Long Live Free Speach! Not!

[seachaser]

Spearboard is Spearboard. IMO, it is one big trailer park, but to each their own.

Back to the subject of the Warsaw, it is one incredible fish. I do have a few questions behind the story I’d like to throw out there and see how others feel.

Is the story somewhat embellished? From the beginning – are Warsaw an aggressive fish? Did the diver really descend 400’ in 3 minutes with 5 tanks and a single bladder BC (it is clearly a single bladder bc in the photograph)? It seems a bit fast to me. At that depth and that many tanks, I would think you need to start slowing down around 250’ or risk slamming into the bottom. What do others think? Is the total bottom time of 7 minutes realistic for the depth and the actions taken? Was the fish most likely taken in much shallower water and the depth grossly exaggerated?

Some of the details about spearing the fish also may also raise questions. Would a shaft, grinded to a needlepoint have enough strength to penetrate such a large fish? Would propelling such a shaft with a single band improve/diminish the chances of shaft penetration? Or is it possible the diver powerheaded the fish with the first shot? Again was the story embellished?

The diver stated he purged his regulator into the mouth of the fish for about 10 seconds in order to send the fish up. My question to the tech divers out there, would anyone worry about doing this? At that depth, what would the chances be that the regulator would continue to free flow?

The fish was truly incredible, I only hope the diver did not tarnish his story by grossly over exaggerating the real story.

 

[biggsy]

Spearboard is Spearboard. IMO, it is one big trailer park, but to each their own.

You are ignorant! But hey, you are entitled to yorur opinion

The fish was truly incredible, I only hope the diver did not tarnish his story by grossly over exaggerating the real story.

You don't even know the man...I will say it again, you are ignorant, but hey you are entitled to your opinion.

 

[Alison]

I dont think this story has been exaggerated, I dont know the chap but I know people that do and he would seem to be a fair sort of guy. Ive never been interested in technical diving but I think it was possible, I think the diver was very well practiced to even dream up a dive of that nature. The regulator would not be a problem, they are designed to have an equilibrium so that they can work at any pressure.

 

[bgbill]

Spearboard is Spearboard. IMO, it is one big trailer park, but to each their own.

Back to the subject of the Warsaw, it is one incredible fish. I do have a few questions behind the story I’d like to throw out there and see how others feel.

Is the story somewhat embellished? From the beginning – are Warsaw an aggressive fish? Did the diver really descend 400’ in 3 minutes with 5 tanks and a single bladder BC (it is clearly a single bladder bc in the photograph)? It seems a bit fast to me. At that depth and that many tanks, I would think you need to start slowing down around 250’ or risk slamming into the bottom. What do others think? Is the total bottom time of 7 minutes realistic for the depth and the actions taken? Was the fish most likely taken in much shallower water and the depth grossly exaggerated?

Some of the details about spearing the fish also may also raise questions. Would a shaft, grinded to a needlepoint have enough strength to penetrate such a large fish? Would propelling such a shaft with a single band improve/diminish the chances of shaft penetration? Or is it possible the diver powerheaded the fish with the first shot? Again was the story embellished?

The diver stated he purged his regulator into the mouth of the fish for about 10 seconds in order to send the fish up. My question to the tech divers out there, would anyone worry about doing this? At that depth, what would the chances be that the regulator would continue to free flow?

The fish was truly incredible, I only hope the diver did not tarnish his story by grossly over exaggerating the real story.

I don't have time to go in to all of your questions here, but it was a dual bladder bc, look at the picture again, there is clearly the second power inflator under his right arm, that would be the left side of the picture as you are looking at it.

I know Dan, and can tell you that he is not the type of guy to embelish a story.

If you do have questions, go to spearboard, and ask them there.

 

[seachaser]

Alison,

I’m not a regulator expert and I understand the regulator will not stop working because of depth. I do question that by purging (depressing the lever and diaphragm) under the pressure of 400’ of water, the diaphragm and lever may not so easily move back into its proper position. I do know a free flowing regulator is difficult to deal with at depth.

BG,

I reexamined the photograph on page 6 and several other pictures with the gear in the background. I DO NOT see a second bladder or corrugated/inflator hose in any of the pictures. IMO, if there is an unseen second inflator, it would be very poorly positioned under the right arm with the various other hoses and stage bottle. If actually needed, the diver may not be able to control a proper ascent.

Also, I’d like to thank both of you for the civil response.

 

[Fondueset]

Questions are reasonable. I didn't have any because a few other people I've gained respect for chimed in that they know the guy. He's obviously a professional and knows his stuff - I see no technical problems with accomplishing the dive.

What's interesting here is the inclination some folks have to wax contentious. Someone wiser than me once said you've very limited control over what happens in your life - much more over how you react to it.

I once got onto a web-site with folks who's views on different subjects are pretty radically different from mine. It took me awhile to get into phase with them and understand a bit about the hows, whys and wherefores of their points of view. It was interesting. In the process of learning the language I got into some trouble and was surprised how quickly some folks were willing to stereotype me. One guy even started threatening me physically and went on about how he was a big grandmaster of one of the more down-to-earth fighting styles. We ended up having an interesting discussion about martial arts - but one has to wonder about this trend - and where all the anger comes from. The chinese say the liver is connected with anger - and with the eyes - maybe it's just staring at these miserable little screens too much.

 

[Erik]

No argument there. I suspect most of our spearo population is open to either category, based on preferences. It's the old media thing coming in to play: "Man Bites Dog" is a headline, "Dog Bites man", not so much of a headline. It's easy to focus on the negative, and those that react negatively tend to speak the loudest.
I'll quote the trailer park: "Holy S##t!" again. Awesome dive and awesome hunt.
Congratulations, mostly because I'm sure you didn't do it be congratulated :king
Peace,
Erik Y.

 

[Rolando]

No argument there. I suspect most of our spearo population is open to either category, based on preferences. It's the old media thing coming in to play: "Man Bites Dog" is a headline, "Dog Bites man", not so much of a headline. It's easy to focus on the negative, and those that react negatively tend to speak the loudest.
I'll quote the trailer park: "Holy S##t!" again. Awesome dive and awesome hunt.
Congratulations, mostly because I'm sure you didn't do it be congratulated :king
Peace,
Erik Y.

Good post Eric, tried to give you some more well-deserved Karma, but the system just won't let me. :duh

 

[seachaser]

Thank you for the response, but this is the same old thing that I’ve read before. How about telling us the details behind the thought process and the planning before the dive? Such as the thought process behind your gear setup, the flopperless shaft, the powerhead, and so on. Why did you think your plan would work?

The lack of desire or inability to answer the most basic of technical questions make me more skeptical of the story.

 

[Fondueset]

Allison posted a link to the discussion of this dive over on spearboard - it's back on the first page of this thread. The fellow who made the dive posted a fairly comprehensive description of it - toward the end of that thread - and a rough out of the process that led up to it. Not my cup of tea, but the reasoning seems quite sound to me. I suggest you pose any technical questions over there if you still have some after reading it and really want answers.

 

[calicojack]

Someone wiser than me once said you've very limited control over what happens in your life - much more over how you react to it.

Right on!! I think I'll try it.

 

[bgbill]

Alison,

I’m not a regulator expert and I understand the regulator will not stop working because of depth. I do question that by purging (depressing the lever and diaphragm) under the pressure of 400’ of water, the diaphragm and lever may not so easily move back into its proper position. I do know a free flowing regulator is difficult to deal with at depth.

BG,

I reexamined the photograph on page 6 and several other pictures with the gear in the background. I DO NOT see a second bladder or corrugated/inflator hose in any of the pictures. IMO, if there is an unseen second inflator, it would be very poorly positioned under the right arm with the various other hoses and stage bottle. If actually needed, the diver may not be able to control a proper ascent.

Also, I’d like to thank both of you for the civil response.

Look at the picture with the stage bottle that is under his right arm, in this picture Dan is looking to the right, look under his right arm, in between 2 second stages, you can clearly see the power inflator, it appears to have a red zip tie on it.

That is the back up power inflator, the primary power inflator comes over the left shoulder.

You would only use the secondary power inflator if you had a problem with the primary bladder.

To understand the way the equipment is set up and used takes training and years of experience.

It is obvious to me that you are not a deep diver, that could be why you don't understand these things.

Regulators are balanced so that they will work at various depths, there is a new record deep dive on open circuit scuba of 1044', so if the regs worked at that depth, why wouldn't they work at 425'?

 

[seachaser]

The only thing obvious is I’m not going to get any real answers. So let me fill in the blanks as to how the fish was actually taken-

The diver descended on a wreck in 220’ of water. The Warsaw, with no natural enemies, swims up to the diver out of curiosity. The diver uses a powerhead to blow the fish away at point blank range! They know this is not very sporting. So on the way back in they create a whopper of a story! Now they can beat their chest!

The truth is out! End of discussion!

 

[bgbill]

]Why did you think your plan would work?

Well I guess since Dan boated a 403 lb (gutted weight) Warsaw, the plane did work, I can not speak for Dan and Team Head Hunter, but I would think that years of planning and experience led them to believe it would work and it did.

 

[Alison]

Actually there is something dodgy about that picture! THOSE SHORTS!!! rofl who the @#&% is that?? rofl
In all seriousness guys I find it hard to belive that someone would actually doubt the genuiness of this dive, OK its not a daily occurance but it is done by a few good divers. Patrick wassisname freedived to 200m last week, thats over 600ft why should a 425 trimix dive be so out of the ordinary?

 

[bgbill]

The only thing obvious is I’m not going to get any real answers. So let me fill in the blanks as to how the fish was actually taken-

The diver descended on a wreck in 220’ of water. The Warsaw, with no natural enemies, swims up to the diver out of curiosity. The diver uses a powerhead to blow the fish away at point blank range! They know this is not very sporting. So on the way back in they create a whopper of a story! Now they can beat their chest!

The truth is out! End of discussion!

How did you come up with that?

Were you on the boat?

Have you ever seen a warsaw in that depth of water?

Have you ever seen a Warsaw in the water at all?

In your profile you say you do techinical diving, but do not understand how a dual bladder wing should be used.

Who is embelishing here?

 

[bgbill]

Actually there is something dodgy about that picture! THOSE SHORTS!!! rofl who the @#&% is that?? rofl

That would be Richie, he is also a freediver, that would explain the funky shorts

 

[seachaser]

BG,

I don’t think the diver was purging his regulator at 1044’. Not unless he had a death wish. Secondly, the diver in your picture appears to be wearing a Zeagle BC, not wings.

It is funny how you get so defensive. All I asked were some basic questions, something I would think the scuba boys would be happy to answer. Unless they no the truth is not very sporting!

 

[Alison]

That would be Richie, he is also a freediver, that would explain the funky shorts

A "free" diver?? no way!! he needs locking up rofl

 

[bgbill]

BG,

I don’t think the diver was purging his regulator at 1044’. Not unless he had a death wish. Secondly, the diver in your picture appears to be wearing a Zeagle BC, not wings.

It is funny how you get so defensive. All I asked were some basic questions, something I would think the scuba boys would be happy to answer. Unless they no the truth is not very sporting!

How is purging a regulator at depth going to kill you?

The diver is wearing a Zeagle BC, when did I say it was a wing?

I said it was a dual bladder BC.