weightbelt.

[mellieha]

What are '' tana'' please?

'I forgot to mention that when you tie yourself to the buoy, be sure to have a fast release weight attached with a clip'

I have tied the bouy to a weight with a very fragile harira so as to be able to either drop the weight or else strap it off easily.

Yes baghira your right about the reel and spear tip.  I will find some time and go to a dive shop to equip myself better.

Any one around me that opens till late  i.e. after 7?

[Granitu]

tana is the fish den ie where the fish hides(its home)

there are various types of tana. it much depends on the bottom

[spearerr]

i am two different types of diameters one is 20mm and the other is 18mm. This was desided after i done a test that when applied two same diameters the pwoer is the same as one but when applied two different diameters and two different lenghts the power is much more trust me! try it and you'll see !

[Granitu]

for malta, i would go for 16mm bands

unless you are targeting big fish like ajs, groupers and similar fish you won't need much penetration.... even for the dentex, 16mm is said to be fine although i personnaly would prefer 17.5mm. i saw many italians who fish dentex with double 16mm and they catch

let me note the downside of thicker bands..... they have bigger recoil and the probability is of having an un-precise shot

on the other hand they have better penetration since their thickness delivers more momentum to the spear... in simple physics

for faster shots the diameter of the spear is essential than....

however it is essential that coupled with a good gun you need excellent technique which is what really helps to get fish

just my two cent

[mellieha]

Hey guys,

Me again.

Went yesterday one of the days to forget.

As soon as I went in the water saw a sicca.  Good ah finally.  Put by harpoon on the first sling and down I wemt.

I shot with the bullet and went through the sicca.  Ahh full relief.  It gonna be  D day today.  Tried to take the sicca out and noticed a fully ruined tip.  Just purchased.  But no worries the adrenaline was greater.  Changed it quickly and off again. 

After 15 mins I spotted a cerna at 12 meters.  Went for it shot it missed it went to arm the harpoon again and another ruined tip fuck.  My buddy came down shot missed and hyperventilated.  I had 1 option return to shore.  I took him to popeyes slip and helped him up.  He recovered by then but I took no chances up and to the clinic.  He is fine ok now but I totally ruined my good friday.

Hope at least baghira and his buddies got the fish.

Thanks guys

Adrian

[SPNOTTA]

The choice of rubber diameter is very dependent on the length of gun (thus the respective length ofspearshaft), type of gun and the thickness of spearshaft.

I make use of 6.3 and 6.5mm diameter, 150-140cm spearshafts. My personal favourite setup.

For more power, one can reduce the length of the respective bands but be careful not to exceed the elastic limit.


I tried double 20,18,17...result... too much recoil, alot of spearshaft wobble and heavy loading. For my configuration I found 2x16mm best...for shooting at an AJ to shooting a stationary cuttlefish on hard rocks. ( For close encounters like octo, squid and cuttlefish I unload one of the bands and load the other band on the barb closest to the muzzle.).

What do you mean by hyperventilated??...hyperventilation is the process of venting hard enough to reduce the amount of CO2 required to give the body (out of air warning signals).

You mean your buddy had a blackout? That is very scary!!!!

[fabrizioviper]

This is serious mellieha about your buddy having a black out , don t over do it guys , do not be impressed by watching dvds of freedivers ascending with groupers from 30 or 40 mts of water , every individual has his own limits , if you
are comfortable at 8, 10,12 or 15mtr range be happy with it dont over do it.

The deeper you go , the more money you spend on your gear, the more time you remain underwater, does not make you the best hunter ,Experiance ,patience and technique will be rewarding , as years and years go by. Every day at sea is different from the other, that is the best thing in our sport.

[Granitu]

i don't particularly agree with you fabriziodiver... you set your own limits

Simon g, during a normal chat at a forum reunion told me something that really impressed me and very true

"You have to work you depth".

it is not something that you wake up and say let's do 20m. you have to work for results and there is specific training for those that go deep

[Buddhagrass]

I have to agree with fabrizioviper ...... everyone has his own depth limit. I also agree with SimonG that You Have to Work Your Depth but ....... if I usually dive in the region of 20's I can't just say I need to work my way down to 35's because while working your way down you'll notice that maybe your limit is 26. And that is where you'll have to stay unless you start doing freediving training fulltime mode, 7-days a week plus yoga classes, eating special diet and specific training on increasing lung capacity.