Guernsey 2007

[sunfish]

Excellent post Dave, and as to the flatties, well they really are "binlids"!

 

[gbo200]

Went for a speed dive after my run on the West coast last night at sunset. I am really digging this. Even though the dives are short, it just feels like more of an adventure. It reminds me of my time in Cayman when you could carry all your gear under one arm. The whole suit thing really is a pain.

Temp: 17C
Time in: 14 minutes
Equipment: mask, snorkel, speedos. Alas, no camera.
Fishies seen: 3 bass schooling together. Swam with them for a couple minutes. Very cool. One was large. One bass on way in by the beach. A few wrasse and the usual small stuff.

Don't know how long I will be able to keep this up for. There was a definate thermocline at about 1m, so the surface was the warm bit at 17C. Had the shivers on the walk up the beach after the sun had gone down but was fine once I got my nasty sweaty running gear back on. Would like to get in again soon for a real dive (with suit) if time permits.

g.

 

[foxfish]

Any one know where I can get hold of two (min) demijohns? Want to make some cider.

 

[Sarnian]

I went in at Amarreurs (Ladies bay side) to test my re-rigged Mamba. By the time I'd got home after work and done this, I was later than I wanted getting in ( half hour after low), so I just went out to the weed beds near shore. After about 5 mins. I saw a familiar silver/bluey grey shape cruising the other side of the weeds. Nice size bass too - I reckon at least 7-8lb. I made the mistake of waiting to line up a shot - too late, he disappeared out into the sand.:headI hung around being stealthy in the weed for about another half hour, but saw nothing more.

I'm not convinced my gun is firing at full power, so I may need to check it out when you have a mo, OMD.

 

[foxfish]

I recon it is about time you pumped it up a bit anyway col, go for 20 atm this time.

 

[Sarnian]

Good point - I think it was at 15.

Just caught a bit of a program on BBC2 at the mo about a Polynesian island ( Anuta) - they were night fishing with hand spears, also getting crayfish ( no really this time!). Also carving a huge canoe by hand out of a tree trunk , which takes 6 months (Portinfer's next project?)and catching a 200lb shark by hand!

 

[azapa]

I recon it is about time you pumped it up a bit anyway col, go for 20 atm this time.

i'm not sure if i am doing the right thing, but I pump my gun 15 to 20 times every few weeks (fully pressurizing is 200 pumps). If not, i can feel a loss of power after about 6 weeks

 

[foxfish]

One of my air guns looses pressure every year but I have one that is 20 years old & it is still pressurised. I own a pressure gauge that screws into the air guns filling valve, this device allows you to pump up the gun & read the pressure at the same time.
Obviously these guns are not designed to loose pressure but in the real world it would seem that some do!

 

[Andy.R]

Same here. I have a 30 year old technisub air gun which I don't think I have ever even pumped and probably in the early days never rinsed out!!

I used it recently on a night dive no problem.

Am going to try for a night dive this evening if anyone interested? Low water 7:40 so thought may go in 8:00 'ish Not sure where

Andy

 

[gazp]

Hi guys,

I've been over here for 3 months and mainly go spear fishing with tanks on my back but i haven't seen one bass anywhere. I've dived all over the island but all i have seen is wrass, pollock and a few grey mullett. Where are all the bass hiding???

 

[Magpie]

They're hiding well away from the big bubble blowing monster probably!

You need to be stealthy when after bass and you just can't do that with tanks. Everyone here spearfishes with just a snorkel mate.

 

[gazp]

Cheers. I'll have to loose the tanks then!!

 

[Old Man Dave]

It's not illegal to spear fish with tanks in Guernsey. However it is rare to see anyone with a speargun and a tank. It is considered by many to be "unsporting". Many tank divers use hand spears or even knives to spear flatfish and pick up scallops by hand but this is about getting your tea more than a test of skill. I use a handspear while tanking to take flatfish but mainly on offshore gravel banks where tide and depth would preclude freediving. I have never shot a bass while wearing a tank but have shot as few other species using a gun on a handful of occasions (in 40 years diving), mainly while diving on deep wrecks.

Best place to get bass is hiding in the shallows amongst the bootlace weed just after low tide. Well best fun way that is.

Dave

 

[gazp]

I'll give it ago this weekend if the weather holds out, straight out of the sea on to the BBQ

 

[foxfish]

Welcome gazp, let us know how you get on.

 

[gazp]

Thanks, im going with a couple of lads from work tonight but with tanks. Probably off the south coast, let you know how it goes

 

[Sarnian]

Same here. I have a 30 year old technisub air gun which I don't think I have ever even pumped and probably in the early days never rinsed out!!

I used it recently on a night dive no problem.

Andy

Thanks for the advice Andy and Mart. In fact, I only had the problem because I lost pressure because of a pump which didn't work, valve sticking, etc., but Dave has kindly helped me sort it out.

I was once told by Squeaker Eker, when he used to sell Mares pneumatics, that he knew of one that had been lost in the sea and turned up 6 months later on the other side of the island, and still worked perfectly! Possible in theory, I suppose?

Sounds like there are a few night divers out tonight - conditions look good. I must get me a torch!

 

[azapa]

One of my air guns looses pressure every year but I have one that is 20 years old & it is still pressurised. I own a pressure gauge that screws into the air guns filling valve, this device allows you to pump up the gun & read the pressure at the same time.
Obviously these guns are not designed to loose pressure but in the real world it would seem that some do!

gauge idea sounds nice foxy... I assume all pneumatics have relief valves to avoid over pressure surprises? In that case, I would guess that a regular pumping (oh err misssuuss) would keep the thing at max power.....?

 

[Spaniard]

Most modern airguns shouldn't need regular pumping, if air is escaping then there is a faulty 'o' ring or valve.

 

[azapa]

Thanks Spaniard, I was thinking the same.

On the other hand, maybe its just the placebo effect I go for??!!? if i THINK the gun is at full power I shoot better, and THINKING its underpowered once getting kitted up and out there wrecks the session?? So, pump 'till it dumps?

(damn thing will explode in my face one day....)