Advice for those starting out

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote nikilaulau Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 2009 at 10:00am
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OK, another n00b question:
I'll be in Coromandel this Saturday on the East coast of the peninsula. With my limited understanding of swells and weather conditions I'm thinking it will be pretty average vis because of the easterly swell on the preceding days - I'm using swellmap.co.nz to try and figure that out. Would you experienced guys agree with that?
And if that is right, then am I also on the right track in thinking the West coast of the peninsula might be alright for vis on Saturday?
If the Western side does look OK do you reckon Fantail bay or Waitete Bay would be decent places to start?
I know I could find this out myself given time trying different places, but appreciate any advice you guys can offer will help with that steep learning curve I'm facing right now, so thanks in advance.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 2009 at 11:34am
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I have read up a little on the differences but still seem to fail to understand completely what the difference between a railgun and Tubegun is. If the Tube doesn't have a Rail, how is the Spear guided. Tried getting some close up shots of the difference in what the look like but don't find any.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Mullins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 2009 at 12:01pm
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Originally posted by TG TG wrote:

If the Tube doesn't have a Rail, how is the Spear guided?


Just by the two points: muzzle and trigger mech. Although some tube guns also have 1-3 plastic guides that stop the spear from sagging in the middle.

In the case of a rail gun, the shaft is supported by the rail all the way from trigger mech to muzzle (well, sometimes the rail stops short of the muzzle or trigger mech like on Esclapez carbon guns, but most of the shaft is supported).
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 2009 at 12:11pm
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Ahhh, ok, so instead of being supported along the whole barrel, the tube gun spear is only supported on a guide on the muzzle?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Mullins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 2009 at 12:22pm
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Yep, just rests on the muzzle which is normally raised slightly above the level of the barrel.

Even some very fancy European guns are like this, C4 springs to mind. The idea is that by removing the rail a fair bit of drag is lost, and a longer overhang in front of the muzzle is supposed to reduce and balance the shaft sag between muzzle and trigger mech (the shaft would still be an 'S' shape though). I'm a bit skeptical of how much friction a rail is actually responsible for but that's their reasoning.

Some people also say that the shaft doesn't touch the rail but instead sits on a layer of water. I think this would depend largely on whether the bands were pushing the shaft slightly upwards or slightly downwards, onto the rail - but the water would at least do some lubricating.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 2009 at 12:43pm
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Intresting points Mullins.

I am asking cause I have decided rather to take the cheaper Rob Allen 120 Scorpia Tubegun as money is a little tight at the moment with the new baby and all. Herby gave good advice of just getting the Caranx raigun now and get it over with but after re-evaluting a bit I think I will get a Caranx in June. I should be able to afford it a little easier then. I can then just sell the Tubegun or possibly keep it as a spare for diving buddies.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote JRDO Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 2009 at 12:56pm
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RE: UW Hockey helping diving, I've found competitive to hockey have a negative effect on my diving, becasue they use completely different energy systems. However some casual club hockey will be helpful as your general fittness will increase, that said, if you're after some general cardio vascular fittness which will undoubtedly improve your diving you are better off doing a land based sport as your body supresses your heart rate for some reason when you are in the water, hence the need for hockey players to cross train!

BANNED from doing anything about anything anymore.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 2009 at 1:03pm
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Intresting JRDO. I've read many places that the best exercise for diving is just to dive. lol. Maybe they have a point. I quote like the site that Mullins published somewhere (I think it was in some of the old forums, finally got through it all). It is short and to the point (More with regards to freediving though, but hey, you need the breat hold capibility). Link is here:

http://forums.deeperblue.com/beginner-freediving/64959-how-start-freediving.html
TG
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Redfinger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 2009 at 9:23am
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nikilaulau - swell not looking great for weekend on east side.
The other side might be worth a look- nothing ventured nothing gained?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote nikilaulau Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 2009 at 9:51am
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Thanks Redfinger. Good to get confirmation that I'm understanding the swell forecast correctly.
I'll definitely get in the water in any case, might try a couple of different places on the west side just to suss them out even if vis isn't great.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TheSnapperWhisperer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 2009 at 4:21pm
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West side is generally poos.
http://www.facebook.com/TheSnapperWhisperer
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TheSnapperWhisperer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 2009 at 4:21pm
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West side is generally poos. stick to the east coast
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote fish food Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 2009 at 5:13pm
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Yep all the way up the west side the viz is poo. as you drive up your thinking its never going to clear up. round fantail bay and further it gets ok, long drive tho. I did the same thing once for a few butterfish, snapper and a couple of crays when the other side was raging and the best viz i got was about 5 metres.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Oli Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2009 at 3:30pm
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Yeah I've had a double flopper spear I brought back from France.
Was the best spear I've ever had. Very hard to lose a fish with it as there is always a flopper sticking out (particularly valid when you grap the spear with a lively fish still on). I've never lost a fish with it, until a kingi liked it so much it took it with him to show his mates.
I haven't been able to replace that spear...Cry
if anyone know where to find one in NZ, I'm keen to hear that !
Oli
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2009 at 7:10pm
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Hi Guys,

I had my first real spearfishing trip today. We started out at about 8:00 am in Torbay and hit the road up to Leigh. It was wonderful and never to forgotten....

Let's cut the crap. It was hell on earth! hahaha. Now I know what all you guys are going on about, but you want to know what? I fell in love with the sport. I had the most problems that I ever had. I had 1 hour sleep last night (My lovely daughter ate something she shouldn't have and was up all night puking. LOVELY) and things were just insane. I didn't even notice we drove through a tunnel that way and only noticed it on the way back. And nope.... No sharks whatsovever. "Never been there, new to new zealand and haven't really got around to exploring"

Firstly (And if anyone can help here it would be appreciated, I have BIG problems equalizing, I cannot equalize at all. I am heading out to lake Papuke,  tomorrow to try and sort this out), I am having serious problems equalizing. I get down to about 4-5 metres and try and blow out the nose and it just isn't happening. I realize that it was my first real dive and I promised myself to be very patient with it. Any advice would be appreciated. I seem to be able to equalize (just popping the ears) out of the water, but as soon as I get in the water, it doesn't work out for me. I must say that I did borrow a snorkel that I never spat out as I was scared of loosing it. I also had immens issues with my mash leaking as I completely forgot to shave (Blame it on no sleep) as well as feeling unconfortable with my nose open and able to breath(Crazy, I know, my parents always said I am not well). I tend to breath out my nose when I go down accidentally. that doesn't help at all as I get water in it then. My suit hood also seems to mess around with my mask, it seems to be a little big and I am too afraid to cut it. It seems to get in between my face and my mask. Bit of a mission on the first dive to still try and get the rubber out from under the mask.

Besides everything, I think this is the best sport/past time in the world. Even though I have never experienced so much pain in my ears and they still hurt, I think this is brilliant!.

The catch of the day (Not me, I don't have a speargun yet and Mark from Bluefins can testify that I was crusing around with a PVC pipe as a poking stick, just in case some biteys tried to join) was 1 kingfish by my friend. I'm including the pic below. We cut some steaks and smoked the bugger and it went down very well.

I am going to post this one in the "newbie" sticky as well as I would really like to get some input on the equalizing issue I am having (And yes, I am already busy reading through the old "equalizing" posts)

Cheers!
TG
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Mullins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2009 at 7:44pm
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When you equalise, are you 'blowing' using your chest?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2009 at 8:38pm
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hmmmmm,

Thinking about it Mullins, Yup, indeed. I do it by using my chest. Just done it here on the couch and that is indeed how I do it
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Mullins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2009 at 8:57pm
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That'll be the problem. Very very difficult to equalise effectively that way, unless you're a bubble diver and can afford to turn upright for 5 seconds every couple of metres.
 
You need to close off your throat and use the back of your tongue as a piston (google 'Frenzel'). You can generate much more pressure that way and with more control.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2009 at 9:16pm
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Thanks Dave, I have a word document saved here somewhere on the laptop with all the eq techniques and Frenzel was one of them. Going to search for it and crack it open again.

Are you using the Frenzel technique?

PS: If I get this under control, I'm sure things are going to look up much more than what they are now!
TG
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote TG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2009 at 9:55pm
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Been sitting here practicing the "frenzel" Mullins, I seem to be getting the hang of it. I have a nice step by step doc here explaining it but I think I am going to call it a night for now. No sleep last night and my ears still seem to be sensitive from todays dive.


TG
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