Ireland Spearing, 2011

[Fitzy_1982]

I can't believe how stupid that fisho is, he shouldn't be on the water if he's going to have a total disregard for safety like that. Ah Well, Karma's a bitch.

Safety all the way, if you don't have a dive flag, this is as good an example as any why you should get one.

 

[kookiebrew]

holy crap....just watched that vid...thats around the spot me and my bro go down near blackhead.... that same boat was around last month when I brought Galen who was over on a visit from america.... i would have s**t myself if he came that close to me esp since this is my first season spearing Im nervous enough.... I reckon he should be reported too.... as someone said if it was a car he would get done for dangerous driving.... by the way chokr you didnt come across a cressi fin down there...my bro lost his few weeks back

 

[NZRegan]

What a racist prick. "You people are like vultures"? What the f**k is this inbred hick talking about; he's a commercial fisherman - if anyone's a vulture, it's him.

The problem with this whole sad affair is that it might not be illegal. The only thing I think that might be argued is that he used his boat in an intentially intimidating fashion.

We have had a similar problem recently in NZ.

Diver run over by a glass-bottomed boat - National - NZ Herald News
Run over at Leigh - The Fishing Website Forums - Page 3

A well-known glass-bottom boat tour operator hit a spearo I know (who had a float & flag), boat tangled his float line, he got caught in it and dragged towards the boat, his forearm broke when the hull hit him (defending himself from the blow). It was very sad case of "it was bound to eventually happen" because this guy has had multiple complaints laid about him before by spearos who he had almost run down (law are: not allowed to travel faster than 5kts within 200m of land, not allowed to travel faster than 5kts within 200m of a swimmer - spearos in NZ are classed as swimmer and not divers because we spend more time on the surface). Anyway, the Maritime Safety Authority could never previously do anything about it because nothing "bad" had happened previously. So now something "bad" has happened and now MSA are doing something about it. The spot is ridiculously popular with spearos, and this guy knows it; he just doesn't care. Anyway, I hope the book gets thrown at him, f**king prick.

Boaties often come up to me; typically they are being cheeky pricks and they think my float is a lobster pot or something and want to pull it up. When I'm attached to it they get a shock and piss off quickly. The problem, as Choker says, is trying to surface safely. We hear the boat, and sometimes we can see the boat u/w. I generally suface with my gun first (as Choker did) in a vain attempt to be seen (I don't think this actually works, but I feel better about it).

In fact, last month I was driven up to by a lobster potter up in Howth. I was diving on his pots (for a look; not to take - but you'll have to take me at my word), and he did come in slow and give me space, whilst trying to protect his pots from this "vulture". It was easy for me to verbally disarm the grumpy old prick, but that's less easy if English isn't your first language.

 

[ChokerBkL]

...by the way chokr you didnt come across a cressi fin down there...my bro lost his few weeks back

No, We didn't see your bro fin.

 

[abusingelves]

Here is a list of all the currently registered Irish fishing vessels.

Sea Fishing Fleet Register - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Hmmmmmm. Very threatening behaviour from this guy. Have been out where you were diving a few times myself as well. His licence is polyvalent/general, so in theory he may have thought you were competing with him for fish!

Also hilarious that he took a photo of your ''diver down'' flag, which he practically ran over. Couldn't make out the audio fully, but did he tell you to ''Fu@k off home''?

I'll keep an eye out for him if I'm down there. I doubt he's out today though!

 

[xriswolf]

I would have speared him lol. What a d?&"k!! I dislike bullies and ignorant people. That's why we should stand together lads.

 

[dirkjan]

Being filmed is not an issue as long as it isn't broadcast, showing his face and boat's name.
Him taking a picture of your dive flag just tells you what he knows....
My father used to say: getting divers to use a flag is one thing, getting it recognized is another. Both the diver down and the Alpha flag mean ( I have ) a diver down, keep clear at low speed....!
As a yachtsman, diver and general sea lover I would be extremely disappointed if this
ignoranus got away with this. The least you could do is talk to your local Guards and get them to have a quiet word with him or give him a caution so he knows he cannot behave like that and that it's been noted. It should definitely not be ignored, the next time he sees one of you or another diver in the water he might want to give you some more of his mind and some one could be seriously hurt. I have never in my life at sea seen such behavior and it can not bee tolerated.

 

[Don Paul]

With a little bit of digging I now have this guys full name and address if required by anyone.

Time for a meeting at the Pub with him, maybe there is a reason he is pissed off at divers. A face to face would cut through BS ''he said she said''.

One thing smart to do for speros is to never point a loaded speargun at a person or boat, that is a threat with a deadly weapon in most parts of the world.

I know I should bug off as this is not my homeland... but commercial fishermen are the same on both sides of the pond. Here in Cali I have to shore dive the same reefs as the Lobster trappers in winter. Some hard working fisherman trying to make boat payments and feed families are robbed by Scuba Divers that can't even close the trapdoor after they steal from the fisherman's trap. A commercial guy tried to scare the Shite out of me when I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. ( he had pulled 3 traps, all empty with the door left open and was in a rage). I uncocked my gun, swam to my Zodiac and waited for him back at the dock. :martial

When a Commercial trapper I don't know is close to me I uncock my gun, pull my mask down to my neck and make eye contact with the skipper or bowman. If he comes along side I ask him how's his season going or if I can help him recover lost gear. I let them know I am a freediver and we are both harvesting our dinner. Most of these guys are long time friends now and share good spots with me they can't fish.

I'm not siding with the boat skipper, but there is a another way to skin a cat.... and feed him fresh fish.

All the best, Don

 

[johnnybuoy]

Well said don. I think choker should report it.
On another sad note. A very accomplished and very experienced cave diver, Artur Conrad was pulled from a cave he was exploring. I don't have any details but I've read all his blogs on Arturconrad.blogspot.com. He really Pushed the boundaries of cave diving and his blogs were the most tense dive stories I've read.
RIP Artur.

 

[Don Paul]

Well said don. I think choker should report it.
On another sad note. A very accomplished and very experienced cave diver, Artur Conrad was pulled from a cave he was exploring. I don't have any details but I've read all his blogs on Arturconrad.blogspot.com. He really Pushed the boundaries of cave diving and his blogs were the most tense dive stories I've read.
RIP Artur.

That's sad mate.

RIP Artur, prayers for family and close friends.

Sincerely, Don

 

[fcallagy]

Thats sad news Johnny I had heard of a cave diver missing earlier but didnt hear the name. RIP

 

[stone_shot]

hi lads very jealous of your antics in beara. first time out in ages last friday with 3 friends of mine, 1 other spearo and 2 newbies. went to hook head.
vis was crap and the newbies were making some noise, no wonder we saw very few fish.
i did however bumble into this beaut, my first bass of this year. happy days.

Nice fish Willie - haven't seen any of those this year yet myself!

 

[dirkjan]

Tragic, sad for family and friends.
It just shows, no matter how experienced you are accidents do happen.
Be careful out there fellas!

 

[ChokerBkL]

All day was in sad impression about the Arthur Conrad. Found a good video which maybe shortly shows who was this guy. I knew about him after his death [ame=http://vimeo.com/11621378]PADI Cavern Course in Ireland. on Vimeo[/ame]

 

[johnnybuoy]

Saw a good few of his videos but his blog is something everyone should read. Have a look http://www.hellandhighwater.eu/

 

[johnnybuoy]

Btw the last post by artur was the cave that took him. I have been waiting months for the next write up..... It's well worth reading. Very poignant in hind sight.....

 

[zaratustra]

How long will our spearing season last this year? What do you think ? I assume with that kind of weather it doesn't matter anyway ...

 

[vasile]

I just look at windguru page for the weekend,it look that the season ended two weeks ago...

 

[johnnybuoy]

Looks pants and were also getting the tail end of the American hurricane next week. I've heard were to get some good weather after that but not sure how good the viz will be after a 5-6M swell????

 

[bobdonny]

my spearing season is 12 months a year
The ocean giveth and taketh Bad weather and less spearing for us means the fish can get fatter in peace for until the calm weather comes
I heard rumours of snow... perfect spearing weather