I dive alone, quite often. It has presented some dangers. This is especially true when diving from my boat in the stong currents off Palm Beach in Florida.
I live in Palm Beach County. Perhaps we'll go out together some-time.
I'm familiar with a couple of episodes of free-diving deaths. In those, the unfortunate one had a buddy who, for some reason, wasn't able to provide help. I could never advise you to dive alone though, it is a personal decision.
If you do dive alone at depths in the range of 50-70 feet, you may choose to do a few things I do.
Time every dive and stick to a max dive time. I try to keep surface to surface times at 2 minutes or less. Don't ever exceed your predetermined max dive time.
Don't ever chase fish. Not only does this scare them, but it is dangerous. If you get in the habit of chasing fish, you will begin to push your limits. Ultimately you may push them too far. Refine your skills so that you draw the fish to you or so that fish do not mind being approached by you. You can start this by giving the fish the impression that you do not notice it.
Don't ever fight a fish out of a hole in deep water on a breath-hold. In fact, don't ever struggle at depth for any reason, ever. Smoothly descend, neatly harpoon your quarrry, and pull it to the surface, from the surface.
Do what you can to keep a speared fish from diving into a hole. This seems to fly in the face of the previous comment, and in fact it does. Nothing is black and white. Do not though expend SIGNIFICANT energy at depth ever. The few times I have put myself at risk have involved fighting fish at depth.
Tie your gun to a float, if your fish runs, let it take the gun, float-line and float. You can pull the fish to the surface after it tires. Resist the temptation to fight the fish other than from the surface where you can breathe. Use a float and not a reel for these reasons.
Carry a knife and be prepared to cut your shooting line if you can't pull a fish off the bottom.
Tie a whistle to your float.
Forget about glory. Instead, become one with the water and the things I mentioned above start to come more naturally.
I live in Palm Beach County. Perhaps we'll go out together some-time.
I'm familiar with a couple of episodes of free-diving deaths. In those, the unfortunate one had a buddy who, for some reason, wasn't able to provide help. I could never advise you to dive alone though, it is a personal decision.
If you do dive alone at depths in the range of 50-70 feet, you may choose to do a few things I do.
Time every dive and stick to a max dive time. I try to keep surface to surface times at 2 minutes or less. Don't ever exceed your predetermined max dive time.
Don't ever chase fish. Not only does this scare them, but it is dangerous. If you get in the habit of chasing fish, you will begin to push your limits. Ultimately you may push them too far. Refine your skills so that you draw the fish to you or so that fish do not mind being approached by you. You can start this by giving the fish the impression that you do not notice it.
Don't ever fight a fish out of a hole in deep water on a breath-hold. In fact, don't ever struggle at depth for any reason, ever. Smoothly descend, neatly harpoon your quarrry, and pull it to the surface, from the surface.
Do what you can to keep a speared fish from diving into a hole. This seems to fly in the face of the previous comment, and in fact it does. Nothing is black and white. Do not though expend SIGNIFICANT energy at depth ever. The few times I have put myself at risk have involved fighting fish at depth.
Tie your gun to a float, if your fish runs, let it take the gun, float-line and float. You can pull the fish to the surface after it tires. Resist the temptation to fight the fish other than from the surface where you can breathe. Use a float and not a reel for these reasons.
Carry a knife and be prepared to cut your shooting line if you can't pull a fish off the bottom.
Tie a whistle to your float.
Forget about glory. Instead, become one with the water and the things I mentioned above start to come more naturally.
