New to spearfishing and...

[Cordelia]

I got my first lobster!!
I was sooo glad to catch it!
My friend initiated me to spearfishing this week, and day number 5, after 2 Velvet swimming crabs, I finally succeeded in getting my first lobster!!!
I'm not very good at holding my breath yet (39 sec at max 5.5 meters), but I definitely want to improve.

 

[Mr. X]

Well done Your breath holding times should improve as you dive more and consequently relax more - at least that was my experience. Having your weight-belt/buoyancy correctly set for the conditions helps.

 

[Cordelia]

Thank you Mr. X!!
I used a shoulder strap / harness instead of the nylon belt+lead I had and I straighforwardly felt more relaxed to dive.
I think having the weights on my back instead of, around my hips is better .
Still a lot of things to try and discover!!

 

[Andrew the fish]

any fish yet? pictures?

 

[Mr. X]

I use a weight-belt, it took some getting used to but seems v. natural these days. I found a weight vest in the Summer, so will try that out next season; I recently removed some weight from my belt in anticipation. I have some concerns about being able to drop a weight-vest in an emergency but I can at least drop the belt, which should help, before having to deal with that.

Sounds like you are not carrying any weight on a belt, do have a quick-release mechanism on your shoulder harness?

I am surprised that weight vests don't have a proper quick-release mechanism. I would like something like a ring-pull on an R-clip - like, for example, a rip cord or grenade pin. I find the black plastic pinch clips currently used - like those found on rucksacks - a bit too fiddly to be considered reliably "Quick Release".