I would second the comment on getting a good suit.
I bought an Elios one (plenty of references here in the search - but this is the web site :
www.eliossub.com - head to tailor section with the scissor logo/button).
For example a surfing wetsuit new inthe shops here is at least £180 (yes...rip off Guernsey) or you can buy a spearing one for about £145 from a shop... or you can get a tailor made one from Elios for about £140 (including postage) that fits like a glove and takes feeling cold out of the equation.
I used to dive with an old surfing suit and lasted 45mins before all the blood retreated to the centre of my body. Now with a 5mm open-cell/kanoko Elios I have been out for a fair couple of hours.
Next I would consider a decent mask - get one that fits - alot of people find that the Cressi Superochio fits well. It wont break the bank either.
So now you have a way of keeping warm and a way of seeing.
Next up I would think about fins.
Personally I started with and continue to use Sporasub Dessault full-foot pocket fins. Don't get open heel fins and dont get Mares Quattro scuba fins (ok so I lied
- I started with MAres scuba fins - big difference graduating to long fins.) Again not too expensive and you can replace the fin blades if you crack one - or later upgrade with a better fin blade. Flexibility and value for money.
So : suit - mask - fins...
Next I would go for a weight belt - get a rubber one - they have Cressi "Elastic belts" on the Scubastore site - these are rubber ones and what you want - they cost about a tenner from scubastore - have yet to see them cheaper in the UK even with postage - also hardly ever in stock on scuabastore but they have a load in at the moment (I just bought two
- how greedy !).
Chuck some lead on it - at first you should not put too much on.
If you are a beginner - go diving/spearing with other people.
Make sure that the amount of lead that you have if not so much that you sink if you stop swimming. You should be bouyant at the surface!
When you dive down the point that if you were to stop swimming you would neither float back up nor sink further into the depths is the neutral bouyancy point.
Try to set the weight so that you are comfortable with this point. For eample if you can hold your breathe for 30 seconds and dive to around 5m then you might like to consider setting the weight to about 6m.
ie so that you are just floating back up to the surface when you hit the bottom at 5m. You can then grab onto a bit of seaweed and shoot with the other hand. This is sometimes a good feeling of security knowing that you will float back up when up are finished at the bottom.
Other people will no doubt have different opinions (Depends on you level and hunting area - personally I wear less weight in strong currents, mates who freedive to 30m hardly wear any weight / mates who spear in water 6m to 10m wear loads of weight - in fact too much - sometimes I worry - so dive responsibly with others and wear less weight if in doubt and until you know what you are doing.).
Next I would consider a float.
Hang your fish stringer from it. Less to get tangled on the bottom or potentially stop you surfacing. Yes - get a large float - inflatable ones seem good - the best UK ones I have seen are from Apnea in Jersey - the double bladder ones. ANyway - I made one and will be adapting it this winter to have a large flag with "fekk off windsurfers" written on it or possibly displayed in neon (I became a popular race marker in the summer...).
Then a trusty knife.
A large mullet on the end of your spear may be incredibly frisky and unwilling to go home with you. Bass less so in my opinion.
Also very handy for cutting fishing line and taking it home to burn.
I wear mine on the inside of my calf to avoid any tangles.
So that is the basic kit.
Then the gun.
Personally if you are unsure of the gun type that you want I would buy a really nice Totemsub Guizzo 80 (
http://www.totemsub.it/guizzo/guizzo.htm) (and then sell it to me ! Or at least try it and tell me how you like it).
No seriously - I would buy a Picasso Century 82 from scubastore (about £84) or a Gimansub Labrax 80 if you have more cash (about £175) or something like a Totemsub Pelagos 90.
The first one (Picasso) is an aluminium gun. Nicely made, accurate and strong.
The second two are Italian wooden guns. Do a search for info on these as I will go on about it for ever once started.... Needless to say they are quieter, handle smoothly, accurate, powerful yet easy to use, look good and women want to touch them constantly. Kind of like a cashmere jumper...
So all that and a good bag to hold it all and dont forget to rinse everything after each dive and you should be in with some nice fish...(Also - I never touch a drop of alcohol the day before diving - this seriously affects your ability to hold your breathe - or at least mine - even a glass of red wine or a beer will drop my bottom-time by 50%....)
(If I were to recommend one thing (in a Spanish Inquisition stylee) it would be a good buddy who will watch you, a good suit to keep you warm ... and surprise).
Hope that was helpful.
Ed
