Starting out

[Phil Beckett]

I have just bought my first spear gun as I am looking to change the way I fish from the kayak. As I have only been snorkeling a few times on the usual holidays should I take the time to do a few practice swims using weight belts etc before my first fishing foray, or just take the plunge and have a go? Any advice welcome, many thanks.

 

[Woohoo]

I was where you are just 4 weeks ago. My route to catching my first fish (which I did just yesterday) wasn't ideal because I didn't have all the gear to start with and very limited time in the water. (Trying to juggle a family holiday and a new hobby isn't ideal)

If I was starting again tomorrow and had all the gear to start with, I would do the following. I would go for a snorkel (no gun no belt no float) like you I had only ever snorkelled in tropical countries so had no idea what to expect in UK waters. I would then go for a dive with weight belt but still leave the gun behind. Then when I was comfortable I'd take the gun and float as well.

I would also stay quite close to the shore and in relatively shallow water at first. I've been a very strong swimmer since I was a kid but I still managed to scare myself the other day in deep water. Came very close to dumping my weight belt after taking a lung full of water through my snorkel. The more I coughed and spluttered the more I sank, which made me cough and splutter even more. A mini panic and a reminder that the sea is a dangerous place, especially if you are on your own as I was.

I personally don't see the point in rushing anything, not when your life is potentially on the line. If you are going to jump straight in with the belt and gun, I'd definitely stay close to shore at first.

Hope you have a blast mate, but above all stay safe.

 

[Phil Beckett]

Hey Woohoo

Thanks for your advice and honesty. I think you've just confirmed my thoughts. Will go out in the kayak and just practice going under and trying to get back in the kayak with all the clobber on. Should have a few more decent weeks before the winds come this way, so like you said, I will take my time and enjoy the experience. Thanks again.

 

[Mr. X]

What woohoo said + leave the kayak on shore until you are comfortable with all the diving stuff and all the spearing stuff. When/if you eventually take the yak out, lash everything down - especially when leaving/returning to shore - otherwise you risk making a deposit in Davy Jones Locker

 

[Pinniped72]

Excellent advice offered above, initially just go in with your mask, snorkel, suit and fins to get a feel for them, swim against any current, get a feel for the conditions and what you can and cant do, as Woohoo said stay close in, get comfortable being out of your depth, get used to treading water with your fins, taking your mask off and having your hands free etc. You cant practice with your fins enough, they are your propulsion, you need to know what they and your legs can do, getting into strong current with fins or legs that cant cut it is frightening, research the conditions that you will be diving in, initially stick with the conditions that you know. Then introduce the belt and weights and the first time you are just working out how much you need, the first time I went out I had to hide my excess weights under some shingle as I took too much! Don't just put the weight on the belt and go straight out into the deep, to stop and then realise you are overweighted, find that out very, very close to shore!! Research the subject, shallow water blackout etc and know what can go wrong and why it can go wrong.................. knowledge is power!!

When you are comfortable with your mask, fins, snorkel and weighting, introduce the speargun. I forgot to say, whenever you enter the water do not forget your knife, practice taking it from its sheath, don't wait till you need it, know how to do it before then

When your comfortable being in the water with your gear then add the kayak and remember that you will be carrying more weight so depending on the volume of your kayak, its handling could be very different. This could make a big difference on long trips, my kayak handles very differently with my diving gear on, to be honest I need a bigger kayak for diving but everything costs........

Good luck, trust your instincts and have fun, nothing compares to being in the sea, its a tonic and its free. Be careful though, its highly addictive

 

[Mr. X]

... to be honest I need a bigger kayak for diving but everything costs........

Some SOT kayaks/surf skis are small, which is probably convenient if you don't need to carry diving/spearing/angling gear. Perhaps I should make more use of 2-seater yak (Ocean Kayak Malibu 2) as a dive platform. It is surprisingly stable and has plenty of room with only a single person onboard (I've had 2 adults and a child onboard before but I'd recommend the slightly larger model if you plan to use a yak with 2 adults often + backrests + yak cart + lift-bar for roof-rack + extra deck loops for attaching anchor/bungees/bungee nets/crate/speargun/...).

Good luck, trust your instincts and have fun, nothing compares to being in the sea, its a tonic and its free. Be careful though, its highly addictive

Amen to that.

 

[grantl]

Malibu 2 and trolling motor - about as good as it gets...


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