Dear Deeper blue spearfishing members,
I hope you can help me.
My 20 year old son has entered a 2 day completion here in Tenerife, Canary Islands.
And I am concerned about it;
Basically he is going to be diving on his own.
He has entered and paid all he's subscriptions and the 1st day is this Saturday, in 2 days time.
I only found out yesterday that he would be in the water solo, he is going with another spearfishing friend, who will be the 'boat man' in a small rib, but not actually in the water with him with visual contact. they are, at this moment, off practicing and looking for some good marks to use in the competition.
Now I have a little scuba diving experience, as when we moved here 18 years ago I took up scuba diving, and one of the golden rules we where taught is never dive alone.
My son is a very fit 6ft + healthy non smoking/drinking lad who has grown up here and works with me on my charter fishing boat business, and he has been spearfishing for quite some time now, and by all accounts is very good at it, so he's peers have told me.
He knows I do not want him to do it alone, since I found out, but he is fearless, and I suspect it isn't the 1st time he has gone solo, but the difference is this time I know beforehand, and should anything happen to him I would never be able to forgive myself for not stopping it.
I called the completion organiser yesterday and asked if it would be ok if another friend went along in the water with him, without a speargun ,and just watched him from the water surface in case he got into a situation needing help, but the guy said no, its against the rules of the competition in case he helps him with the catch, two people can be on the boat but not in the water.
I'm not sure if it is my sons fault for not entering another diver with him, and he could have in fact had a buddy along with him, but just left it too late to get him in the competition now as it's past the application date; perhaps there are other boats with two divers together who can go, so it may not be the organisers fault, or do you think it should have been a part of the conditions of entry that no one can dive alone?
Anyway he's determined to go, and as he left this morning I told him that if he goes ahead with it, I would never support him again in the sport, as it is not fair on he's mother and myself, I have always supported him in it, even though I would naturally worry a bit, just normal parental worries, but was very proud of him for leading an active life and not stuck in front of a Playstation game, like many of his age.
The problem is, he has been looking forward to this for a long time now and is going to go ahead with it, even after I have told him he should call it off and enter the next one, better planned.
I said it's not illegal but common sense, it's like a formula 1 driver racing without a seatbelt or crash helmet!
He knows what I mean, but I just need some quick help to drive home the point, and hopefully stop him from going ahead with it.
If any of you out there can post me some advise, or links of accidents, fatal or not, or close escapes, please send them to me and perhaps it will help.
Ok hope to hear back from someone,
Mick, (a very worried dad) :-(
PS. can I put my e-mail address on here?
I hope you can help me.
My 20 year old son has entered a 2 day completion here in Tenerife, Canary Islands.
And I am concerned about it;
Basically he is going to be diving on his own.
He has entered and paid all he's subscriptions and the 1st day is this Saturday, in 2 days time.
I only found out yesterday that he would be in the water solo, he is going with another spearfishing friend, who will be the 'boat man' in a small rib, but not actually in the water with him with visual contact. they are, at this moment, off practicing and looking for some good marks to use in the competition.
Now I have a little scuba diving experience, as when we moved here 18 years ago I took up scuba diving, and one of the golden rules we where taught is never dive alone.
My son is a very fit 6ft + healthy non smoking/drinking lad who has grown up here and works with me on my charter fishing boat business, and he has been spearfishing for quite some time now, and by all accounts is very good at it, so he's peers have told me.
He knows I do not want him to do it alone, since I found out, but he is fearless, and I suspect it isn't the 1st time he has gone solo, but the difference is this time I know beforehand, and should anything happen to him I would never be able to forgive myself for not stopping it.
I called the completion organiser yesterday and asked if it would be ok if another friend went along in the water with him, without a speargun ,and just watched him from the water surface in case he got into a situation needing help, but the guy said no, its against the rules of the competition in case he helps him with the catch, two people can be on the boat but not in the water.
I'm not sure if it is my sons fault for not entering another diver with him, and he could have in fact had a buddy along with him, but just left it too late to get him in the competition now as it's past the application date; perhaps there are other boats with two divers together who can go, so it may not be the organisers fault, or do you think it should have been a part of the conditions of entry that no one can dive alone?
Anyway he's determined to go, and as he left this morning I told him that if he goes ahead with it, I would never support him again in the sport, as it is not fair on he's mother and myself, I have always supported him in it, even though I would naturally worry a bit, just normal parental worries, but was very proud of him for leading an active life and not stuck in front of a Playstation game, like many of his age.
The problem is, he has been looking forward to this for a long time now and is going to go ahead with it, even after I have told him he should call it off and enter the next one, better planned.
I said it's not illegal but common sense, it's like a formula 1 driver racing without a seatbelt or crash helmet!
He knows what I mean, but I just need some quick help to drive home the point, and hopefully stop him from going ahead with it.
If any of you out there can post me some advise, or links of accidents, fatal or not, or close escapes, please send them to me and perhaps it will help.
Ok hope to hear back from someone,
Mick, (a very worried dad) :-(
PS. can I put my e-mail address on here?