Capetonian Newbie

[Lenny]

Hey I'm new to this forum, in fact I'm kinda new to spearfishing.
I've been diving for crayfish for a few years, round Kommetjie, Soetwater and Scarborough. Trouble is i get really bored in the off seasons. I know a guy who has a place in Smitswinkel, he started talking to me about back in the day when he was a spearo. From then onwards I kinda fell in love with the idea of shooting fish. since then I have been reading every book I can find about the subject, starting to practice staying underwater for longer etc.

When Crayfishing I have a comfort zone of about 3-6m. I've probally dived up to about 10m, once upon a time. I know that probally sounds like swiming in puddles to you guys. But I'm quite keen to learn.

So I haven't actually gone spearfishing yet, firstly cos I don't have a gun. That's sorta what I want to ask about. Is it real important to buy a brand new, super expensive gun to start off with, or can I work with a second hand one for starters? What are good makes?

Another thing is that my diving buddie , likes crayfish but couldn't be bothered about chasing fish. So I need to meet some people I can go with ( If possible on a not too hardcore dive). I live in Fish Hoek, but I'm moving out to Monte Vista area in June. Do any of you guys belong to clubs or know people you could hook me up with?

any help or advise would be really appreciated!

Thanx

[Lenny]

Just thought of something. Are there any false bay divers who have a shark shield? I'm really thinking of getting one of those. I must sound like a bit of a wimp but I get real un-easy when I'm 400 m from shore with no kelp to hide in. Is that a myth or are Great Whites generally not interested in persuing prey through kelp forrests?

[hunlee]

Hi Lenny!

There are so many spearo's around, many active on the strand
http://forums.deeperblue.net/red-sea...th-africa.html
I'm a freediver myself, but I don't shoot.
Why don't youcome around to the breathhold event we're having this coming friday at the Extreme Hotel in Cape Town, and meet a lot of spearo's and freedivers!?
Check out the details:
Fun Static at Extreme Hotel Cape Town
See you there,
Hanli

[Lenny]

Wow, That sounds awsome! thanks for the invite,
I would love to come, the only thing is I got something on this friday that I can't really miss. But I'd love to know if you ever have something like this again.
Do you perhaps know how I could get hold of the Bellville underwater club?

thanks so much!

[chris the vis]

Ahoy Lenny
Here's a link:
Bellville Underwater Club
In PE at the moment,but we must hook up when I come down to CT again. Was in CT this last weekend + driving round fish hoek/simon's town on Sunday..water looked so damn good, but left my diving kit at home, Why??
I'm going to go silently weep now again.

[hunlee]

pity you're busy on friday... BUT:
Sunday, the 6th, we are having the pool sessions of the Freediving Open,
at the Long Street pool.
From about 9 until 15.00.
It's a drop in comp, so bring your wetsuit mask and fins and give it a bash!
Hanli

[Lenny]

Well maybe I'll just watch cos I not much of a freediver yet.

[Lenny]

Hey Chris: That sound like a plan!

I spent most of that weekend in the water. It was beautiful!
Next time give me a shout you can use some of my extra gear.

[covert]

Originally Posted by chris the vis

Ahoy Lenny
Here's a link:
Bellville Underwater Club
In PE at the moment,but we must hook up when I come down to CT again. Was in CT this last weekend + driving round fish hoek/simon's town on Sunday..water looked so damn good, but left my diving kit at home, Why??
I'm going to go silently weep now again.

So thats the way you play it huh come to town and you dont give us a shout for a beer or 24 what the hell

[covert]

by the way lenny your fins are still in my boot :P are you coming to the club on wednesday to collect them?

[chris the vis]

Hey Covert
I was at long street with Jeff, Hanli and the other freedivers on the saturday night, and I did have 24 beers after having been on a wine tasting earlier that day...
where were you? is the question

[covert]

sadly i was in jhb work tends to intefere to much in my life. Im still upset with you though damnit

[Lenny]

Sure, I'll be there.

I did'nt even realize, nuts! I wanted to go for a snorkel tomorrow before coming through in the evening. Perhaps I'll swim barefoot that sould be some good exercise. Anyways, I look forward to the meeting.

[Lenny]

Heya Sean

How was the dive on Sunday? Sorry could'nt make it, sundays are the most hectic day of the week for me. But things will cool down as I have now moved to the northen suburbs, only one street away from the church. So I might still be able to sneek a dive in inbetween services.

Saturday was the lousiest day of diving I've ever had!!!! I dived Fish Hoek, 2-3m viz!!, Camps bay was a bit too far so I drove to soetwater, where the water was a flat as a mirror. I got all kitted up again and swam out 30m, I could not see the end of my speargun!!!! arrg. Tried the water again in Fish Hoek in the evening, it had cleared a bit so I could see about another meter or so. I loaded my gun in about 1.5m deep water and as I turn around I saw a 30-35cm white stumpnose (only real fish I have seen all day). I didn't want to shoot it from the surface so I tried to decend in 1.5 water (almost impossible task) when I got on the same level as it, it was almost out of range. I shot and it disapeared behind a rock. Too add insult to injury, As I started pulling in my spear, it came back around the rock and gave me a perfect broadsided at nearly point blank range (not that my gun was loaded). If fish could speak, would be ripping me off! So thats the story of my weekend, I hope yours was better.

[covert]

Sorry to hear but get use to it, I think they send the small ones out on a dare to tease you and just after you take your shot they big ones come out to tease you its a sorry fact of life. Next time your in 1.5 just take the shot from the surface you make too much noise trying to decend at that level, and generally the fish scram. Although taking a shot from the top calls for some serious aiming. Went out for a dive at Bakoven and shot some nice hottie felt very refreshed after two hours in the water came home and made a stack of fish cakes. Pity bout not hooking up though would have been lekka.

btw the fish do rip us off is their given right :P