Posts by Don Paul

  • Hi to every one

    Joe, welcome to the forum:thumbup:Jean Tapu is doing well diving pearls in Tahiti. Del Wren from the USA team is still in the loop. It's good to have you on board, us young guys love to here the history of our past mentors.


    All the best, Don Paul

  • California dragon swim

    The Dragon swim is a unique event that used to take place in conjunction with the annual boat parade in Long Beach Harbor.A enormous fire breathing dragon is propelled by thirty to fifty Neptunes and few special guests.
    The members are all adorned in red stocking caps as they swim the dragon through the harbor. The dragon it self is astonishing, but the history behind it's creation is truly amazing. One of the founders of the group told me the immense dragon started out as a small potted Christmas tree with lights.Little did Big Jim Christiansen and his friends know that on a cold night in December they would begin a tradition that would last for many decades.
    For them, swimming around the harbor carrying a small Christmas tree with lights was all in a good days fun.
    These were the days before wetsuits were invented, and therefore these Neptune members received rewards for braving the cold waters of December. As they swam to different boats displaying their lighted tree, the occupants of the boat usually found it in their hearts to issue these men a beer for the good nature.
    After swimming through three or four rows of boats the men were sufficiently inebriated, and so started the tradition which is now known as the Dragon Swim.
    This tradition, when analyzed, shows the ingenuity of the group along with their strong sense of pride. The dragon that evolved from a small potted Christmas tree was for a long time the lead float in the annual parade.
    What was once a cheap way to get beer. is now a attention demanding pyrotechnic display with a forty human powered engine.Another aspect of the float that gives insight to the Neptunes true core values is the creature itself. In the days of uncharted waters tales of mighty sea monsters devouring boats struck fear into all sailors. The most formidable creature of them all, the sea dragon, was a force not to be doubted.The Neptune Dragon not only shows the group's creativity, but it is a symbol of the strength they possess in the aquatic environment.
    I need to help the younger members to understand this, and help me bring the Dragon Swim back.


    To be continued.....^^


    Cheers, Don

  • New gun - shaft/wishbone question

    The hydrodynamic drag is doubled, one guy told the double loop put less hurt on his fingers
    when loading. :rolleyes: I told him to get a grip;) Dan, may disagree with me but I like to have the band
    taper at the end to further reduce cavitation/drag. These factors are much more important on a single band gun when looking for maximum efficiency with out piling on more rubber.


    Cheers, Don

  • Wong Shafts?

    Quote from greekdiver

    We need to find him a SA distributor <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">


    Marco,


    I have yet to bend a 7.5mm Rob Allen shaft. Granted, most of the fish i shoot are usually hurt a lot so they cant run to their full potential. I don't think i have shot a fish in the tail in a long time.


    Glad you brought that up...how about bringing back your avatar chick with the nice tail.^^..... '' It would be for the poor'';)
    and it is close to XMass.^^
    Cheers, Don

  • Intro...

    Great to have you Brandon.:thumbup: I told my friend Dan that if he builds a nice field to play on Quality will prevail, one member at a time. Don't get me wrong we like to have fun here as well, but not so much as I want
    to get in my car and go for a ride.;) I am very very sad about LB but it's not over yet... that or I'm still in denial over the loss of my backyard coves I hope to share with my kid.


    Cheers, Don

  • hello from Croatia

    Quote from Krive

    Don Paul I know Tomislav Tomba with croatian spearfishing forum .
    He makes the pneumatic dry barrel kits ,do you know him ?
    you can see on you toube him barrel kits ..... improves pneumatic barrel gun up to 45 % depends on the depth


    Tomba kits and micro tomba


    Yes, I have a Tomba prototype kit for Airbalete, what a great guy. he is always sharing data unselfishly.
    I can't wait for our winter to be over so I can shoot some big fish with it.


    Cheers,Don
    Gun with Tomba is here...
    http://spearfishing.world/spea…r-airbalete-110-a-19.html

  • PB Kings

    Nice Macs, too bad on the Hoo, I like a small hard float,50 bungee to a brake away rig. They usually blast off hard, but are easy to swim to. I like keeping the gun in my hands for a shark nudge'r.;)


    Cheers,Don

  • hello from Croatia

    Welcome Krive, so good to have some one from your region.:thumbup:
    Do you know Tomba (Tomislav) from Croatia ? who makes the pneumatic dry barrel kits ?


    Cheers, Don

  • California dragon swim

    Quote from Bamz

    I am looking forward to the story Don has promised reguarding the Dragon's history and hopefully where that whale fits in :thumbup:


    Oldest dragon I can find is 1959.
    1960 is a ice berg.
    1970 Whale.
    last one is 1964 Dragon.


    I'll tell my first dragon story Tues called.... Cheerleader sacrifice in a red wool sweater. followed by....
    Two sets of doubles and a vintage Doxa.


    Cheers, Don

  • California dragon swim

    Wait for Santa..this isn't face Book^^ Ive got presents to carve. <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">


    Cheers, Don