I get alot of questions from new divers interested in spearfishing. Many of them think they can (and some do) jump right into the sport after completing their dive course and receiving that coveted PADI dive card. Before taking up spearfishing, a diver should possess at least an intermediate level of diving expertise. Intermediate skill refers more to a diver’s ability and comfort in the water than it does to “passing” a certain certification level. Just like diving, spearfishing is a very safe sport. However, when you break the rules you get in trouble. Rules include being prepared, skilled and in adequate physical condition for the type of diving activity pursued. Basic skills include familiarity with diving equipment, mastery of basic water skills, including exceptional buoyancy control, and dive table proficiency. Advanced diving skills include underwater navigation, fish identification and at least 24 dives logged in the dive log. Effective buoyancy control distinguishes an accomplished diver from an inexperienced one. The MOST important skill is the monitoring of your air consumption. I know many “experienced” spearfishers who are lucky enough to tell the story of how they ran out of air at 100′ only to do an emergency ascent because there was no one around to help them. One required helicopter evacuation to the decompression chamber as a result. Why did they run out of air? It wasn’t from equipment malfunction. It was failure to monitor the air supply adequately. Lots going on down there while you’re chasing fish. It requires discipline and skill.
If you are a “free diver” and are having trouble getting the big fish because of the depths here, why not get Scuba certified and see what a difference being a certified diver can make. Why not give Discovery Dive World a call and check out the Open Water Diver certification through PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors). Being a certified Scuba diver opens up a whole new world or you. Want to save a few bucks and take your time with the course? DDW is now offering the PADI Open Water certification course at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. For more information contact the NWFSC continuing education department or call Discovery Dive World at 850-678-5001.
If you are an experienced or beginning diver with at least an Advanced Open Water certification or 24 dives in your logbook, then we have something for you. Discovery Dive World in Valparaiso offers a PADI certified Underwater Hunter’s specialty course. This course teaches the basic fundamentals of Spearfishing including equipment and accessories for spearfishing, safety, technique, regulations and much more. This course won’t make you an overnight success or win the Spearfishing Open but it will provide you with a solid introduction to Spearfishing on Scuba. Call Discovery Dive World at 850-678-5001 or email them at support@discoverydiveworld.com
Yes it’s winter here in Northwest Florida and the water temps are in the 50′s but this Spearfisherman isn’t complaining! I think he needs a bigger table to clean that one on. State waters are still open through January. Closed February and March.
When is it time to toss that old spearshaft? Occasionally shafts break or bend. Obviously a broken shaft is not going to do much for you spearfishing. Breaks are rare but when it happens it is usually around a weak point such as a drill hole, band notch or the speartip thread area. A large fish or strain at an odd angle can bend a shaft. It is best to replace a bent shaft as soon as possible as they tend to track incorrectly. Bent shafts are difficult to straighten out correctly. If you want to determine if a shaft is bent you can do it by laying the shaft on a flat surface and rolling it looking for gaps and wobble.
Maybe the water is too cold for you (and me) and only the dedicated divers dare to venture out in temperatures hovering in the fifties. The fact is some of the best diving can be enjoyed during the winter season here in Florida, particularly the Northwest coast here in the Panhandle. You just need to dress for success. It begins by having the right suit for the water and making sure that suit fits you properly. Face it, a 3mm full suit is not going to cut the mustard. These winter days call for a 5-7mm suit with a hood. Maybe even a semi-dry for those thin blooded Florida crackers like me. The point is to get out and enjoy the sport you love so much during those summer months. Take advantage of your investment in diving and what it brings to the table. Get out and dive this winter.
Happy New Year to all our friends and a very prosperous
and exciting spearfishing season.
I get alot of questions from new divers interested in spearfishing. Many of them think they can (and some do) jump right into the sport after completing their dive course and receiving that coveted PADI dive card. Before taking up spearfishing, a diver should possess at least an intermediate level of diving expertise. Intermediate skill refers more to a diver’s ability and comfort in the water than it does to “passing” a certain certification level. Just like diving, spearfishing is a very safe sport. However, when you break the rules you get in trouble. Rules include being prepared, skilled and in adequate physical condition for the type of diving activity pursued. Basic skills include familiarity with diving equipment, mastery of basic water skills, including exceptional buoyancy control, and dive table proficiency. Advanced diving skills include underwater navigation, fish identification and at least 24 dives logged in the dive log. Effective buoyancy control distinguishes an accomplished diver from an inexperienced one. The MOST important skill is the monitoring of your air consumption. I know many “experienced” spearfishers who are lucky enough to tell the story of how they ran out of air at 100′ only to do an emergency ascent because there was no one around to help them. One required helicopter evacuation to the decompression chamber as a result. Why did they run out of air? It wasn’t from equipment malfunction. It was failure to monitor the air supply adequately. Lots going on down there while you’re chasing fish. It requires discipline and skill. 
Recent Spearfishing | admin January 27, 2011 | 
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