Posts by Diving gecko

Quote from Dan

Fantastic pics. Who is David?

Haha, so many ways to answer that question...
I'll go for the simple one which is still true, the David in question is me:)

Thanks for the nice words. The pics are from a photo story I did on the Korean Sea Women, The Haenyeo.
They are dying out, so most of them are way older than this woman. I think there might only be 1-2 under 40 and the majority are above 60.
Some pics from an earlier trip here and some tearsheets of published stories here if you are curious. Scroll by clicking in the right side of the picture.

[This will be a tad long, sorry...]
I tend to always try on any mask that I come across whether in a shop or from other divers. Actually, not that many masks suit me as I am "too pronounced" on the t-section of my upper nose and the bridge between my eyes. With very little compression, a lot of masks will put pressure on this area which can be painful and give me headaches.

That said, I have collected about 5-6 freediving masks by now. But I only really use two of them these days.

The one mask I have highly recommended lately, though it is expensive and can be hard to find, is the SubGear Steel Comp. At least, that's what I think it is called. Very low volume, too, but it is special in that the glass lenses can actually move and bend inwards a bit. Think of it as a mix of the very flexible Sphera (which is my second most used mask) and a classic freedive mask. For deep spearing or people with EQ issues, I highly recommend the SubGear mask as it takes very little air to EQ the mask.
If it fits you, certainly give it a try. (There is one with a frameless one-piece glass lens with almost the same name. That's not the one you want. You want the one with two glasses for the most compressible mask.)

I use the SubGear mask for shooting pics and video on scuba and for spearing and fun diving on freediving. Actually, I use it for pretty much everything except for deeper non-shooting freediving where I still use my Aqualung Sphera. That mask needs even less air to EQ since it more or less just collapses on your face at depth instead of sucking your eyeballs out. I am EQ challenged so I can actually tell a difference in terms of which mask I dive with.

The third mask I use, though not that much these days, is an old Omer Abyss for two reasons. It is the only mask I could find that fits me with a bridge between the lenses with enough material in it to drill a hole for a GoPro mount. So, basically I only use that mask if I want a camera mounted on my head.

My first love in masks was a Cressi Super Occhio Plus. It fit me well but I later donated it to this amazing woman who needed it way more than me (I got a replacement but the SubGear has taken its place):

One of the masks that I really, really wanted to work for me is the great looking, super low volume Zero3 from Omer. But... they should have called it 'The Zero to 3%' or something similar to signal the percentage of divers it actually fits. Because of its ultra low volume it has a very shallow skirt but it's also is a very stiff mask, so it doesn't really adjust to your face well. Most of the people I know who have tried that mask can not get a seal on it at all.
I am guilty of buying one online based on its looks and specs but ever since then I have basically tried giving it to friends. No luck, yet.
I have learned two things from this. First of all, don't buy masks without trying them first (duh). Second, the Italian face model dude who stuck his face in some molten aluminum when they were making the mask mold, must have a pretty unique face...

I agree with Dan. I have 5-6 masks and while the Sphera is an amazing mask for freediving I don't really recommend it for spearfishing. Its optical properties are just too poor.
The brain does a great job at adjusting for it, so after diving with a Sphera for a short while, you kinda stop noticing it. But try to bring a proper glass mask and a Sphera on the same dive, change between them and you will instantly know.

But the Sphera is a unique mask for people who dive deep and/or suffer from EQ issues. What makes the mask so special is that the frame is very flexible and the lenses, themselves, are bendy, too. A lot of divers just EQ the Sphera down to 10-20m and then let it collapse on their face as they go deeper. This means, they retain more air to EQ their ears and sinuses with. With other stiffer masks, you would need to EQ them more and deeper or risk mask squeeze injuries such as small blood vessels bursting in your eyes.

True also that it is a tad fragile. While the scratches don't bother me much (they will fill in with water when diving and not really show up much) it is not uncommon for Sphera lenses to pop out of the frame if handled roughly on a boat or land. Hang out with freedivers long enough and you stop counting how often this happens. This is why I always keep my Sphera in a plastic box unless it is on my face. I don't do that for any of my regular glass-lensed freedive masks. With a bit of skill, you can put the lenses back in so it is not the end of the world, though.

Since it is so flexible, the Sphera also fits a ton of different face shapes. Come to think about it, I can't recall ever meeting one whom it didn't fit.

All in all, for deeper diving and fun diving, it is def an interesting and recommendable mask.

Hi and welcome!
Can't help you with SoCal, though but just curious, do you live in Okinawa?

I am based in Shanghai and always looking for places nearby that offer good spearing and Okinawa would be such a great respite from this crazy city. But don't really know where to go there and what the view is these days on spearing there.

Cheers, and hope you find what you need:-)
David

Quote from Dan

Thank you but promoting Speardiver spearguns is not what I was getting at. I just found the tight focus on Pathos spearguns amusing, what with other options being more readily available.

Got you:)
The problem actually lies in that not much is readily available in that country:-(
And with what is a available or at least has a distributor (who might not have stock), I didn't really see anything that I would, personally, get over trying for a few days to see if one could get the Greek Kid on The Block.

To elaborate, though not sure it is needed, haha:
It's not my place to make John's original thread(s) into a brand vs. brand battle. In emails, I steered John towards some quite impressive tests and reviews of the Pathos. And I honestly talked the bulky old school US woodie down (a specific brand). If I had come across other great reviews of eg. the Salvimar bandguns or Hammerheads (both have distributors there, too) I would have shared those, too. But I didn't. I was hoping John would have friends visiting him in the foreseeable future, which would open him up to more options (this was where the Greek gun initially came in), except there might now be restrictions on bringing in spearguns. All in all, it's not the easiest gun-buying situation he is in.

John, I will send you an email with the Salvimar dealer's info. That might be an option. I have no idea about how their bandguns perform, but he does have some stock. I have a much better idea about their airguns (which he said, would take 15 days to arrive).

I would venture a guess that Subsub is talking about surface swimming...?

In Denmark, where most of the hunts are about swimming long distances, quietly, on the surface and then just dropping 1-3m below for the shooting, it is not uncommon for spearos to use ankle weights. Though a tad counter-intuitive it, supposedly, helps with the efficiency and reduces the noise as it keeps the fins more under water during the full cycle of the stroke.

My fault, Dan.
I am the culprit for sending John some PMs regarding what I, personally, would be looking for.
I shoot air, but Pathos is getting a lot of love from a lot of people I respect because of their very long band stretch, high set handles and how well they handle recoil. Like so many other guns, a few people always find a few issues and Pathos are no different. But overall, there's a lot of love.

I do think I have also mentioned that he should be looking at your guns in another thread of his.

Come to think about it, John just wants a gun very badly, but why not try get one of the the most efficient for its size for the skittish fish in his new home country. Obviously, I have tried my best to get him hooked on air, too, haha;-). I do think, actually I know, that it is a very viable alternative. And it just so happens, that there is a distributor there who can get him one. Needs to be imported first, though. (John, I am getting some PP prices for you on those, just in case).

With the risk of starting a small online war I will admit that just a few days ago, I tried to steer John away from a revered US brand which produces blockey woodies by the thousands. I have shot a few of them. I find them old tech, with much shorter band stretch than many modern pipe guns. They are durable, take tons of fish no doubt and if you are a great spearo and/or fish are plenty then I am sure it is a fine choice. But I have dived and speared in the Philippines and I, personally, believe there are better guns for those semi-depleted hunting grounds.

Just curious, it was actually in the flesh or the guts?

Supposedly, most worms and parasites live in the guts, but they will start to migrate into the flesh once the host is dead. This is one of the reasons, gutting your fish asap is a smart move.

Did you gut yours pretty soon after killing it? Or maybe this kind just already lives in the flesh.

I haven't seen worms in groupers yet in S.E. Asia but I've seen worms in the guts of small tuna in the Philippines.

From my Pinay friend:

[INDENT]Yes i have a friend Jake who is a seller of Salvimar here in the Philippines, his Facebook shop is FreedivePH. The hammerhead distributor is in Mandaue Cebu, Cortez Dive shop. Yes there is a FB group of local spearos, i Will add you up. I still have my hammerhead gun here, the bands are new.[/INDENT]

So, John, If you send me your facebook account name, I will add you to that spearing group as soon as I am added. And I will put you in touch with my friend in case you are interested in his Hammerhead.

Best,
David

Quote from Hooksalot

I was to understand you cannot bring a speargun into the Philippines. It is so difficult to find a big gun here. Must wait almost 2 months and pay 50% down

With your new intense Prez things might have changed. I did come across a post recently saying they are now, supposedly, banned from entering...
Let's see if it will be enforced.

Yeah, I think my friend waited that long, too. His was a "specialty" gun, though, being air which doesn't sell at all in PPs. But if a distributor can still bring them in, then it's all up in the air as always in that country;-).

Can you work with wood? You could consider building one yourself? There are many here who could help you with what trigger mech and such to get. But even getting good rubbers, you'd have to have it shipped in. Unless, again, a friend from the US could bring it all for you.

It sounds like you are going to spend a few more decades there, so you may have to chill a bit for now and think ahead;-). I'd personally pursue the following options:

- Check local options/distributors/importers. I mentioned Hammerhead and Salvimar. Maybe Hammerhead PPs is on Facebook. I will ask my friend about contacts, too.

- There's at least one facebook group for PPs spearos, I think. Get on that and ask about the above and ask if anyone is selling 2nd hand guns.

- Ask about friends coming over. Obviously, there's the risk of losing a gun in customs if new regulations are for real and enforced - and they care to X-ray your visitors.

- Building your own, though having a friend bringing you everything except the blank would probably be an advantage.

Hi John,
Welcome to the forum:-).

I don't know about your particular area, but a lot of the Philippines is pretty heavily over-fished. Going down on tanks popping the last remaining groupers wont help much in that regard - yeah, just a way of saying I think your plan off getting into freediving makes a lot of sense and is way more sporty.

That said, you will be able to find fish there, just perhaps not every day. There are still smaller and medium sized jacks around and I actually really like them for table fish. They are very good on the bbq. Good thing about them is that they are probably the most curious fish on the (edge of the) reef.

Parrotfish can be very few and skittish in places but if you happen to be in a place where you deem the population healthy, I wouldn't mind taking one. They keep the reef in shape, though, so they are definitely needed.

But in general, the pickings are not easy, so you'd need a longer gun than just a reefie. I think a lot of the spearos in the Phiilppines are using 110cm as the smallest. But then again, the newer crop of Euro pipe guns like the Pathos shoot very well and have long effective band-length. I don't think there is a Pathos dealer in the PPs, though. But I think someone imports Hammerhead guns. I don't know if they are good or not, but others here might chime in.

I am sure Dan or e.g. a Pathos dealer could ship you a gun, but there might be (severe?) custom duties. Best thing would be to ask a visiting friend from Europe or US to bring you one. I have brought guns in and out of PPs without issue (I go there for vacations).

I have a local friend who used to shoot a 110 Hammerhead, I think. He changed to a 100 Salvimar Predathor Vuoto which is a pneumatic and he is very, very happy with his increase in range and power. He had the Salvimar dealer import the gun especially for him, though.

I remember an interesting thread from another guy who had settled in the PPs, it's worth a read. I will try to dig it up for you.
[just found the one I had in mind, but emailed you a lot more links]: http://spearfishing.world/gene…ecret-technique-talk.html

Yeah, it's a cheap shot, but always a good laugh...;)

Sorry to hear that. His website hasn't been updated in a long time, either. I hope he is good.

Perhaps, Virgili can reach out to him for you and ask if he still makes guns?

Cheers,
David

Hey shotmaster,
Try THIS LINK

:rolleyes1:
Sorry, couldn't help it. That said, as far as I know, the OP's shoulder is back in order and he may not be using the Maco2 much... perhaps he could be convinced to sell?

But to be a tad more helpful. The Maco2 is a low production volume specialty gun and I think it is only sold directly from Jean Luc, the guy making them.
Also, post #13 above is from Jean Luc but no clue if he would reply to a PM sent here over using his contact form.

Quote from virgili

years ago my friend JL Tralongo has renewed and relooked the sixties Pelletier gun
you need to fill the little tank with compressed air...
a pretty powerfull gun!
Guinea pics

Just to make it clear to others - the gun in Virgil's pics are of the CO2 Maco2 gun (you can use compressed O2, instead of CO2). The gun in the Marco's original post is not a CO2 gun;-).

Quote from Don Paul

Not a muscle loaded shaft. Even a pneumatic gun is a air spring the muscle loads.
Compressed air guns are also illegal in Mexico, even if some get away with it.

Cheers, Don

Ah, yes "muscle loading" - that was the phrase that I escaping me;)
I do still think the gun in question is not a CO2 gun but a traditional pneumatic in terms of function.

Subsub, if I am not mistaken, the rules state that fish entered for records can only be taken by guns that rely on a physical loading technique. So using a gun which is powered by stored compressed air like a Pelletier or Mako2 CO2 gun or another gas is not allowed. Even for just recreational spearing, they are not allowed in certain countries.

Here are two pics, both borrowed from Maco2's website showing compressed CO2 guns. First one is the Pelletier and the second, the Maco2 which is a modern take on the long gone Pelletier:

But I don't think the gun Marco linked to above uses stored, compressed air. It is basically a traditional oleo with the reservoir moved to under the handle. Simple as that;-)
With that comes the benefit of being able to raise the barrel to improve the sight line, slimming down the gun for better tracking and, according to their claims, less of a bottleneck for the air to go through.

I have a gun in mind mind that is pushing some of those things, too, and a few others but it is still thought of as a traditional gun with the air reservoir surrounding the shooting barrel. But still, with that design, you can push the before-mentioned parameters quite a bit more than anyone has done so far. Let's see if I get around to making it.

Quote from Don Paul

Thanks mate, already have a few in the boy's collection.

Cheers, Don

Haha, I should have known!
Very cool.

So, just one question. When the Don Paul and Son Presidential Speargun Museum finally opens, will you be taking the show on the road? And what is the price of admission?:)

Quote from Don Paul

Don't worry about reviving a old buried thread...I love continuing knowledge.:thumbsup2:
Yeah the Ukrainian gun is cool, some smart guys there.....with big piles of Ti and brains.

Cheers, Don

More info on the tuna gun here:
Самое мощное безраÑходное подводное ружье

Actually, his whole site is pretty cool. Some is English, a lot in Russian, but you'll get the gist of things via google translate.

And Dima just looooves shooting his guns above water and lodging shafts deep into logs of wood... haha

I have a vac muzzle, piston and Ti sliders on my way from him. I'll probably write a post when they get here:)

@Don, right now, over on SillyBoard, there is a guy who might be selling a pretty nice condition SMG gun. You prolly know it, but I didn't. But basically it uses gun powder cartridges to propel the shaft. Might be something for your collection?