Sarasota man dies after spearfishing accident

  • Always sad when a fellow diver dies while pursuing this sport. However, like mentioned there is nothing that stricter regulations could have done to prevent this situation.


    I happened to stop by my local dive shop this evening and we were discussing the incident. I was told it was a hammerhead speargun. While I don't know the source of the information I trust it. Having dealt with a lot of in various states of maintenance There are a lot of probable causes. Certainly a a finger on a trigger is the most likely but a lot of these style guns have issues with the shaft not engaging properly. This is just speculation and we can beat our heads against the wall trying to figure it out and never get the answer.


    Hank I know a couple friends that come up with the flopper hanging off their finger like that. For the life of me I can't figure out why. There is zero advantage and like mentioned incredibly dangerous.


    Stay safe guys.

  • Marco, I would never modify or disable a safety device on a speargun. With proper care and inspection they work well for me. I agree with awareness and never pointing a spear at anyone but your choice to remove a safety device is one I won't support. Most guns when they misfire are due to poor care, trigger wear and over powering of the gun with high loading rubber. Put yourself in a similar situation like the one we are discussing here and explain to the authorities that you removed the safety to allow you the best chance of shooting the fish of a lifetime. I'm surely missing something here. Just my two cents!!!

  • Marco, I would never modify or disable a safety device on a speargun. With proper care and inspection they work well for me. I agree with awareness and never pointing a spear at anyone but your choice to remove a safety device is one I won't support. Most guns when they misfire are due to poor care, trigger wear and over powering of the gun with high loading rubber. Put yourself in a similar situation like the one we are discussing here and explain to the authorities that you removed the safety to allow you the best chance of shooting the fish of a lifetime. I'm surely missing something here. Just my two cents!!!


    A few good threads here about the subject of speargun safety switches. A safety on a speargun isn't at all like a safety on a firearm, dont really want to go over it again, but its a false security on a speargun in my opinion, and one I dont want on any of my guns... that being said I dont shoot pipe guns :rolleyes1:.

    A bad day at sea is better than a good day in the boatyard
    George Steele

  • As a Florida based diver and spearo, I'm sure the folk lobbying for the banning of this sport and possession of a speargun will use the statements on this forum to strengthen their case. Every city along Florida's east coast has some sort of city ordinance that addresses possession, operation and places where they are not allowed. I know the rules and laws are different in other parts of the country and world but I have to live by the ones that govern my sport here. This is an international forum and I understand the variations in legal implications and product liability. Let's not give others the wrong impression here. We all know safety come first however we practice it.

  • As a Florida based diver and spearo, I'm sure the folk lobbying for the banning of this sport and possession of a speargun will use the statements on this forum to strengthen their case. Every city along Florida's east coast has some sort of city ordinance that addresses possession, operation and places where they are not allowed. I know the rules and laws are different in other parts of the country and world but I have to live by the ones that govern my sport here. This is an international forum and I understand the variations in legal implications and product liability. Let's not give others the wrong impression here. We all know safety come first however we practice it.


    Absolutely safety comes first! Safe practices is the best safety... and I say again speargun safety switches are not the same as firearm safeties. Do you think we should lie and say that they are so that some schmuck points a loaded speargun with the safety on at another person and the gun goes off? See? Thats why I believe in open honesty with stuff like this, because we who know better need to heads up those who dont.

    A bad day at sea is better than a good day in the boatyard
    George Steele

  • George is right. Most modern pistols have multiple safeties that work in a variety of ways all to prevent the firearm from going off accidentally. And still there are accidents. The safety switches found on most spearguns are crude and generally degrade over time. The speargun safeties mostly prevent the trigger from being pulled and do nothing to directly prevent the spear from releasing. Growing up I was taught the safety was a "dummy switch" because only a dummy would rely on them. This doesn't mean I don't use safeties just that you can't trust them. All safeties of any design can and do fail. The only safe way to prevent accidentally injury someone is to know where your muzzle is pointed at all times.

  • I can only present my point of view and stress safety., safety, safety!!! How many videos we see where a diver has a camera mounted to the gun and points it in the direction of the diver taking the shot. Then we give the video a thumbs up. As you said earlier, let's be open and hold others accountable when they affect our sport.

  • When I built my speargun I intentionally didn't make a safety switch. The only safe speargun is one that is not loaded. The most important safety rule for me is to never, ever point a loaded or not loaded gun towards a person, especially when you are in the process of loading.
    The first day I was spearfishing I had a gun with safety and I forgot to turn it off before a dive. I wanted to shoot a fish and so I pressed the trigger..the spear didn't fly, but the line release let go. I was really stunned until I noticed I had forgotten the safety switch. Still under water I took off safety and shot the fish. What I also didn't notice was that the damn line had wrapped around my knife-holder on my arm. It was pulled forwards, it really hurt and I am lucky I wasn't injured. And I would have been really annoyed if I lost the fish.
    I don't trust safety switches on spearguns.


    Greetings from Norway

  • I can only present my point of view and stress safety., safety, safety!!! How many videos we see where a diver has a camera mounted to the gun and points it in the direction of the diver taking the shot. Then we give the video a thumbs up. As you said earlier, let's be open and hold others accountable when they affect our sport.


    I agree 110%. One of the dumbest and most dangerous things I see people do.

  • Quote

    Virgili: Do you think a 16 year old is different from a 13? I do. I think the 16 is worst. They are full of shit and testosterone. I have two kids and they are 13 and 16. I know what I'm talikng about


    It should be pretty interesting to guide and deal with your two boys... eager to spear nice captures…;)congrat's;)


    a pic of my son at the time about for years old and holding an octopus taken with a trident... later in the afternoon he hit his foot with the spear while climbing a rock on the beach… just a tiny flesh wound but a psychodrama for my little boy!!
    He later never have any desire to spearfishing.. only snorkelling

    I began my spearfishing at about ten… in a place where under sixteen get not allowed.. first by chasing trouts in torrents: cold water, improvised speargun, fear to be taken by the current... then practising in the Med Sea most of the time with my buddy... he dead drown while spearfishing in the Ocean Indian about fifteen years ago:(


    Is spearfishing way of life giving the opportunity to ask ourself some critical questions about the fate/ destiny?
    is this recent sad event for the both participants a tragedy (destiny) or a drama?

  • George is right. Most modern pistols have multiple safeties that work in a variety of ways all to prevent the firearm from going off accidentally. And still there are accidents. The safety switches found on most spearguns are crude and generally degrade over time. The speargun safeties mostly prevent the trigger from being pulled and do nothing to directly prevent the spear from releasing. Growing up I was taught the safety was a "dummy switch" because only a dummy would rely on them. This doesn't mean I don't use safeties just that you can't trust them. All safeties of any design can and do fail. The only safe way to prevent accidentally injury someone is to know where your muzzle is pointed at all times.


    I can assure you those "accidents" are negligent discharges. I have yet to see a firearm go off on its own. Its sad how our society has become a knee jerk society when a tragedy happens.

  • Its a bummer to read about such accidents. Condolences to the family.


    I think we should be more open minded about the use of the trigger lock/ safety. It has its place on certain gun types, dive spots, ocean conditions and experience levels.

  • I had the following information forwarded to me, I don't have time to do this kind of detective work. I do believe it should be brought to light because it puts things in perspective and shifts the fault from spearfishing in general (which I have a problem with because I feel my right to do something I love is being squashed) to the individual.


    Victim's family is seeking tougher regulations on spearfishing Parents of spearfishing victim want tougher regulations

    Quote

    Because of the fact there was no safety on the gun, this was preventable

    I don't know if by this they mean the speargun didn't have a safety or that it wasn't engaged.


    Dale Bartush (the shooter) has a youtube channel with some spearfishing videos. Check out time stamp 1:15 in this video, he is pointing a loaded gun with a gopro attached directly at a fellow diver, within the speargun's range.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLjRAaCca8Q



    I'm not sure what relevance this incident has Father says 'alcohol-fueled insanity' drove son | HeraldTribune.com other than to show that he's capable of making rash and aggressive decisions.


    I do not mean to imply here that this wasn't an accident. But I question the angle of the shot, which caused the spear to go through the head sideways, if the victim supposedly bumped into him on ascent. In very murky water it's not unheard of divers momentarily taking aim at another diver's head as they raise it to peek over some cover while lying in ambush on the bottom. Only one person in the world knows what really happened. Anyone in that situation would say whatever it takes to avoid prosecution or humiliation. Just something to think about, as a rule I question stories that are fed to me, especially through the media.

  • Condolences to family and friends. I feel pain thinking what hell it would be if I shot my friend.


    Sincerely Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

  • It's Tragic, but let's NOT have anymore.


    Watching his videos, (I know they were edited down) but that Trigger Finger heads into the guard for the FAST Trigger Pull....


    Limited video I know....


    No Safety use-age from "Drive by Media" - ok, Limited concern for Muzzle direction?


    Well It's not a matter of IF , more about WHEN.


    Dan's point is valid, Parents or D.A. have NO blame on shooter. It's just a lack of Regulation on Speargun market. Not these Kids and safety attitude, how would parents even know.


    Did the D.A. review all of the videos made that were not posted. The Raw stuff. Be interesting to see those. The Gun in question might have had Go-Pro running for this terrible event. Does D.A have it, maybe got kicked off gun post shot?


    Lets Just do this: Victim's family is seeking tougher regulations on spearfishing.


    Anyhow, "Gets off Sand-Box"


    Let's not have anymore of these events, that is my RANT goal.

  • Go to 1:51.


    It might not be him but you get the idea with that group.


    Just wow. :crazy:

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