North Wales, The Llyn & Anglesey 2013.

[denian]

After driving from Newcastle upon tyne to the llyn I was a bit peeved to find 0.5m viz on the south (s4) it's O 0c air temp n dropping .seas prob about 10 /11 0c .flat sea with bright moon reflecting on it.was met on beech by a festoon of glow sticks on the end of rods where I would of gone in !.joy .im knackered any way will try at first light in morning or before think low waters at 6 ish not light till 8 ?um . Winters here !let you all know in morn.

 

[denian]

It was very hard getting up and in this morning at 6 am -1 oc heavy frost pitch black but clear sky n still.got down to s4 as light was just starting sea was flat an hour after low 8 oc on vyper 0.5 to 0.75m viz had torch d6 to see bottom .improved as I swam along coast line looking for any signs of life.at last I started to come across some scallopes .in 5 m of water hands and feet were cold but suit was fantastic even after 2 hrs . The sun came up blue sky's and warmth I could start to see with no torch .it got much easyer and I was coming up with 5 at a time .Viz was still bad prob worse as I got out .at 9 am.got a few scallopes to last me till christmas.

 

[Will Read]

View attachment 37285 It was very hard getting up and in this morning at 6 am -1 oc heavy frost pitch black but clear sky n still.got down to s4 as light was just starting sea was flat an hour after low 8 oc on vyper 0.5 to 0.75m viaviz had torch d6 to see bottom .improved as I swam along coast line looking for any signs of life.at last I started to come across some scallopes .in 5 m of water hands and feet were cold but suit was fantastic even after 2 hrs . The sun came up blue sky's and warmth I could start to see with no torch .it got much easyer and I was coming up with 5 at a time .Viz was still bad prob worse as I got out .at 9 am.got a few scallopes to last me till christmas.

Well done ! good bag of scallops. I will go Monday I think to try for some.

 

[mattbarlow]

Some good foraging there! Well done and good work on the early dive. I can't make it down there this weekend but is anyone interested in pencilling in a dive next weekend and sharing the ride?

 

[mattbarlow]

Denian what kind of board / SMB is that?

 

[denian]

It's a sevylor reef 55 (£36)with bits I've added lots of straps for guns,shoulder straps ,net gear keeper and mast with flag.it the kiddy version of the dive hunter (£100+)with window .i can sit in it and have drink /rest!.

 

[mattbarlow]

Ordered a new suit from oceanos last night I'll let you all know what it's like..

 

[denian]

Good you might as well be warm and comfortable and try and make it enjoyable as poss it makes such a differences. when I walk in to the sea yesterday I felt nothing .feet and hands were cold before I'd got in!.if I can get gloves and socks as good as the suit I'd be made up .New gloves this week.I can't get 5mm socks in my fins tho with out cutting circulation off!It looks calm still anyone going to day?..................if this high hangs around as its looking it could clear this viz for next weekend fingers crossed boys.....I'm thinking the straights next Saturday any one ?

 

[Will Read]

I have tried quite a few different gloves and these are the best I have found . Despite being only 2mm they are really warm as they don't let any water in , have the cuff under my suit and because its smoothskin on latex it provides a very good seal, and as they don't have any external seams they don't let any water in that way either .They are also pretty durable with the latex coating , and because of the thin neoprene you keep good dexterity. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LIQUID-GL...tersportsClothing_CA&var=&hash=item3f20597807

 

[denian]

might give them a wiz ! ta .same principle. As wet suit really, nearly a dry glove.How hard wareing are they I've got Kevlar palmed glove and go though them quick?

 

[Will Read]

might give them a wiz ! ta .same principle. As wet suit really, nearly a dry glove.How hard wareing are they I've got Kevlar palmed glove and go though them quick?

Well there pretty durable , not as tough as Kevlar im guessing but ok for grabbing the odd rock ! I have thought about giving the palm a coat of this which could help http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PlastiDip...tt-Black-/271272069480?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

 

[denian]

gloves ordered may come Tuesday got to be better than the ones I'm useing with holes in fingertips and stitching coming undone and odd gloves !.

 

[Will Read]

gloves ordered may come Tuesday got to be better than the ones I'm useing with holes in fingertips and stitching coming undone and odd gloves !.

Good choice ! £20 is fairly reasonable too

 

[denian]

Who's up for for The Guernsey 2014 meet then?Weekend of 9th August. You got 7 months to save up for it !

 

[mattbarlow]

Ok so I am thinking if doing the level 2 Aida qualification through Steve Millard but it is fairly expensive. Is there anybody who had done this course? If so do you think it's worth me doing the course? I have been spearfishing for 6 years and my knowledge of physiology is pretty good so I don't know how much I will gain from it..... Opinions?

 

[denian]

Good choice ! £20 is fairly reasonable too

Gloves came yesterday shame I'm miles away from home !

Ok so I am thinking if doing the level 2 Aida qualification through Steve Millard but it is fairly expensive. Is there anybody who had done this course? If so do you think it's worth me doing the course? I have been spearfishing for 6 years and my knowledge of physiology is pretty good so I don't know how much I will gain from it..... Opinions?

How much do you value your life is the bottom line !but if we're snorkeling most of the time n shallow short dives is there a need?i have been meaning to do a course for the last 3 years but haven't got round to it.!

 

[denian]

Well done ! good bag of scallops. I will go Monday I think to try for some.

Any joy any one make it out this week?

 

[Will Read]

Any joy any one make it out this week?

Went today for an hour or two over low . Got a dozen or so scallops . Viz was about 1.5m greenish but opened up to over 2m on the bottom in 6metres. Had a snoop about in some bassy spots but nothing seen , 9deg on watch.

 

[Will Read]

Ok so I am thinking if doing the level 2 Aida qualification through Steve Millard but it is fairly expensive. Is there anybody who had done this course? If so do you think it's worth me doing the course? I have been spearfishing for 6 years and my knowledge of physiology is pretty good so I don't know how much I will gain from it..... Opinions?

Having only done half the course I cant make much comment. The obvious things concerning safety , like not hyperventilating and knowing the signs when you may have been unintentionally hyperventilating. The importance of good recovery breaths even if you feel like you don't need it, time between dives etc. Knowing the signs when you are nearing the end of your "safe" time underwater. probably things you already know and practise. What could help you is the open water aspect where you will hopefully safely coached to maybe 16metres. Which means if you haven't been that deep before when your doing your spearing drops of more like 5-10m this should feel relatively shallow and safe and relaxed ! whether or not this is a good thing is debatable I suppose. We all take calculated risks. Knowledge is power!

 

[denian]

Went today for an hour or two over low . Got a dozen or so scallops . Viz was about 1.5m greenish but opened up to over 2m on the bottom in 6metres. Had a snoop about in some bassy spots but nothing seen , 9deg on watch.

Good on getting out and finding scallopes vis Seams to be getting better but I think fish will be hard to find now the sea temps are dropping depending what your after.With the silly season coming on fast it's going to be hard to get out again hope the winds stay down and poss from north.it looks to be good on the north side but you only find out if ya go!