Posts by Waterhawk

Does anyone have a thought on maybe belt sanding down the top of a Pathos foot pocket to make it less rigid. It's a little tight on the top of the foot

Just finished the FII Level 1 course. Glad I spent the money. Learned things like learning how to identify a diver in distress and save them, physiology of the body, breathe up and breathold technique, optimal entry form, etc... The lessons learned were great, the instructers were great, my performance was so-so. Screwed up my third breathe up, so my 3 minute breathold goal ended up being 2 min 8 sec, which is still my PB. I may have been able to reach the 3 minute goal on my 2nd breathold though, but this will have to be achieved at a later date. My max depth ended up being 53 feet(formerly about 22 feet), although I had to gain this depth by pulling down on the line with the "head up" position. Massive equalizing issues as always, if an ENT doctor can't help me, I might as well forget about ever going deep or spearfishing over 15 feet deep. After taking the course, I learned a lot and inproved my breathold, over doubled my personal best depth and doubled my "down time". By the way, so far I've tried Doc's Pro Plugs, Neti-Pot, Afrin, and Sudafed with none of these helping, anyone have any advice or am I basically screwed?

I know that I'll be wearing my Pursuit 3mm for my FII class next week:cool2:

Welcome

Since our water time in Minnesota is cut almost in half from what most of you guys enjoy, it seemed to me a good option and there was no way I was passing up the deal that we were presented with. Most of you guys are lucky and get to dive 12 months a year with the pressures of deeper diving, we get half that and maybe some pool time during the winter. I partially want to take the course so that other guys feel more comfortable diving with me. It's a cheap investment IF it helps save someone. Some of these guys are right though, using some common sense while diving goes a long way.

You might be right about that Dan, if you don't push your limits, you won't black out. I just need better breathhold techniques that I'm not finding around here and I need to find my limit, especially when most of my diving will be alone. I figure if I can find my limit, and cut that in half or less, I should be good to go. I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks whether it was worth it or not. No aspirations right now to go past Class 1.

Okay, now I'm a little more than intimidated. FII is sending an instructer up to Wisconsin in July, so I'm taking that course. Yeah, I might be able to pull off 5 minutes of breathhold, if you add up 5 attempts. I might be over my head as far as breathhold goes, at least I'll learn some techniques and safety stuff.

Hello

Hi

Question to Troutcatcher from a landlocked American, what are "the bommies?"

Welcome Tred, I don't have any suit specifics for you, but I'm in Minnesota which means we have somewhat similar weather and temps and I will say that I just tried out my new 3mm Pursuit top and bottom this wknd and was comfortable and stayed warm in 54 degree water for about 20 minutes before it was time to go, so it wasn't a long test. I will most likely buy a 5mm suit sometime later for colder water and/or ice diving. I hope this helps you make an informed decision on buying your open cell wetsuit. You won't go wrong with buying a Pursuit wetsuit.

Went for a short dive yesterday to try out the new gear. Overall impression of fit and function was fantastic!:thumbsup2: Since I am extremely claustrobobic, it's gonna take time to get used to all of the tight fitting gear, but it did feel better once I got in the water. I only had a chance to spend about 20 minutes in Mille Lacs lake, and I only did 2 dives in that time. First dive in 16 feet of water- only made it to 9 feet because of equalizing issues, 2nd dive in 13 feet of water- made it to bottom but could only equalize left ear, this problem is chronic and maddening. C90 fins worked excellent, especially compared to my scuba fins. 3mm suit worked excellent and although I only got to spend 20 minutes in the lake, I was completely comfortable in the 54 degree water. It didn't even feel like I had a weight belt or weights on, I only used 8 pounds because it was a battle to get the coated weights on the belt, but I can't see needing more weight than that even though I'm being told to start around 16 pounds for shallow water diving. I'm gonna see if I can swap the coated weights for uncoated ones. f10-v2 watch worked great. Does anyone know why the pictures of the new f10 show a light blue face, but the actual watch I got has the same grey face as the first version?

Romania sounds alot like Minnesota,U.S. in regards to the legality of shooting fish. You can't shoot any game fish, which is the best eating fish. Hopefully they both catch up with the times and recognize spearfishing as another way for us to enjoy the outdoors. Welcome to the forum!

You're spearing philosophy is similar to my hunting philosophy. I used to shoot more deer and catch more fish, in a season, than I could eat, although we had many meat feeds with friends and family. Now, I shoot far less but enjoy the outdoors just as much. Welcome aboard!

Wow, that would be awesome to see the GBR, welcome darrin!

Glad to see you're not on the casualty report Dan. I've had a similar experience with no injuries, but my bike didn't fare as well. I'll take good luck over skill anyday. That bike helmet looks pretty cool, it should make you feel safer while diving with those cuda too!:)

Just got my gear from Dan. 3mm reef suit, c90 fins, weight belt, mako knife, f10-v2,and dive bag to carry it all. Waiting for the weather to clear up to get the gear wet. I hear the water's in the low to mid 50's, so I'll see how the 3mm suit handles it, or should I say how I handle it. The gear looks sweet:cool2:

Montana is awesome! My last trip out to Columbia Falls to visit family was spent fishing northerns. We weren't chasing them in the water though, all rod and reel, but would have been cool to jump in, crystal clear water where we were.

I was really hoping I'd be making a trip to Washington DC to view the dead body of Bin Laden hanging in the front lawn of the White House.

In minnesota we can only spear rough fish, so you have to travel across state lines if you want to shoot any game fish. I'll probably stay instate chasing carp until I'm good enough in the water to make a fishing trip across state lines worth it.