17 September

Yesterday looked good, sea was really clear. Took a walk on the beach and the reefs and rocks were clearly visible. Workload quite significant with tick paralysis cases and surgery, so no chance for a mid-afternoon dip. Today is a different story though. I have the afternoon off so a dive is definitely on the cards. Was up on the headland south of Korora this morning, bright and early for a walk, and the sea looks spectacular.

I am trying to remember the tips I had on my website for improving my spearfishing. I hope to eventually get them all out of the sticky mess I like to call my mind.

1. Use a reelgun.
2. Learn to use marker buoys.
3. Practice shooting accurately.
4. Get a GPS unit and practice with it.
5. Become proficient in the use of Sonar.
6. Keep notes.
7. Be quiet and unobstrusive when diving.
8. Watch your body language.
9. Learn the importance of gliding.
10. Keep streamlined to be more efficient.
11. Learn to be interested in the bottom and don't concentrate on your breath-hold.
12. Dive straight down, avoid angles.
13. Don't crane your head up, keep your chin down and comfortable.
14. Arrange the fit and position of your gear for optimum efficiency.
15. Look for bait and fish schools.

15 September 2008

Agreed to go and train at the local public pool this am. The sea looked great as I came over from Korora to Coffs on the Pacific Hghwy. Flat and little wind. In retrospect might have been a better idea to head out for a shore-dive instead of training in the pool. Spent some time finning lengths with various breath-hold routines as well as doing negative statics at the bottom of the pool. Sea still looked great on the way back and I felt positive about getting in at lunch time.

The sting in the tail was that the recent rainy weather followed by the fantastic sunny clear days brought out every tick in the area. I was quite literally in my wetsuit ready to hit the water when the phone rang and I had to head out to an emergency: tick paralysis case. Bummer! I am wondering if I am ever going to get in for a dive.

Conditions seem very iffy for the next few days. Will have to wait and see what happens.

14 September 2008

I just cannot believe it. The sea looked fantastic on my way to work yesterday but by the time I headed down to the beach it was crap. Unfortunately the conditions do not look good for the next couple of days. Guess I am just going to have to be patient and tough it out. Perhaps go and train at the pool.

5 basic things to look at now that I am down here:

1. Check my gear thoroughly.
2. Take it for a test swim and make sure everything is comfortable.
3. Keep up with the training. Now I am at sea-level, I don't have the benefit afforded by having lived at altitude.
4. Work on establishing my spearfishing network DownUnder.
5. Learn the new fish species.

13 September 2008

Did not get out to walk on the beach this morning but got a good look at the ocean on my way to work. The beginning of the week was shoddy with a S blowing and churning up the sea. Over the past 2 days there has been a light NE and conditions seem to have really improved. Unfortunately all my contacts seem to be out at sea and I can't say I blame them because today looks to be a great day to get wet.

Sea is flat, viz looks good, clear hot sunny day, things look ideal. I am certainly going to give it a whirl this afternoon now that I have all my normal spearo gear from South Africa. Kris just got onto me to tell me conditions are crap. NE blowing, white-caps, viz poor, that out of Coffs Harbour.

Making a New Start

My family and I flew out of South Africa on 11 Aug 2008 to make a fresh start in Australia. It was definitely not an easy decision to make. Having said that, I have left Johannesburg and now live in a small coastal town called Coffs Harbour in New South Wales only 200m from the Ocean. What an opportunity.

For anyone who was following my posts on www.squidoo.com/Underwater_Hunting, a glitch resulted in the site being erased. I am working on putting it all back together but including some new information.

My first boat dive was really poor. I did not even see any fish worth shooting at. The two guys diving with me did get some crays and perlemoen(abalone). In this neck of the woods perlemoen may still be taken. Remember when we could take perlemoen in good old South Africa?

The second boat dive was a little better. Still functioning like a South African diver i.e. shoot first ask questions later, I shot a good Silver Drummer, looks something like a Chub. The fish would have easily been a max weigher but around here the guys are spoiled for choice so only the choicest fish are targeted. The guys had a good laugh at my inexperience but the learning has started.

Since I am a very short distance from the beach, I take a walk every morning to check out the conditions. As soon as the sea cleared I did a quick swim to look for crays and was rewarded with a cray and a perlie. Not bad. Bag limit here is very meagre. Only allowed to take 2 crays and 2 perlies.

GPS Co-ords for Cape Vidal

I would appreciate any help with regard to obtaining co-ords for Vidal. If you do not have any co-ords but do have experience or advice for Vidal, I would appreciate that too.

Oppose the Proposed Legislation

Please look at the proposed ban on diving in an attempt to curb Abalone/Perlemoen poaching. This is like banning driving to prevent speeding.

Visit www.spearfishing.co.za/news/proposed-ban-on-diving.pdf to read a copy of this ludicrous piece of legislation. Opposition must be made before 15 January 2008.