Posts by Dan

Here's some proof that equalizing through the eyes is possible.

And this is just weird.

The metal of this shaft was very hard to drill through, and I was at a place with very limited tools. A carbide tipped masonry bit had to be used. So I flattened the area a little to make starting the hole easier and have less thickness to go through. I also thought that since the shaft doesn't have as much energy as a when using a speargun, it's a 5/16 shaft, recessing the line on the shaft will help penetration. Like what you see done with floppers sometimes. So I made the notch more pronounced.

I can't remember how long I made the shooting line. I must've tried to see the distance where I could still be accurate and made the line that long.

I just let the line hang in an arch under me as I swim. It works well. I got some open water fish that I would otherwise never be able to get.

Is UV protection in the epoxy for the epoxy or for the wood?

Thanks. Who were the instructors?

3 hours on the water, just enough to enjoy oneself and not get too tired. For some reason I thought you guys were out at some ungodly hour, like past midnight. You used a GPS to get to the spot right? Would it be possible to find the spot at night without a GPS?

For anyone who's been to a freediving class PFI or FII, what fins did you bring? did the instructors comment on your fins and what did they say?

The only place I've seen lobster out in the open walking around was in the Atlantis hotel Bahamas aquarium. They were walking single file, f'n amazing. Here they're always in a hole which is damn convenient, when you have something to tickle them out like you said. California must've had a serious lobster decline to make such a stringent rule.

The thing about night diving is that you gotta let go of the fear/be sure that some mysterious beast is not going to grab you. It's a very primal feeling. Hell I felt that way about daytime diving at some point. I'm sure it takes a few night dives to get the right mindset.

I think Daniel said a while back that it's easier to catch bugs at night, but I forget why?

Isn't it also cold as hell now? What kind of wetsuits are you using and are you warm enough? How long was the total dive?

I'm not a big lobster guy, but my impression is that it's usually done between 20 and 40ft deep, and can be done from shore if you know where the bugs could be. The sharks are known to feed at night, and be present in places you never see them during the day. I'd have thought though you have the worst shark to worry about.

I think scuba divers lobster at night here. I'm sure some freedivers do it too but you don't hear about it. Another thing that's weird to us is that you can't use anything but your hands to catch them.

Thanks. Nice pic, nice water. But the pic seems to be cropped so the fisheye effect is not noticeable.

The flat lens that I sell, that's included free with a purchase of the Gopro HD Hero naked, solves the Gopro underwater focus problem. I'm not sure what Judah is talking about, there are a couple of cameras discussed here.

Yes you can pick up.

Quote from Wishihadgills

Dan I think the effect your describing might be called vignetting?

No, vignette is the darkening of the corners of the frame caused by the lens entering the frame.

Thanks Don. Where is rubbing compound sold?

For those that don't already know Pursuit includes a flat lens in the price of the Gopro.

You can get Xylene at Home depot.

One negative effect of using penetrating epoxy is that the wood saturated with it becomes brittle to a depth of about 1mm. On most surfaces of the gun it doesn't make a difference. But in very thin areas, like the top part of the track, where as before if it would receive a hit you'd get a dent in the wood, now it will splinter off. It's not a problem with my guns though. If it does happen the wood can be easily refinished.

Gopro stills are no good IMO, the image is too distorted towards the edges of the frame, I think this effect is called fish eye. I wouldn't want any of my important still pics taken with a gopro. However the video quality/compactness/versatility/price of the Gopro is hard to beat http://freedivingspearfishinggear.com/34-underwater-cameras

I don't know where to buy penetrating epoxy but I wouldn't buy it. You can mix it yourself with epoxy and Xylene. In my case I use west marine epoxy with 205 hardner, the mixture is approx 3-1/epoxy-hardener. That makes 4 parts, and then I add 6 parts of Xylene. To do a whole stock I use a teaspoon as a measurement of each part. And I end up having enough left over to do two more coats. Problem is it dries so you have to make a new mixture for the 2nd coat, but sometimes I'm able to use the first mixture for the 2nd coat if I keep it covered in a container. I put on 2-3 coats. You don't even need to worry about a brush, I usually cut up a foam sponge. You can put it on with a rag if you had too. It starts looking nice to me when I rub it.

When Behslayer is talking about a viscous seal layer it's probably another way of saying penetrating epoxy.

Don, a BBQ chicken turner motor is what I used in the past to turn the stock for the epoxy to settle nicely. Can you elaborate on this 1000 wet paper and rubbing compound?

Ramon, that is Hercliner over wood. You brush/dab it on. Lasts very well in saltwater.

That's the logic I've always subscribed to. Imagine that launching from the public beach here in Fort Lauderdale you're required to have a flotation vest. That's without a kayak, just beach diving.