Posts by hau

mca, Number1stunner,
Yak freedive/spearfish is what I do also.
Please let me know if I can offer my opinions.
You may find a forum search helpful.
hau

My day is done now also.

Rolo- with all due respect.:) Another major disadvantage of an inflatable is the windage. Windage is a sailboat term that measures the amount of hull above water that the wind can exert force onto. Inflatables have much more windage or surface area that the wind can exert force onto. Good if you have a tail wind, bad if you're trying to go up or cross wind. Windage is why I do not just measure current speed by laying the GPS on the yak. Many times water current speed/direction is not the same as surface wind speed/direction. Just my opinion though.:)

seahunter49--I agree about the heavy part. Without my highfloat beach sand yak cart I could never manage to even get to the beach. Rolling the yak up hill through the sand is the hardest part of my dive. I wish I had been on this forum before you sold your yak, I could have built you a beach sand yak cart like mine. I have a friend that uses the same launch/beach site. He begs/pays a beachgoer to help carry his yak to and from his truck. And he has all that scuba gear to carry.:(

seahunter49,
I know what you mean about not being able to get back to the boat against current. That is exactly what happened to my 84yr old freediver friend. Fighting current claimed a lady wreck diver this year in the Keys. As Rolo has said, just a 3knot current is like swimming in place. I learned years ago doing wreck diving on scuba to use a "current line". Some wreck diving is done with the dive boat anchored, as in the Keys. A good example is the Duane which has 3 anchor bouys. 1 at each end and 1 in the middle. The dive boats race to the wrecks in hopes of getting the most up current bouy for several reasons. The biggest advantage to getting the most up current bouy is that they do not have to pick up other boats divers that get blown down current. The most down current dive boat has the unstated responsibility of watching for all divers down current, not just their own divers.
If there is any current when I dive, I do 1 of 2 or both. For lighter current days I just throw a 200ft poly line off the back of the yak. Of course poly because it floats. On days with more current I use the current line and a swing line. A swing line is a poly line attached to the anchor. This swing line is a common system used by search and rescue, research and very poor viz divers. It is called a swing line because the diver [mostly scuba divers] can desend and hold the swing line and swing a circle around the anchor until they come 360 deg back to the start point. Let out line then swing 360 deg again. I have a knot tied every 10ft on my swing line for a distance reference.

Hope this helps
hau

seahunter49- I agree, I have been on/seen most that were POS. I am excited because hopefully this one is not a POS like almost all the others have been. I have spent hours/days/weeks working on inflatables/RIBs and those inflatable problems is the reason that I use a SOT plastic yak now.:)

PS. For those of you so inclined, girls prefer inflatables. They also prefer nonRIB. Been there, done that ;)many times. Caution, make sure that the suntan lotion that you apply to the little lady is not to hard to scrub off the boat later.
hau

Rolo,- I'm just a spearo trying to be helpful. I do not have any oceanology equipment so to try to get an accurate current speed I use my handheld GPS in its drypk. It takes 4oz [I think] of lead on the drypk string to get it below the surface. I turn it on, drop it in the water and drift beside it without touching it until it gives a pretty consistant speed number. I doubt that it is 100% accurate, but it is the best information I can provide with what I have to work with. I am open to any suggestions.:)

seahunter49- Yes, 11am seems to be about the time that the current slackens and perhaps changes direction. Maybe like a coastal tide/current change?
We as freedivers are very lucky regarding swimming in current. To appreciate this go freedive with scuba divers in current. With all that scuba gear on it is very tough to swim against any current. We used to arm ourselves with 2 big dive knives to do scuba river dives in the St. Laurance river. You would FLY along the bottom until you saw something interesting, stab 1 knife into the bottom and the current would spin you around face up current then stab the other knife into the bottom and hang on.

TurboRon-Gracias.
Good idea about also using NOAA and others. Those sites are good, but seldom gave me direct information about my exact area. Viz and current seem to vary considerabaly within a short distance. What I was trying to do was 'provide on the ground recon'. I also use live beach cams like the one seahunter49 posted, before I even decide to go to the water. If I remember correctly, somewhere here there is beach cam sites listed. If you cannot locate them let me know and I'll post them [even the ones I view in Puerto Rico].
hau

spearos,
Just saw this and wanted to share. I am excited with this as yak transport/storage is a major PIA, especially traveling out of country.
http://www.sevylor.com/dyn_prod.php?p=STRU242&k=101832

A long ways South of here.;)
Getting the yak there seems to be the biggest problem so far.
OK, been fun, my day is over.
hau

Marco- you are correct. So far that person doesn't exist.:(

seahunter49-
1.If she had all the other attributes then either darkness or plastics could solve the beauty issue.
2. A spearo friend of mine wants me to come down to his country. He says that 40.usd a day will buy me all living expences AND a young native girl to push my yak out through the surf every morning AND whatever else I needed from her when I got back from spearin.

monster slayer- lo siento for derailing your thread.

You are correct, I am dreaming.
I thought this was a spearo wish list thread?

My wish list is not so simple.
a. Female spearo freedive buddy.
1. Self supportive, better if she can support me financially.
2. Friendly and nice personallity.
3. Not heavier than me.
4. Honest, caring and wants just me for the rest of her life.
5. Likes to freedive/spearfish with me on almost every dive.
6. Wants to be my dive buddy and enjoys lifes pleasures with me for the rest of our lives.
7. Doesn't want me for a free ticket for the rest of her life like the last one.

See, not so simple.
hau

on the beach time; 0745
wind; out of the South at 12 and building
seas; 2-3 ft 3/4 mile off and building
viz; 35fsw and decreasing later on the dive
current; 3knts from S to N in am
water temp.; 74
air temp; at 0730 was 64

pretty rough seas for an old man and yak today
less fish today a 35fsw than yesterday
lost no gear coming back onto beach with 2ft waves into beach!:)
gotta go clean fish

today was perfect.
Onto beach at 8;45
Wind light, 5mph from NW.
Seas light, 1 ft or less.
Viz aprox 35ft at 10;20. Decreased to 25ft at 1pm
Current from N at 2.8mph at 10;20 and switched to
South at aprox 1pm
Water temp at 30 fsw 76

Lots less jellies
Lots less fish due to dolphins and birds workin todays spot 3/4 mile off shore.
6ft Manta came to check me out and circled me for 5 min. Way cool.
hau

Gracias.
If I ever get any nice fish I'll post to another thread as I wanted this thread to be a thread where a spearo could go to, to quickly see current divin conditions in my area.
Gracias for the private thread.
OK, done for the day.
Happy Thanksgiving all.
hau

seahunter49,
1. Yes, I hardly ever dive with someone. Not good.
2. I shore/yak dive from Haulover to Lyods? Park mainly, but venture South on invitation to 77th St area.:)
3. I'll get a ss themoter for water and air temp. I can just throw the GPS in the water [in dry pak] to get current /drift speed.
4. Where would fish pictures be best, as I wanted this thread to be about spearin conditions?
4. Did I start this thread wrong? I thought this was supposed to be a private area. Gracias

hau

Out late today and onto the beach at 0900.
Wind was light, maybe 5-10 out of the North.
Seas also light, maybe 1 ft or so.
Viz was 40ft+
Current also out of the North at 3mph!!

Good day to drift from North to South.
Lots of 12 inch pink jelly fish.
Lots of fish activity in 30fsw.
I'm wearin a 3mm ok but was only in the water for 2 hours.
Good morning to yak/shore dive!
Lots of beach buns!

I see right now if I'm going to try to give accurate condition reports that I'll need some equipment to measure current, water / air temp., etc. Lo siento, I'll do better next time
hau

I wanted to start this thread to provide spearin conditions in my area. I will try to update it every day I'm out..:)
Other spearos that can contribute to this thread for this area please feel free to do so.:)
Hope this helps.
hau

seahunter49,
I agree.
hau

Marco,
Good luck.
Looks to me like you are plenty fit to kick some fish ass.
You are in a lot better shape than the fish that come around you.
hau

Just read on another board about another diver that possibly could have been saved by this $60. / 1lb vest like I use.

''Quote:
Search on for Marine missing while snorkeling
Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Nov 12, 2008 12:21:02 EST
U.S. military personnel in Japan continued to search Wednesday for an Okinawa-based Marine who went missing Sunday while snorkeling with a fellow Marine at a popular diving spot off the western side of the island, officials said in a press release
Japanese rescuers, who had the lead in the search, suspended their efforts earlier Wednesday morning, according to the release. Officials have not identified the two Marines, citing the ongoing investigation and privacy considerations.
The incident happened at Maeda Point around 2 p.m. Sunday. One of the Marines swam back to shore and told local police that his friend was still in the water. He declined medical attention and was released to his unit, according to the release.'

'They recovered his remains yesterday. Awaiting NOK notification before they release the name. He's not anyone who posts on here, just a guy that shouldn't have been snorkeling with the current sea condition warnings. His unit continued the search after the Japanese quit, they were the reason he was found. You gotta love Marines.
The search and rescue effort included local police and fire departments, the Japanese coast guard, and the Camp Smedley D. Butler Provost Marshal’s Office and fire department'' .

Quote'';THE YOUNG MAN POSTED ABOUT ABOVE IS MY BROTHER.
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A body found floating in the waters Wednesday off Onna Village has been identified as Pvt. 1st Class Adam J. Harwood, 29, of Honolulu, Hawaii.
Harwood, assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, was reported missing about 2 p.m. Nov. 9, according to a Marine Corps Bases Japan news release Saturday.
According to local police, he and a 20-year-old Marine were snorkeling off Maeda Point when they were overcome by strong waves and swept out to sea.
The younger Marine managed to swim to shore unharmed, but Harwood disappeared in the rough waters off Okinawa’s west coast.
Harwood was a warehouse clerk who joined the Marines in February 2006. He arrived on Okinawa on Aug. 16, the release said.
As an interim safety measure following the drowning incident, Lt. Gen. Richard Zilmer, commander of Marine Corps Bases Japan and the III Expeditionary Force, on Saturday ordered all military personnel under his command to wear a personal flotation device, such as a snorkeling vest, skin diving horse collar or a buoyancy control device while snorkeling or diving.
"Upon completion of the safety investigation into the death of Pfc. Harwood, further details will be announced to include modifications to existing orders and directives," the release said.

HE WILL BE LAID TO REST IN SANTA ROSA, CA. DTE STILL PENDING UPON "HIS" RETURN TO THE US."

RIP Marine
hau

TurboRon,
The vest works great, even though it was not designed for freediving. I have another vest that I used to use for heavy offshore sailing/boating but it is a true automatic, meaning if the wearer got knocked out and fell into the water it inflates automaticly on contact with the water. Wearing an inflatable vest of one type or another a good habit anytime. Like you said, 'best to count on yourself''.
Buy one and if you find you don't like to dive with it just keep it on the boat. I find the vest comes in handy for other uses also. I've used it as a lift bag, an air pillow on my yak, etc.
1 down and 1 up of course is much safer than any vest could ever be.

Seahunter49,
Yes, I also have seen that type of buddy system by some spearos. TurboRon made a true statement though.

Thanks TurboRon.
hau