Freedivers recovery vest

  • I know, we should never dive alone, but unfortunately, my reality is that I dive alone most of the time. Of course, I only go about 2/3 of my known limits and play it as safe as possible. I came across this recovery vest and just want to know what more experienced freedivers think about it? Here is the link to the Youtube. Dive safe :cool2:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6nQibForPY

    I am looking for a dive buddy and spearfishing friends in Tampa Bay area. I have all my own gear. Text me to the number on my avatar picture.

  • I don't have one, but I should.
    I think we all should and I think no one in their right minds would argue against it being a potential life saver.


    I was close to getting one a year ago, but then couldn't scrape the money together. But it is still very high on my wish list and if I start just pushing a little more, I should get one. Yeah, I know... just eat out less, buy less shit and soon I will have the money, but you know how that goes. Anyways, yes, I want and will eventually have one.


    From what I hear, people hardly notice it is there. Also, TSA will allow you to travel with a few CO2 cartridges for this type of equipment. I can't really think of any good reasons not to have it. Unless you dive extremely conservatively or always have a buddy's eyes on you. But yeah, we don't always...


    Did I mention that we should all just get one?

  • There is no substitute for diving within your limits. I dive alone every time I go out, even if I'm with a buddy.


    I had a an FRV, the latest model, and it's a vast improvement over the previous models. It's very well designed, extremely light and streamlined, you can almost forget you're wearing it. But I didn't use it and sold it. The main reason was the extensive care procedure that needs to be performed after every use, I don't even rinse my gear most of the time. The 2nd reason was I don't want another piece of gear to lug around and be concerned about. I concluded it's easier for me to dive conservatively and stay within my limits, and it's safer that way in the long run.


    If I feel I must do a particularly challenging dive then I will ask for a spot from a dive buddy I trust. One I know can reach me and I know will not lose his cool. If I purposefully put myself in a situation where I knew I was taking a risk and was alone, I'd sure want a vest. But when you put it that way, might as well not make the dive.


    All that said applies to me in particular. The equation will differ from diver to diver. Had Nate been wearing a vest he might still be with us today http://spearfishing.world/miam…ng-sunday-6-8-2014-a.html. But then divers like him don't normally make this kind of investment. If they do then automatically they fall in a different category and may not require a vest. It is somewhat of a paradox.

  • IMO, A vest is no substitute for a good partner. Blackouts are not the only danger while spearfishing. Having a partner to spot your dives, backup your shots, poke sharks, pull buoy, and keep you in check, makes for a much more relaxing and fulfilling dive, not to mention safer.

  • Honestly, as much as I agree on the need for an ideal buddy, the fact is that many spearos don't have it.
    And the ones that have, often don't have it either.


    How many of you can honestly say that you know 100% that your buddy is always spotting you, never losing sight of you in bad viz and never once going off after his own fish before checking you for a while after you surfaced? How many of you can honestly say that when that buddy takes a break, you don't do "just two dives more" cuz you feel great? Anything less than that vigilant a partner and the buddy system is an illusion, a fake sense of safety.
    The perfect buddy, even for people who have buddies is a myth for the majority of divers.


    Now, don't get me wrong. A half arsed buddy or even a great buddy is better than no buddy. Even the half arsed one might get lucky and spot you when you are in trouble. I would love a great one, would settle for a less than great one, but often I don't have any. And no matter what, I don't see how having an FRV can be seen as a bad thing, even in a buddy system. Unless it makes your buddy lower his guard.


    Then comes the argument about diving safely and within our boundaries. Of course, that should be a no-brainer, but fact is enough good divers have BO'ed doing what they thought was safe. Doing dives of the same depth, time and exertion level that they have been doing for years. Not pushing majorly, just so happened that they were close to or did indeed BO on a what they thought was a regular dive.
    It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. It's not like we have an LED read out of our fatigue levels on the dashboard in our brain. Anyone who really think they can read their bodies to perfection are probably kidding themselves.


    My point is, we can do a lot to mitigate the risk, but it will always be there. I think we just take that very, very small risk because we love what we are doing. Human beings close their eyes to risk every day otherwise we would get nothing done.
    I read plenty of people saying they'll get one when they have kids. Or divers thinking of getting one for their kid. I actually think that makes sense. You can play the (tiny) risks game with less implications when not that many people need you to get home every day.


    I don't push myself on spearing ever and I am one of those guys, like all of us, kidding myself that I know where that limit is. I've done plenty 130 feet dives and static breathholds of + 5 mins but on spearing I don't do more than two mins and max 60-80 feet.
    I still consider getting an FRV, it just better the odds even more. Can't hurt.

  • I forgot to say that I dive in Asia and often times, I just don't have a buddy at all. Other times I have some crazy dude pointing his gun all over the place, downing beers on the boat cuz it's good for his breathhold. A few times, do I have a good non-spearing freedive friend with me until he gets tired of watching me.


    If I was in a spearo saturated place like Florida, I think making friends and cultivating good partners would be awesome and very much the smart way to go. Again, you can still get the FRV, it doesn't exclude the buddy hunt.

  • I'm sure I want it, just not so sure if I can justify the price, it's definitely a life saver especially if combined with dive buddy. But the price tag is a little bit high, or I'm looking at the wrong website?

    I am looking for a dive buddy and spearfishing friends in Tampa Bay area. I have all my own gear. Text me to the number on my avatar picture.

  • I'm sure I want it, just not so sure if I can justify the price, it's definitely a life saver especially if combined with dive buddy. But the price tag is a little bit high, or I'm looking at the wrong website?


    What price are you seeing?


    Cheers, 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.

  • That's the price alright.
    I have seen it on sale/promotion a few 100s cheaper and also, I think Phil Herranen may offer 10% discount on it, but that may only be if you buy a gun from him, too? Not sure, but worth checking with him.


    While Doc Maas might have gotten some nice DOD money to help develop this, it is still very much a niche product that doesn't benefit from mass production economics.
    So yeah, it can be said to be pricey. Or one could say it is cheap in case it does bail your ass once. Anyways, it will prolly last a very long time, resale value is prolly not too bad either.

  • My loving wife got me a FRV for Xmass. Mounted a knife and name.


    Cheers, Don

    Images

    • FRV name.jpg
    • FRV knife.jpg

    "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.

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