BC Spearing Trip: Round Two!

[Fondueset]

I used a 5 mil up there last time - also all last winter here (water in the mid 30s F) but I have a 6 mil smoothskin out suit now and it's just heavenly

[JPPLAY]

Originally Posted by efattah

I'd love to try to pole-spear a halibut at 30m+. However it would most likely be done with a more strict buddy scenario due to the increased risks of dragging what could be a very big fish from the depths.

From what I have heard usually you let them settle back down after you spear then ether brain them or get a hold on the gills and fight your way to the surface.
I would only use gear where you could leave the bottom and still be connected to the fish. If you spear a fish it your responsibility to kill it and not let it get away wounded, to have a slow death.

[Erik]

Originally Posted by JPPLAY

I would only use gear where you could leave the bottom and still be connected to the fish. If you spear a fish it your responsibility to kill it and not let it get away wounded, to have a slow death.

Thanks Ranger Jim lol!
I think you know we are all (especially Eric) an extremely ethical bunch.
Erik

[iceselkie]

Originally Posted by tylerz

Umm, my name is Tyler... I am a diver that does not use scuba tanks... I like to go down. There are fish down there and other wierd things. When I go down I get really nice feelings. It all is very much like those dreams where you are under the water... and you are swimming... and you get to look at all the sea life. Yeah... I like that. I banged my head on the bottom of a swimming pool once. I also like how rain rolls right off the feathers of ducks... they are fortunate. Well, I hope when you folks go diving in BC that I go diving too, then we can all like... dive together. And I have a camera. Maybe a photo or two of some of you under the water. I am sure you all look pretty neat in them tight underwater clothing. I like tight clothing.

Hi Tyler...

I just wanted to add: Diving is cool.

[jimdoe2you]

Originally Posted by island sands

I really want to go, but only if I get to share a tent with Jim Doe! I usually wouldn't trek that far for a dive, but if the dive is with Jim then I say, "Let's do it!" He is handsome, intelligent, confident, and funny. Most of us DB girls send each other PM's discussing things such as what it would be like to be married to such a fine man, to have his children, and the rumor that he can part his hair with his tongue. What do you say Jim??? Please, I am begging you. I will do anything you want. Anything!!!

Please Sara, ...............you promised to keep yourself under control. I will speak to Colin and if it is OK with him, you can sleep in our tent, ........but no funny business!

Jim

P.S. Don't forget you promised to take down that unofficial jimdoe2you fan club web site you started.

[Fondueset]

Sara, Before joining Jim and Colin in their tent You might want to spend some time contemplating the very large slugs they have up in BC. Jim has a spiritual kinship with them. On the other hand, so to speak, they do pretty much eliminate the need for hair conditioner...

[feign]

Originally Posted by Seacidal

On a side note, what thickness suit do most freedivers wear for those waters? And what thickness socks and gloves? I wear an old 7mm here off of Ventura, California when the water is in the low 50s.

I'm wondering what would be best in even colder water. Particularly if you wanted to be able to dive effectively for hunting. Anybody have any suggestions? comments?

Seacidal, those temperatures (10-12 C) in the area of TC are comparable to your low 50 F waters. We get this temp and colder also quite frequently in our Alberta lakes. Last summer at TC I had a 7mm with open cell on the inside. 5mm socks and gloves. I was quite comfortable. I know that I would have probably been cold after an hour in a 5mm or less. I was impressed to see other freedivers there using even 3 mm components and coping. Maybe they are tougher than I am. The other cooling factor is the air temp above you that can be quite cool that far north when the sun is hidden. Personally, I would use the thickest and most comfortable suit you have to maximize your cumulative warmth for repetitive diving.

lee

[Fondueset]

!!!! Sheesh. I felt like a wimp for getting cold after a few hours. Then Tyler - who had a 5 mil top and 3 mil bottoms, explained that smooth out suits are WAY warmer - Next I found out Eric was using a 6 mil suit - jim had 6.5 and now you've got 7. Of course there was Claire in her 3 mil plush lined suit.

[feign]

Ok, maybe the 7 mm makes me look like a wimp, but I have dove multiple times in 3-4 C with a 5 mm. I friggin froze though. Staying warm tactics are probably best done by Erik. Ask him about dry gloves.
Definitely, the post dive cool off will be worse with the nylon exterior. Your smooth 6mm should be quite nice.

[Fondueset]

It's amazing! I'm diving in 3 or 4c - none of that surface heat-loss during breathups and surface swimming. I do 90 minutes to two hours where I did 45 to and hour in my 5 - and when I get out I start warming up immediately instead of freezing all the way home. Last sunday I got talking with some scubies in the parking lot and after 20 minutes I was ready to go back in again. I really had no idea how much warmer smoothskin suits are.
I've got a 5 mil open cell suit coming for Claire - nylon out though. I think she's a little too hands on for smoothskin just yet.

[feign]

Wow, you are making me want smoothskin. I am just afraid of ripping something like that with lying on rocks, docks, fish spines etc. I tore a smoothskin vest in half 2 years ago. I tried to put it back together again, like humpty, with neoprene glue. Then I forgot it in the sun on the deck mid-summer at my in-laws. They later found it basically melted to their deck not knowing quite what it was. I never claimed it.

Did you go with Elios again? Should I even ask.....

[Fondueset]

Of course LOL - nice vest story.

I just went smooth for the top - the bottoms are nylon out with kneepads for the reasons you mentioned. The cut is a little different than my nylon out suit - there are seals around the face and cuffs and the hood is cut much closer around the face - i don't need my ice mask any more in 3c water because my forehead is pretty much completely covered. The neoprene is really stretchy - You have to be careful with fingernails and stuff but it's very easy to put on. I wrote a big review about it and Asturven has detailed pics of his on a thread here. -
Elios 6mil smooth review
though he got a different lining.
No kidding I've been out on days when the air was 30 F and very windy and I barely felt it.

[Seacidal]

OK, you've convinced me that I won't freeze solid and sink. (I probably have too much fat for that anyway!)

But I'm certainly going to have to get a new suit before then. (hello Jim!) My 7mm picasso is very tired, and is far from its original thickness. I've patched so many holes and tears in it, I think there might be more glue than neoprene.

However, I don't think I can bring myself to getting a skin-out suit. I encounter far too many rocks, fish, attack lobster, urchins, non-skid boat decks, and other abuses that (for me) necessitate a nylon, or other similar material, exterior.

I'll just be sure to bring along my winter booties and a new pair of thick gloves.

Thanks for the input! It's much appreciated.

Seacidal
Ventura, CA
(Where the weatherman told us to expect to see high teens. I thought to myself, I see high teens hanging out at the 7-11 all the time!)

[jimdoe2you]

Originally Posted by Fondueset

....................Next I found out Eric was using a 6 mil suit - jim had 6.5 and now you've got 7. Of course there was Claire in her 3 mil plush lined suit.

Correction, I use a 6mm Elios and not a 6.5mm.

Take that Lee!!!

(Chip, you will have what you need for the trip. I will PM you just before the order.)

.

[Fondueset]

Very well, now that I have joined the 6 mil club I can no longer, in good conscience, think of you as a wimp with a slug fetish. I do, however, dive in 36F water and Tyler dives in BC in a 5/3 suit with no fins. At the very least I think I have to make a BC dive in no suit and, possibly, eat a slug.