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Cornwall 2010
- Thread starter gutshot
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Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 90 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Thanks, i did some research are a close call last year after an extended dive at about 10-12m. I got spooked so ended up with a wake up call.
Hey brett, must not grumble at all. Great waves to be had and suprisingly uncrowded at times too!
Just hd a family break out in the Scillies for week. Didn't haul my gear over there as with two kids it seems like we took the entire house contents. Did take my rod though and borrowed a kayak one afternoon for what turned out to be some enjoyable pollock fishing. Thought i'd post up my best result as these pages seem a bit devoid of fish as of late!
Let's hope these conditions sort themselves out.
Let's hope these conditions sort themselves out.
Attachments
Of course not - it's your personal choice.
My 2p on this fwiw....
Unless you're operating a strict "one up one down" + spotting system (who here really does this every time they go out? honestly...) when theres two of you - then your "buddy" is probably next to useless anyway because he's "over there in that patch of string weed", and unless he spots your lifeless body, you will probably be dead before he notices...
And one more thing....
If you outdive your buddy and get deep water (or shallow water and sink for that matter) blackout and end up on the bottom, if he can't get to your depth because you unwittingly outdove him, then you're knackered as well...
The upshot...
So many things can go wrong in Freediving/Spearing, it's a bloody dangerous sport, people die in the bath practising it for gods sake...Sometimes people get saved due to good planning and procedure, sometimes it's skill, sometimes it's luck, and sometimes none of it works (or works right), and the person dies anyway.
Do what you can to minimise the risk....the advice here by and large is good.
[Forrest Gump]Thats all I have to say about that[/Forrest Gump]
Nice pollack Badlander, any idea as to weight?
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It looks like vis is set to improve, not before time.
I'm hoping to get out after work tomorrow. If I recall correctly it'll be low tide when I get to the south coast at about 17:00 - 17:30. So could be time to try the string weed thing again, hopefully with a bit more success this time.
sj
I'm hoping to get out after work tomorrow. If I recall correctly it'll be low tide when I get to the south coast at about 17:00 - 17:30. So could be time to try the string weed thing again, hopefully with a bit more success this time.
sj
Alas, no more success.
Got in for an hour plus either side of low water, and slightly lower tides than last time. Pushed out further than I had before and found more weed patches, but nothing there. Saw on decent Mullet on my way in, but it scarpered before I got anywhere near range. Then just as I came to the edge of the reef on my way in a shoal of Bass bolted past me. I suspect the largest we're boarderline, so not too worried that they were gone as soon as I saw them, and pleased I didn't just take a quick shot.
Got site meetings tomorrow so might give tonight a miss. I could do somewhere on the Lizard in the morning or pretty much anywhere after my St Ives in the afternoon.
sj
Got in for an hour plus either side of low water, and slightly lower tides than last time. Pushed out further than I had before and found more weed patches, but nothing there. Saw on decent Mullet on my way in, but it scarpered before I got anywhere near range. Then just as I came to the edge of the reef on my way in a shoal of Bass bolted past me. I suspect the largest we're boarderline, so not too worried that they were gone as soon as I saw them, and pleased I didn't just take a quick shot.
Got site meetings tomorrow so might give tonight a miss. I could do somewhere on the Lizard in the morning or pretty much anywhere after my St Ives in the afternoon.
sj
sj257, were you on north or south cost if you dont mind me asking? im assuming all this rain has affected the vis?
I was on the south coast around mid county and the vis was far better than i had anticipated. Was a bit patchy at times but was generally 5m plus probably pushing 8m+ in places. Not the best I've seen, but well beyond gun range. Is an east facing bay, so it's beena bit sheltered from the recent weather.
Hope that helps. Feel free to pm if you want to know any more.
sj
Hope that helps. Feel free to pm if you want to know any more.
sj
Seeking advice.
I'm looking to possibly get in on the North West end of the lizard tomorrow as I have a meeting in Cury (nr Mullion). If there are any particularl do's and don'ts around there that anyone is aware of could you please let me know, by a post or pm as you see fit.
I'm a little concerned as I recall that Loe Bar up the road has a reputation for some very nasty current, so concerned that this might be the case along that coast line. I'm aware of some spots to try elsewhere on the Lizard, but handy if I can be nearer my meeting if it's safe, and ideally productive, to do so.
Thanks.
sj
I'm looking to possibly get in on the North West end of the lizard tomorrow as I have a meeting in Cury (nr Mullion). If there are any particularl do's and don'ts around there that anyone is aware of could you please let me know, by a post or pm as you see fit.
I'm a little concerned as I recall that Loe Bar up the road has a reputation for some very nasty current, so concerned that this might be the case along that coast line. I'm aware of some spots to try elsewhere on the Lizard, but handy if I can be nearer my meeting if it's safe, and ideally productive, to do so.
Thanks.
sj
Bit late down the thread, but i thought i would share some advice regarding the SWB issue.
1: Dont dive overweighted. You should be positively buoyant from 10 m.
2: Dont dive with your snorkel in your mouth. Lots of reasons for that one!
3: Avoid deep dives unless you have practiced with a buddy, as you wont be aware of your own limits.
4: Practice your recovery breaths. SWB is one threat to safety, but passing out at the surface is a bigger threat.
5: Dont look up when you start to surface. This trigger the need to breath as it stimulates certain receptors on the neck.... this causes panic to set in and therefore your heartrate.
6: SWB does tend to occur between 10m and the surface due to the rapid decrease in the PP02 in the lungs, so if you do intend to dive deep, dive with a buddy as you could be totally unaware of its onset. It can happen almost instantly, and without warning.
7:Hypoxia (lack of 02) will set in AFTER the excess c02 starts to make you want to breath, use your first 10- 20 seconds of contractions as a signal to surface and try not to push though too many!
8: Dont fin too hard on your way back to the surface (not at all is best).
Avoiding SWB should be easy, just dive within your limits and if you are pushing your boundaries make sure you have a good buddy with you.
1: Dont dive overweighted. You should be positively buoyant from 10 m.
2: Dont dive with your snorkel in your mouth. Lots of reasons for that one!
3: Avoid deep dives unless you have practiced with a buddy, as you wont be aware of your own limits.
4: Practice your recovery breaths. SWB is one threat to safety, but passing out at the surface is a bigger threat.
5: Dont look up when you start to surface. This trigger the need to breath as it stimulates certain receptors on the neck.... this causes panic to set in and therefore your heartrate.
6: SWB does tend to occur between 10m and the surface due to the rapid decrease in the PP02 in the lungs, so if you do intend to dive deep, dive with a buddy as you could be totally unaware of its onset. It can happen almost instantly, and without warning.
7:Hypoxia (lack of 02) will set in AFTER the excess c02 starts to make you want to breath, use your first 10- 20 seconds of contractions as a signal to surface and try not to push though too many!
8: Dont fin too hard on your way back to the surface (not at all is best).
Avoiding SWB should be easy, just dive within your limits and if you are pushing your boundaries make sure you have a good buddy with you.
Thanks NC - also dont forget that db forums have some, if not most, of the worlds top free divers & competitive spearos on board.
A quick use of the search button or menu will bring you all the up to date techniques & safety factors available.
Here for instance are some threads found under "Freediving Safety" Safety
A quick use of the search button or menu will bring you all the up to date techniques & safety factors available.
Here for instance are some threads found under "Freediving Safety" Safety
Indeed. I think every spearo should spend some time in learning more than they think they need to know re breath-hold, for their own safety and others. One thing i have noticed some spearos doing, friends included, is Hyperventilating pre dive..... a big mistake which really can lead to SWB. I wont bore people with the reasons for this, just dont do it.
Got in on the south coast last night. First spot we checked there was just a tad too much swell and the vis was questionable. We headed down onto the Lizard found somewhere else. Vis was 1m off the beach but there are local factors that cause this and further round the vis opened up to 5m in places. We got in too early really and the current was still whipping along but it was takng us the right way so we just cruised along with it. As the tide went slack we started seeing fish and by the end i'd had a couple bass and a gg mullet. Rather hoping the conditions allow some north coast action soon.
Hope you are right aqbout the north coast as i am planning a kayak dive on sat on the north coast.
The advice about SWB and wieght i think is dependant on depth of your dives. I adjust my weight depending on where i am diving. More weight for shallow diving and less for deeper diving. I dont want to be struggling to stay down on the bottom at 5m because i am positively buoyant at 10m. For freediving, then yes, positive bouyancy at 10m is perfect. For spearfishing you should have a good idea what the general depth of your chosen days diving is going to be and, for example, if the planned depth is 5m you want to be neutrally bouyant at that depth positively bouyant from 4m. Struggling to stay down because you are excessivly bouyant is a sure fire way of scaring off any fish. If you are unsure about your wieght then the best advice is to be underweighted due to SWB. Just incase anyone doesn't know what this means,... neutral bouyancy means that when you are on the bottom (or your planned depth) you neither sink down or float up. It is impossible to get it perfect but you should be able to get it somewhere abouts.
Additionally, (sorry for the sucking eggs here) if you are going to be positive at a shallow depth, then there is nothing better than getting a good grab on the kelp weed stalk to keep you down. It doesn't take much of an effort, not for me at least.
The kelp hold is good but positive on the bottom makes readjusting your position to stalk along the bottom to a better vantage point very hard indeed.
Anyway, i like eggs!
If you are diving in consistently (consistently being the operative word here) shallow water (sub 10 m) then more weight will be needed just as Gutshot mentioned. Floaty ankles can be to do with the buoyancy of your wetsuit or your body type. Ankle weights may not be a bad idea, although you don't want to overweight and be dragging your fins all over the seabed.
Maybe try to relax more as it may be less float and more muscle than you think. One good way of testing is to lie in a pool without fins and suit (or the sea if you are tough), here you can discover your true natural buoyancy.
Depends on density of fins really. I have a pair of fins which are quite heavy but my other lightweight fins require weighting down otherwise, as you say, feet float up when you are at the bottom and it can make finning at the surface inefficient and a bit splashy.
Best way I found is to cut a strip of lead sheet to length of the circumference of yr ankle and about 5" wide, then fold it over with a lump hammer. Works a treat for me. I also cut the cuffs off old gloves to slide over my foot and over the lead to stop it slipping around (also makes the whole area streamlined). A bit of trial and error is probably required depending on build/length of legs.
Ed
Best way I found is to cut a strip of lead sheet to length of the circumference of yr ankle and about 5" wide, then fold it over with a lump hammer. Works a treat for me. I also cut the cuffs off old gloves to slide over my foot and over the lead to stop it slipping around (also makes the whole area streamlined). A bit of trial and error is probably required depending on build/length of legs.
Ed
Hey All.. as Seabass chef's I thought you might want to try this recipe... the best fish I have ever tasted from my kitchen!!
Hot n Sour Seabass
Ingredients:
• 1 large sea bass (whole/filleted)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small knob fresh ginger, minced
• 1/2 onion, cut into slices
• 1 pepper, cut into slices
• 1 to 2 tomatoes, diced
• 1 (15 oz.) can pineapple chunks, drained, saving the juice
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2-3 sprigs fresh Coriander
• 1-2 slivered salad onions
Arrange fish (scaled) in a baking tray. Sprinkle garlic and ginger inside and all over. Place onions and pepper, pineapple chunks, fresh chili (medium) and tomatoes. Garnish with coriander and slivered salad onions. (I also used some big slices of fresh pineapple to lay under the fish along with some mango I had left over.. well worth it!!)
In measuring cup, combine 1/2 cup pineapple juice, tomato paste, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and cornstarch (i put a touch of hot dried chili in here too). Whisk well. Microwave 1 minute and whisk. Microwave another 1-2 minutes to thicken and pour over fish and veg.
Bake for 20-30 mins depending on the size of the fish.. in the meantime.. knock together a veg stirfry with noodles and a good sauce.. and POW! - honestly the best Seabass dinner I have ever tasted!!
Enjoy with a bottle of vino.. I know I did! :friday
Hot n Sour Seabass
Ingredients:
• 1 large sea bass (whole/filleted)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small knob fresh ginger, minced
• 1/2 onion, cut into slices
• 1 pepper, cut into slices
• 1 to 2 tomatoes, diced
• 1 (15 oz.) can pineapple chunks, drained, saving the juice
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2-3 sprigs fresh Coriander
• 1-2 slivered salad onions
Arrange fish (scaled) in a baking tray. Sprinkle garlic and ginger inside and all over. Place onions and pepper, pineapple chunks, fresh chili (medium) and tomatoes. Garnish with coriander and slivered salad onions. (I also used some big slices of fresh pineapple to lay under the fish along with some mango I had left over.. well worth it!!)
In measuring cup, combine 1/2 cup pineapple juice, tomato paste, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and cornstarch (i put a touch of hot dried chili in here too). Whisk well. Microwave 1 minute and whisk. Microwave another 1-2 minutes to thicken and pour over fish and veg.
Bake for 20-30 mins depending on the size of the fish.. in the meantime.. knock together a veg stirfry with noodles and a good sauce.. and POW! - honestly the best Seabass dinner I have ever tasted!!
Enjoy with a bottle of vino.. I know I did! :friday