I hate to differ with all the previous advice, but if you want to dive in kelp, and that is where all the action is, then you can't use a dive flag or float. Look at this photo of a buddy on my boat, and look at the kelp bed in the background. Do you think you could dive and go under kelp at 20 feet or so of depth, drag a float with you, and come up on the other side? No way. And the fish in my avatar where taken in a much thicker kelp bed.
No one, repeat
no one, who has any experience in SoCal uses a float unless he is offshore around floating kelp paddies. It just can't be done.
Your choices are a reel, or a float line with nothing on the rear end, or just a small float on the rear end that serves as something to grab when all the line has been pulled through your hand. [End quote]"
Yes you can not drag a float on the line behind you thru the kelp.
But you can tie the float with the flag on the side of the kelp and dive safer.
And then if you swim from one kelp forest to the other you will be seen easier by the boats.
Many guys here are using kayaks and do not need to use the float with a flag although it's better to do so. ( The dive flag)
Also you can use the float to get some rest if you are getting tired and as general safety.
And yes you can attach the pole spear to the float with the line.
Personally I do not have it attached , but I only take the size of the fish which I know I can bring back to surface with me with out a problem no matter how hard it's fighting.
And I do not use spear gun so can not tell you much about that.
Anyway here are some stories you can read.
The first post is very good and wise.
dive flag [Archive] - Spearboard Spearfishing Community
And now:
[When training what do you do just hold your breath and swim as much as you can?]
No. First of all, let me say that "NEVER" and I mean "NEVER" do any breath hold training in the water by your self .
Always with a buddy.
You have no idea how easy is to black out. And if you are by your self...well you are dead.
With that said there is a proper breath up before each breath hold and also proper breathing after you are done.
That allows you to do more time and safer.
What i do is swim laps in my pool on single breath holds, My pool is 50+ feet long and i can do 3 laps on one breath thats equal to like 50m right?
meaning i can safely dive to 25m then come back up right?
Sorry. Wrong
If you would dive in straight line it would take you ( counting the usual speed of 1 meter per second) 25 sec to go down and 25 seconds up. Provided you just turn down there.
So 50 second dive. Easy....
But that would be exactly your max distance you do now in the pool. Where you can surface at any time if you need to.
Which in the dept you can not.
Then there is a pressure. If you will have lets say 5 litres of air in your lungs on the surface how much will you have at 33ft down. ( You are a diver so try do the calculation)
It was in the class.
So you will have to count with that.
Also you may have some problems down there. Current, slower speed, etc.
Then there is the equalization issue. Can you equalize very well. Valsava or frenzel? Frenzell is much better and safer for freediving.
You need to learn it well since damaged eardrum is not fun.
Then also going deeper you need to learn how to positionn your head to avoid tracheal squeeze.
I have seen it with dives as shallow as 40 -50 feet.
Also a lung squeeze.
Both tracheal and lung squeezes can be largely prevented.
Starting with proper warm up. In the water and before you get in the watter.
I'm not trying to scare you, but I would hate to see you or anybody to get hurt or died freediving. There is too many of them allready.
So no it's not just as simple as taking a deep breath and going down as far as you can. You should start with shalow dept and lear properly.
As I said before even if it cost some money, you should think of taking a freediving clinic.
Treat it like your scuba. You need to learn the basics and safety first.
Of course there is no licence requirement for freediving, but your life is worth it.
Anyway if you make it down here let me know and I can help. It looks like I will be training in the watter more often, so you can join us anytime.
And dive safe a allways with a buddy.
Vaclav
