Using Longboard as a diving platform

[jefkawst]

Hello All,

If anyone doesn't mind, can you take the time to share with me of how you go about rigging your longboard for your freediving platform. Pictures would also be great. I have been freediving off La Jolla Shores using my kayak to get me across the preserve and then just clip off to some kelp and go from there. But, with a surfboard you would be limited to storage space for your fins, weight belt, gun, etc. I have a 9' longboard that I would like to use to paddle from shore to get to the kelp beds off of Swamis. I have a few ideas that I am brainstorming with, but I would like to know a general idea of where to put your belt, fins, and gun while paddling out. I have a Omer Atoll float that I can tether off the board and attach the gun to it and just drag that out while paddling out. So, if anyone has any ideas that they don't mind sharing, that would be really great. Thank you all so much and for all the shared ideas and post that help out newbies like myself.

Thanks,

Jeff Salinas

 

[Bill]

Jeff
A long time ago all the divers had paddleboards which were just slightly modified tandem surf boards. We built a wooden rack to fit on the front. To move, you just piled evrything in the rack and paddled with hands and feet. The rack had gun holders and a small lock box. Everything else was clipped to it. Until the Ryan and Lighthall boards became available (and kayak paddles were allowed) we put the suit, weights, mask and fins on when we entered the water and took them off five or six hours later.
I still have my Lighthall in the garage. Should ship it to the west coast. The last one I heard about, sold for three times what I paid for it new. Shipping is the killer though.

 

[cdavis]

You probably need to attach some structure to the board to which all your other gear is attached. Not damaging the board would be pretty important. Why not get some rubber strapping (bungie cords would probably work, but not as well) and use them to attach a padded rack or board with lots of clips to the surf board, maybe two, fore and aft, and adjust the position to find the best paddling arrangement.

Connor

 

[Lockedin]

I used to use a 9'6", and 10' boards, by bungeeing a milk crate to the tail (or the nose, but then you can't see over the "super structure"), with clip points / tieoffs, spaced along. I would then tie off to the kelp, using my surf leash.