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Solo or Buddy up?

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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T

The Big Blue

Respect for the ocean.
Jan 23, 2010
17
0
0
I'd like your thoughts please.

I've just brought myself some spearfishing kit and im looking forward to getting started and hopefully even fed.

What I'd like to know from spearos who've been in the game awhile is their thoughts on whether a buddy in spearfishing is essential or not. I'm happy in the sea and know about tides, currents and rips as a surfer. But in spearfishing, I can imagine the hazards; nets, lines, weed, black-outs, jet skiiers :vangry e.t.c.

What I'm trying to get at is; if you are sensible and aware of the dangers is it still reckless to go spearfishing without a buddy?
 
Most spearfishermen are on their own even if they have a buddy. We each go our own way, and work at a depth that is comfortable for us. I also intentionally work a separate area from my buddy when I have one. The only real benefits I see in having a buddy for spearfishing are 1) sharing the day and successes, 2) sharing the cost (especially with a long drive and boat involved), and 3) extra motivation to do it. I normally have a strong internal motivation, but there are times a little extra can really help get past the weather and other obstacles.
 
I dont know how deep you dive, but I would rather have someone watch my back. Someone that is equal to or more experienced than yourself. My brother and myself take turns diving and resting. Be careful.
Nic
 


I spear all along the Dorset coast and even though I go out with a group of friends I’m always on my own when actually in the water.
As long as you stay within your own safety limits and like you’ve said know a bit about the area that you’re spearing then you should be fine.
The worst thing (apart from some of the currents that you say you are aware of) is the Jet skiers, and some of those bloody idiots shouldn’t be allowed a push bike let alone a jet ski.
If you start out easy and build up then you’ll do just fine.
Happy Spearing
 
It is reckless to freedive on your own but a lot of people do it. but a lot of spearos die each year from BO. If you do have abuddy like was said above they either watch you on your dive and recovery or fill the task of in the same ocean buddy. as a surfer you are probably comfy enough in the water but diving brings a new set of risks not least being the jetskiers. A good bouy or flag while essential is no protection. If you can buddy up with someone for awhile at least if your starting out.
the biggest danger is not when your thinking about things but when you actually shoot a fish or doing something else difficult then habits can kick in like ditiching the gun if attached to your float etc Go with an experianced spearo for a while if even only to see their set up. My 2 cents.
 
I dive with a partner because of many reasons some of which hteas has already mentioned. A partner could possibly save my life if I were to blackout. Most people who died from a blackout had one thing in common-they were alone. That being said, there are those elite freedivers who can safely dive solo with little risk of blackout. I believe this to be true because they know themselves much better than the rest of us, but even they would not recomend that a beginner dive alone.
 
Having spent a whole lot of years diving "same ocean" with my "buddy," I can sympathize with the spearos who can't see real buddy diving. If a diver is reasonably careful, most can dive for years and never have a problem. Its just that nobody knows when it will happen to them or their buddy. Truth is, buddy spearing is hard to do, especially if the water is not clear. However, my advice is, Work on It! You should not have to rescue somebody from an unexpected, recreational diving BO, to realize that buddy diving really is a necessity. Eventually, if you dive for a long time, anything else is very likely to get you or your buddy killed. I've had several friends, good divers all, BO while spearfishing and were lucky enough to get rescued. Still, it took me actually experiencing a couple of buddy BOs to see the light. So, I learned how. Now, its pretty much automatic. Also, in many conditions, it adds to your spearing. Having backup with a difficult fish is real nice and puts more fish in the boat. You normally need more surface than down time, so it costs you nothing in dive time, if you are organized(that's the hard part).

Connor
 
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I think it's all about the area and the type of hunting you do. If you are going more than 10m deep, then a buddy is usefull and will be of help. If you are hunting in shallow water the buddy will only scare your fish away, and you'll scare his.
 
Much to be said for that position.

There are so many varied situations in which people spearfish that is is pretty hard to make general statements. In much less than 10 meters, your safety factor is a lot bigger than where I dive. Still, buddy diving at any depth has much to recommend it. All three times I nearly blacked out (doing stupid stuff) was while spearing in far less than 10 meters, closer to 3-4. Another second or so, or in deeper water, and I'd have ended up dead.

Connor
 
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