North East Scotland

[Spearman1]

Hello All

New to speardiving and was wanting to order the equipment below for use in the UK. Was wondering if someone can advise if I've missed anything or if I would be better off with different kit.

Omer Fins Stingray Soft - I'm a UK size 10 and was thinking about buying the 10½ - 11½ UK. Will these fit if I'm using 5mm socks?

Omer Buoy/Float - Atoll

Imersion Line - Floating - Buoy/Float

Imersion Monofiliment Kit - (15m/6 sleeves)

Imersion Stringer - Stainless Steel Rope

Imersion Gloves - Elaskin - 5.0mm

Beaver Bag - Catch

Cressi Wetsuit - Technica 7.0mm Camo

Cressi Speargun - Geronimo

Cressi Mask - F1 Frameless

APNEA Booties/Socks - 5mm

Cressi Snorkel - Corsica

Cressi Bungee - Shock Absorber - Pigtail

Omer Knife - MiniBlade

Any advise would be much appreciated

 

[Jonny250]

Here is the scottish thread: http://forums.deeperblue.com/threads/scotland-spearfishing-2013.96790/page-5

 

[DafyddRees]

Hey,

Make sure you buy a rubber weight belt! It may not sound a hugely significant item but it can make a big difference to you dive times.

5 mm gloves may feel like boxing gloves.

I personally would not dive with any line that I could not cut through in an emergency. I would opt for a nylon stringer.

Apart from that, looks a good selection of kit! Enjoy!

 

[kentpaul]

phone up a specialise shop liek apnea and get advice on fin size versus foot size. i dont think it works just like that...

 

[Yeti]

Wouldn't worry too much as you will gradually go through gear to get what you prefer.......although if you are scottish or a yorkshireman you might want to get it right as you'll want it to last you 10 years! (appart from gloves which normally last 5 minutes ) You just have to try stuff and see how you get on with it really. Might want to get a slightly bigger fin size as tight fins mean cold or numb feet........although.......scotland??? you are gunna have cold everything ;-)

 

[denian]

Well Spearman1 think you covered everything you may need .Sure you havent done this before?.The only thing I would suggest is that's a lot of kit and money are you sure you won't to go in so quick?Have you thought about it?the 5mm gloves may be thick but you will prob need them 3mm might be an option.i have 3 Cressi Geronimos they are good I can recommend them.lots of kit is personal so it may suit you but not others .try and get your hands on some kit and try it .the gun may come ready to go check when ordering .good luck let us all know how you get on.

 

[Ronnie]

I agree you should probably build up your kit slowly rather than rushing in and buying a thousand quids worth of gear straight off the bat. Might be worth concentrating on the free diving element first and learning skills there if you haven't done so already and then taking it to the next level and thinking about shooting fish.

I concur with your love of Cressi gear, it's always good quality, light weight (and looks cool)

 

[Yeti]

Might be worth concentrating on the free diving element first and learning skills there if you haven't done so already and then taking it to the next level and thinking about shooting fish.
[/SIZE]

I'd say vice versa! get your pie and tripple chocolate cookie tolerance up for the winter and then learn to freedive by spearfishing

 

[grantl]

I'd say vice versa! get your pie and tripple chocolate cookie tolerance up for the winter and then learn to freedive by spearfishing

Your training methods are out of date mate - we're onto Sainsburys Quadruple Choc Chip Cookies now. Fish magnet dive fuel

 

[Yeti]

Grant!!!! .....you are a snob!

 

[Spearman1]

I can see your point. I do have a tendency to not do things by half measures. The way I saw it was once I bought the essential items I needed for free diving the cost to get the additional spearfishing kit is next to nothing. If I'm buying kit, why not get decent stuff so I don't have to upgrade so soon, also like shiny new things I bought all my kit the other week and have managed to get out a few times. Not really saw any fish but it's nice to get out in the water for a mooch about. Went for a 7mm suit, not tried a 5mm but I'm very impressed with the warmth the 7mm offers. I think I will have to get a 5mm for summer though. I now think I need to buy a van big enough to change out of my wetsuit in. Standing in a carpark frantically ripping of a wet cold wetsuit and getting changed has to the worst experience ever.

 

[Yeti]

Nothing wrong with buying what you have. There is little or no significant difference between the function of different kit. It usually just makes things a little more comfortable or a little easier. I think the single biggest influence is a good warm fit on a suit. Lucky if you fit 'off the shelf' or just a little dearer for 'made to measure'. Suit can make or break your day I guess. Mask probably second. Top of my list of irritations is snorkel so not too expensive to chop and change. I have bought 2 and been given 2. The last one I bought is finally ok! about bl00dy time given it cost me over a £10'er!! ;-) anything fish related (my opinion) is irrelevant (gun etc) as they all shoot. Finding the fish etc before you can start shooting is the bit you can't buy. Always maintained that is the reason we are not overrun with spearos in the UK cos it's a sport (oooooo did I say sport?!?-sorry! 'blood thirsty eco-vandal hobby') the budding 'Bear Grylls-alikes' of the country find it very hard to simply 'buy' into. It's cold, difficult to begin with and requires determination and patience that spans years, not hours ..............Disclaimer: just the opinion of a grumpy old git who isn't diving enough recently!!

 

[Ronnie]

I don't dive enough. Life is incredibly busy with work and small children, very rarely get time just to myself. Grant's film in the Scottish thread is a great reminder to not let the November weather put me off a wee dip in the firth

 

[Will Read]

Nothing wrong with buying what you have. There is little or no significant difference between the function of different kit. It usually just makes things a little more comfortable or a little easier. I think the single biggest influence is a good warm fit on a suit. Lucky if you fit 'off the shelf' or just a little dearer for 'made to measure'. Suit can make or break your day I guess. Mask probably second. Top of my list of irritations is snorkel so not too expensive to chop and change. I have bought 2 and been given 2. The last one I bought is finally ok! about bl00dy time given it cost me over a £10'er!! ;-) anything fish related (my opinion) is irrelevant (gun etc) as they all shoot. Finding the fish etc before you can start shooting is the bit you can't buy. Always maintained that is the reason we are not overrun with spearos in the UK cos it's a sport (oooooo did I say sport?!?-sorry! 'blood thirsty eco-vandal hobby') the budding 'Bear Grylls-alikes' of the country find it very hard to simply 'buy' into. It's cold, difficult to begin with and requires determination and patience that spans years, not hours ..............Disclaimer: just the opinion of a grumpy old git who isn't diving enough recently!!

Yeti , can I pry into your snorkel 'irritations' ? Its something ive been having problems with myself and still haven't found one im happy with . Could you give me some info on your problems and which snorkel you finnaly settled on . Cheers

 

[denian]

There nothing wrong with his snorkel its just him eating all the bloody time!Some one tell him .YA CAN'T EAT PIES UNDER WATER!

 

[Yeti]

Yeti , can I pry into your snorkel 'irritations' ? Its something ive been having problems with myself and still haven't found one im happy with . Could you give me some info on your problems and which snorkel you finnaly settled on . Cheers

I prefer the traditional 'J' shape but many seem to now have a flat profile. I don't like the rattle you get with the flatter profile with even a tiny bit of water or slaver left after clearing it. The more pronounced the J it seems the more air can pass it with out rattling. Not life changing but just annoying!

Ended up with this one and finally happy http://www.divingdirect.co.uk/spearfishing-c127/snorkels-c135/seac-jet-combat-p1637

Wide enough to get a mini pork pie through too.

(I suppose the valve types would solve the problem but I'd never live it down!.... given my more recent comments to comrades about looking like you are chewing on something out of an Ann Summers catalogue)

 

[Will Read]

I prefer the traditional 'J' shape but many seem to now have a flat profile. I don't like the rattle you get with the flatter profile with even a tiny bit of water or slaver left after clearing it. The more pronounced the J it seems the more air can pass it with out rattling. Not life changing but just annoying!

Ended up with this one and finally happy http://www.divingdirect.co.uk/spearfishing-c127/snorkels-c135/seac-jet-combat-p1637

Wide enough to get a mini pork pie through too.

(I suppose the valve types would solve the problem but I'd never live it down!.... given my more recent comments to comrades about looking like you are chewing on something out of an Ann Summers catalogue)

Thanks dude, I tried a purge one but to many bubbles ! I more struggle with the mouthpiece and how it affects my breathing anatomy. I cant really breath through a snorkel for more than an hour without me going into a sort of involuntary snoring that then sucks my mask to my face every time I breathe in. Like my soft palate gets tired and just goes neutral. Its quite strange and rather annoying. 4 snorkels later and im still suffering . The Cressi Corsica was really bad for me and only half an hour in it would trigger, Riffe Stable with purge valve siliconed shut slightly better, Sporasub Breeze also okay but im going for a Mares dual or pro flex next , apparently designed with an Orthodontist for comfort in extended use.

 

[Yeti]

maybe not the snorkel? mask too tight, pressing the bridge of your nose? and are you chewing your snorkel? maybe a tense tongue, that doesn't like foreign objects in ya gob ? strange one? good luck with that

 

[Will Read]

maybe not the snorkel? mask too tight, pressing the bridge of your nose? and are you chewing your snorkel? maybe a tense tongue, that doesn't like foreign objects in ya gob ? strange one? good luck with that

Yeah I did think of other factors but it seems to be the snorkel . I will have to dome some more testing of different masks/snorkels.. Don't think I chew it but often have quite a bit of jaw pain after a session from biting down ! Thanks for your suggestions and response .