I don't like to hear about Jake boy blacking out, basic old school skin diving does not promote this.
The rest of your post is so true. I'm 50 50 on buddy divers, one let me almost drown to save his gun instead of me, the other helped save me life. I am my best buddy most of the times.
Cheers, Don
I feel freediving courses promote blacking out. Usually in the guise of "getting to know your limits" :rolleyes1:
I may be 2 new to the community to voice my opinion, what do I know - right?
Any self-bail tool is better than no tool at all. And then use your brain first, your lungs second, and before going to the limit just think about others, waiting for you to get back home in one piece. That should take care of most SWB's (not all). I just don't see buddy system working 100% for spearos, I actually don't even see it working 50%. A few weekends ago I went to spearfish with my friend, we only did +/- 25 ft of water but I didn't see him more than once every 5-10 minutes. Diving down the rope buddy system can work, spearfishing not so much...
I feel freediving courses promote blacking out. Usually in the guise of "getting to know your limits" :rolleyes1:
That is somewhat true, Dan. Kirk told us we might black out during that part of the course. But you know what I learned that did have a lot of value....as I held and held and held my breath? That I can hold my breath a lot longer than I ever thought I could. And that's good to know because hopefully, God forbid....if myself or my buddy is tangled in a gill net or something, that voice inside my head will be saying, "don't panic....you can hold your breath for 5 minutes". Because panic would turn things bad real fast.
And it did make Jake a believer.
Without knowing someones capabilities I think its best to suggest they have a partner. Not everyone is a Dan, Don Paul or Hank. I have had guys show up for a dive that needed swim lessons, lacked minimum fitness requirements or just had no comfort in the water. Some people have a life long relationship with the ocean some people have zero knowledge.
Buddy system while spearfishing works 100% only if there's only one speargun. Period.
I always teach my kids to look after the other but also to remember not to rely on anyone. You should be responsible on what you're doing.
Does anyone know if simple CO2 vest manually inflated 40 ft under would do the job? Basically, my question is if the vest would inflate normally or it would not work deep underwater?
Thanks.
QuoteBuddy system while spearfishing works 100% only if there's only one speargun.
you'r right!
this technic has ben used for a long time in the Med Sea (Italy++) while using weight release system.. it need a perfect coordination team
Most of the time (95%) have been hunting alone whatever the risk taken
Does anyone know if simple CO2 vest manually inflated 40 ft under would do the job? Basically, my question is if the vest would inflate normally or it would not work deep underwater?
Thanks.
Its good for working fish out of the kelp at that depth. Bringing a diver up would require more or larger CO2 cylinders and ditching your weight belt.
The following describes an unscientific ,unproven and possibly unnecessary field test of sorts.
I have used c02 powered carter floats as part of a fish retrieval system many times. They have always inflate at depth.
I dive alone most of the time. On deeper dives I will often partially unbuckle my weight belt holding the tail in my hand as I ascend Just incase ! ( nothing new I think this is a common practice )
One day on the boat with bad vis and cold water I decided to put a carter float in the front of my wet suit ( Speardiver Sombra 5mm) The float was positioned vertically with the pull cord at the bottom.
I then tied a slack cord from my weight belt first to the pull cord on the float and then on to the lift point on the float.
At 35' in 40' of water I let the belt go. The bag instantly inflated and I was ascending with out trying.
10 or so feet from the surface the over pressure valve on the bag opened as it should. This unfortunately pumped c02 into my wet suit top and hood making it loose and allowing the bag to find its way partially out the hood of my suit.
The experiment was a partial success. I think that if the carter float bag was stitched or some other way attached to the suit and the over inflation valve had been vented out of the suit it would have worked better.
It would have been nice to come up with a break away for the belt so it was jettisoned after its drop pulled the cord on the bag.
The vis got better the bait came in and the water warmed up so I had no time to pursue a better version.
I feel freediving courses promote blacking out. Usually in the guise of "getting to know your limits" :rolleyes1:
Never taken a freediving course before but I plan to when funds and time allow. I know a few instructors and have talked to them about the courses a bunch. It is true freediving courses promote blacking out by pushing limits of what a diver is capable of, but they also teach divers what to do in case of their partner blacking out, and what to do to minimize the risk of blacking out. Knowing your limits it the best way to prevent yourself from crossing them especially if youre diving alone.
Underway, that is creative. I think the best solution for attaching the Carter float to the diver would be a vest. But then if you're going to be wearing a vest might as well use the FRV. One of it's good features is that it will float the diver face up.
Josh, save your cash. I think you'll be disappointed.
Holding the belt open with your hand while ascending could save your life. Not reaching those limits won't put you it that position. I prefer the second option. 
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