Posts by Chuckd

  • Spearfishing wetsuits by Speardiver

    Dan,
    2 guys showed up on my boat yesterday with your 5mm suits. They look awesome and appear to work really well. I was quite chilled in my closed cell 3mm with a hood. Gamble was toasty in his 5mm, and Dave was so hot, he had to keep letting water into it to cool down. And the blue mimetic was invisible 30ft down!!
    I want one badly. I tried the XL top on and it seemed to fit fine, but I normally wear a L.


    I'd like to get a 5mm XL top, and a 5mm and 7mm L bottoms in the blue mimetic.


    Charlie

  • The OMER basher from SB

    My grandmother always said: "Do everyone once and the dummies twice!".


  • Omer Stingray foot pockets review

    I tested several for an article recently. I was trying to measure a difference in speed or efficiency from pocket to pocket using the same exact blade. I didn't find a significant difference in speed or efficiency between the following pockets:
    Omer Stingray
    Piccasso Black Team
    Mares
    Beuchat
    Capt Nemo


    I did find significant differences in comfort/stiffness and major sizing variability. I didn't actually test the old Omer pockets because they are so uncomfortable.


    I ended up keeping the Beuchat pockets for myself, haven't had a blister since. And I just hit PB for depth and time this past week. Using DiveR Carbon fibre blades.


    C

  • gun maintenance and inspection

    My main gun has been a raw teak Deathstick until recently. Being raw made me dissassemble it to sand it down and re-oil it every few months. Now that most of my guns are epoxy coated, I find I just rinse with fresh water, unload and remove the shaft, and let sit til the next trip.


    I had already upgraded all my handles to Death grips (solid aluminum frames) because they are so nice. And I retie bands every few months. I use mostly guns with Aimrite trigger mechs from Daryl, and haven't had any issues with them.


    I worry more about premature trigger mech release than anything else. I never load out of the water, and make sure to NEVER let the gun aim at another person.


    Charlie

  • PFI Instructor class update

    Quote from black1

    Thanks guys, I have about 5 minutes to write this before I pass out for real, been a long day. Well we just did our trainer pool challenge's to see if you have what it takes to save a life or your own and they put you threw the ringer and all in a good way (for me) to challenge yourself in case of an emergency. All of these we did righ after each other in a row so you could imagine the CO2 buildup and lactic acid buildup, wont go into much detail but here was our day, class work for several hours followed by pool challenges, challenges were first up 800m swim with fins = 32 25 meter laps, tread water for a very long time, 50m dynamic underwater swim, 300m swim no fins or snorkel just mask, rescue diver swim while dragging partner (mine was Mike who owns and runs spearfishing magazine, he is 6'4) and giving rescue breaths every 5 seconds for 100m, then 2 minute exhale static....yep exhale static were you breathup then exhale passively and hold underwater for 2 minutes....after all what we just did....I completed it all and came home and finished my presentation paper on "Physics and Physiology" of freediving just a little while ago.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.


    That's SPEARING Magazine. You definitely got screwed having to drag Mike's big ass across the pool!!! I just talked to him (we are brothers) and he told me about his snapping a fin blade at 60feet while doing a rescue. Sounds like Kirk gets you guys ready for every scenario.
    Charlie

  • Freedive fins for big feet?

    My brother has size 14 feet, he fits in Picasso pockets. Now he uses soccer shoes bolted to DiveR blades.


    Mares pockets are soft and run a little big/loose. I'd try them. Or Omer Stingrays, they are super flexible.


    C

  • Diving deaths scuba vs. freediving

    Quote from tulocote

    if you do both and you say that freediving is more dangerous i have 2 questions .
    1- why you still do it ?
    2-why are you here ? we love freedive spear and the use of a tank is out of my question , is just like going hunting ducks with a machine gun .


    que viva la pesca :thumbsup2:



    1- I live in Florida and was a scuba diver. I then was introduced to spearfishing and fell in love with it. Then I met a bunch of freedivers and started freedive spearfishing and I love it also. I accept the risks of both and try to be a safe as possible.


    2- I am here because I love freedive spearfishing. I find it much more challenging and simpler. I am a relative beginner, but I'm learning fast. I usually dive with my brother, who is training to become a PFI instructor and is very safety conscious. I'm here to learn and meet new friends with a similar passion for this sport.


    Charlie

  • Diving deaths scuba vs. freediving

    I spearfish both ways. And I am very safety conscious. I believe the risk of dying is significantly higher with freediving.


    Here's my reasoning: scuba spearfisherman usually solo dive at some point and practice safety techniques accordingly. Computers and redundant air source are the two biggest. The deeper you go, risks are increased but mainly related to the bends. And most guys don't die from the bends. Out of air and entanglements are the two biggest risks of dying, followed by air embolism during a fast ascent. In Florida, there are a lot more scuba spearos than freedivers and fewer deaths reported.


    Freedivers are not very safety conscious. SWB is the leading cause of death and is totally unpredictable. Once it happens, only your buddy can save you. We are bad about watching out partner correctly, we overweight too often, and we push our limits. SWB occurs more with younger more experienced freedivers.


    Scuba deaths usually occur with older less experienced divers or risk takers.


    Bottom line, freedive spearfishing is VERY dangerous. But the risk of death from swb can be nearly eliminated with truly diving with a good partner at all times.


    I believe all the SWB statistics for the last few years can be found at Divewise.org


    C

  • Glueing pockets

    Loctite superglue was recommended to me by a fin manufacturer.


    If they are old Omer Millenium pockets, upgrade to some newer more comfortable pockets.


    C