I did it..........

[michaelbaranowski]

I have been wanting to learn to dive for years but keep putting it off. But I signed myself and father to take a open water course in a few weeks. Course on the weekend of the 11th and 12th. And then open water the following weekend at Aquarena Springs.

[SteveB]

Once you do it, you're hooked.

Steve

[speckle-catcher]

welcome to the club!

get about 40-50 dives under your belt to where you are very comfortable and then start thinking about spearfishing.

[michaelbaranowski]

Me and pop took another step Saturday towards our next adventure. We went to the dive shop and got our gear. Now this coming Friday we will start our classes. So I guess before we know it we will be in the water.

[Phat_Tuna]

welcome to the club!

get about 40-50 dives under your belt to where you are very comfortable and then start thinking about spearfishing.
Speckle-catcher has a very good point. there is a huge difference between a 30ft deep training dive and a 130ft deep rig dive. when you get ready to hit the big water go with a group of very experienced people and try to stay 20ft above them at all times until you get comfortable. when you are in 200+ feet of water and your only vertical reference are rig cross members it is easy to go deeper than you intend.

Don't even take a speargun on your first couple of rig dives. just go and watch. I say this from experience the first time you drop and try to load a spear gun your bottom time is going to drop drammatically. (think 1/2).

also take the splitfins they sold you (or tried to sell you) back and by blades. splits are great for reef diving but when the current get's kicking on the rig you will be sucking wind. (and you are limited in the amount of wind you are allowed to suck)

Good luck and welcome to the fraternity

Phat

[speckle-catcher]

you got a full size photo of that avatar?

[michaelbaranowski]

i don't think I will be doing any spear fishing anytime soon. I figured this summer I will just be getting used to diving.

[Phat_Tuna]

you got a full size photo of that avatar?
This is not me. wish it was. I have speared a tuna but was to busy getting whipped to have someone take a picture of it.

[Captn C]

You want to see a huge tuna?

i have no idea who shot it but it's big!

[Santiago]

You want to see a huge tuna?

i have no idea who shot it but it's big! I forget the guys name but that was shot by an Australian guy in the pacific if I'm not mistaken. Hmmm, love that sushi!

[tobyhamrick]

A free diver out of australia shot this tuna, not a tank diver...... Any freedivers on this chat room?? I freedive out of Matagorda - currently I only know about 6 people in the Houston area who are experienced free divers. One is from S Africa, one fron Italy, one from Venz one from Florida myself and an oldtimer that goes by the name of Stan out of freeport.

[michaelbaranowski]

Where do you freedive? Rigs? weedlines?

[tobyhamrick]

Primarily the A rigs, sometimes we dive rigs closer in (494 491 ect) 70' if the vis is good, and to change things up. It is pretty cool diving down and touching the bottom on your own breath........ Do you freedive? I have been doing it for about 4 years. I met the S.African in Matagorda and started going with him. He is in the know extremely experienced, and has taught me everything, the Italian is pretty impressive as well, but the Venz always shoots baracudas and smells up the cooler. I have a 28' Kevlacat, mainly set up for diving, I like to fish as well, but I usually dive.......

[michaelbaranowski]

I don't freedive but have reading alot about freedivers in FL spearfishing. And been thinking about trying my hand at a freediving.

[Santiago]

A free diver out of australia shot this tuna, not a tank diver...... Any freedivers on this chat room?? I freedive out of Matagorda - currently I only know about 6 people in the Houston area who are experienced free divers. One is from S Africa, one fron Italy, one from Venz one from Florida myself and an oldtimer that goes by the name of Stan out of freeport. Never done it but I would love to try it. Post some of your techniques for freediving if you get a chance Toby, I'd love to hear how it's done.

[speckle-catcher]

got all the stuff to freedive, just never had the opportunity to learn.

[Sow Trout]

You notice neither guy is using SCUBA.I forget the guys name but that was shot by an Australian guy in the pacific if I'm not mistaken. Hmmm, love that sushi!

[Sow Trout]

I think you should have very much pool experience i.e ditch and dons etc. before diving in salt water. After the pool, do some lake dives. A lot of things can happen in salt water so you want to be completely comfortable with anything that might occur.welcome to the club!

get about 40-50 dives under your belt to where you are very comfortable and then start thinking about spearfishing.

[Sow Trout]

I don't know what is currently in vogue in teaching, but I highly recommend that you are very comfortable with free ascents. I had to do one from 55 feet before I had mastered it. That was scarry. I had to to another from 115 feet that I did very comfortably. Done improperly can kill you.

[speckle-catcher]

free ascents from those depths are not taught anymore. When I stopped actively "divemastering" in 2001, the required free ascent was done from ~30 feet.

[rebl22]

I got certified back in 1983 and we were not taught free ascent.And we were taught by our instructor not to be "afraid" and go ahead and learn to touch things down there. Now everywhere you go.. its " No gloves!" because they think your gonna touch everything in the ocean!! I guess diving the rigs, ill wear gloves. Plan on doing my first rig dives this year!! Cant wait! jason :dance:

[Sow Trout]

I wasn't taking a lesson when I did those. Both were done as a life saving measure. I don't know of anyone ever teaching free ascents from more than 30 feet for sport divers.free ascents from those depths are not taught anymore. When I stopped actively "divemastering" in 2001, the required free ascent was done from ~30 feet.

[speckle-catcher]

I don't know what is currently in vogue in teaching, but I highly recommend that you are very comfortable with free ascents. I had to do one from 55 feet before I had mastered it. That was scarry. I had to to another from 115 feet that I did very comfortably. Done improperly can kill you.I read this to mean you were taught free ascents from those depths. It is an excellent skill to learn - and one that I have never had to use.