When I first went out for a dive, I didn’t pay much attention to the majority of the checks for spearo gear. I remember being keener than a kitchen knife to get out into the water and chase some fish and I really didn’t want to go through all the little details of checking out the fins and mask etc. However, a very experienced spearo grabbed my arm from behind one day whilst I was preparing to jump in the water for a dive. He turned my weight belt around to expose the quick release on the bottom of the belt. He then turned to me and said “that’s how you wear it”.
Spearfishing is a serious sport which can be highly rewarding for the experienced diver, but for the newcomer, it can be a killer of fun. It is an activity that is held in high regard by the participants and has a serious, almost spiritual following. For those who have not yet experienced it, below are a few tips to arm you for your first foray into this highly immersive and sometimes dangerous activity.
Never dive alone. Seriously, never
I am extremely frustrated with all of the Spearfisherman who dive alone. Seriously, Never Dive Alone. A shallow water blackout (S WB) can happen in an instant and have no prior symptoms of dizziness or tunnel vision. If you are diving alone there will be NO ONE to rescue you and pull you back up to the surface. Your buddies can retrieve you in an instant as long as they are close enough to reach you in time and are able to act quickly enough. If you are diving alone it will only take one instant for you to hit the bottom of the ocean floor forever and there will be NO ONE to ever find you. The simple math is as follows: Dive Alone = Risk of S WB = Risk of Never Surfacing Again.
Good buddy diving is more than going underwater at the same time as your diving buddy. It involves one diver being on the surface at all times while the other diver is underwater, both buddies being able to see each other at all times while underwater, both buddies being able to see and hear each other at all times while on the surface above water, both buddies knowing a hand signal or shout that will be used as a turn around signal when the below water buddy decides to head back up to the surface to rejoin their above water buddy, and both buddies being close enough to the other so that the above water buddy can swim out to their below water buddy and pull them to the surface in an emergency.
Visibility changes everything
Visibility in the water can often change dramatically over the space of a few hundred meters. For this reason as a general rule if you can’t see more than a few meters in front of you it’s not worth diving. The reason for this is the ocean is a vast and unforgiving place and even the fittest of divers can get lost while swimming, either accidentally separating from their buddy or getting confused while swimming near a coral reef or submerged structure. In addition to this risk in poor visibility you are also much more likely to be hit by a boat that can’t see you. By carrying a brightly colored surface marker buoy with you and flying a dive flag from your boat or a float on the surface, you can make it much harder for others to ignore you in the water.
Another important factor when planning your Spearfishing Dive is your equipment. Will it be suitable for your dive? Have you completed a full gear check prior to leaving? Visibility is key in Spearfishing and if the water is not clear enough then an alternative plan should be devised. With good buddy diving and the correct use of all of your gear a lost diver can be recovered before any serious harm is done. Don’t be one of those idiots that carries brightly colored surface marker buoys and a dive flag but fail to take them with you on the dive. Boat traffic moves extremely fast and the operators are not expecting swimmers to materialize in front of there boats. The float line to the flag is also something that many inexperienced Spearfishers overlook and concentrate on other aspects of the dive.
Handling your spearfishing equipment responsibly
A loaded speargun, often referred to as a spear fishing gun, is a weapon. It can cause serious injury or even death if not used properly. Always handle a loaded speargun with respect and never use it as a prop in a film. Always be aware of the muzzle direction of a loaded speargun. Never let a loaded speargun slip from your grasp. If you plan to free dive with a speargun, you must be 100% in control of yourself and your equipment at all times. Never dive with a loaded speargun if you are feeling tired. Never dive with a speargun alone.
- Never load your speargun out of the water. Load it just before you dive, and unload it before you surface or pass it to anyone else.
- Always point the spear away from your buddy, your boat, and yourself during handling, every single time, not just when you remember.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you have a clear shot at a fish with nothing else in the line of fire.
- Use a spear tip cover when the gun isn’t in active use.
Handling your spearfishing equipment responsibly is important to ensure safe diving. A loaded speargun is a deadly piece of equipment and should be treated with respect. Never point the muzzle of a loaded speargun at another diver, at yourself or at the bottom of the ocean. It is shocking how many new spearfishers are not aware of this simple rule and wave their loaded spearguns about as if they were props in an action movie. Even old hands at hunting treat their speargun with respect and are always very conscious of the muzzle direction.
Know the local rules before you go
The local rules must be studied prior to entry into the water. The restrictions on spearfishing will vary from state to state and within territories and marine parks. The New South Wales regulations for example state that there are certain protected species, there are areas where no spearfishing is allowed, there are licensing requirements, minimum sizes for various species and even restrictions on various types of spearfishing equipment that can be used. The consequences for breaking any of the local spearfishing rules can be severe, with penalties including having all of your gear confiscated, receiving a hefty fine, and in extreme cases even being charged with an offense of Poaching. Also, the regulations are often subject to change at very short notice, therefore it is essential to study up on the local current regulations prior to your trip, and not rely on what you read from last year. It is also recommended to contact the local fisheries authority prior to your trip to get the very latest information on the local rules and any current closures.
Spearfishing rules can change quickly and vary from state to state, territory to territory and from Marine Park to Marine Park. Always check the current fishing regulations with the local fisheries authority before heading out to hunt. There is nothing worse than catching a fish only to find out that it is below the minimum size or a protected species. Being caught with either of these can result in having your gear confiscated and receiving a hefty fine.
Check your gear before every dive, not just the first one
Gear checks are the most under appreciated and boring thing in the world of Spearfishing, until they are not. You always forget to check something every time. A simple list of things to check before every dive will help prevent injuries caused by negligence such as spears being ripped down your back because you forgot to check the bands on your gun. And as for your mask, if it feels like it is going to leak when you put it on the morning of your dive, it will surely leak by the 3rd dive of the day. Always, always check your weight belt to ensure it is on correctly. A simple act to prevent a big problem.
Before any descent, run through this:
- Confirm your weight belt quick-release is accessible, correctly oriented, and not fouled by anything.
- Check your mask seal and snorkel for cracks or worn silicone.
- Inspect speargun bands for fraying, cuts, or any degradation.
- Test your float line for tangles or weak points along its length.
- Verify your fins are secured properly, because straps that are almost-about-to-snap have a talent for finishing the job mid-dive.
(And yes, check your weight belt is positioned correctly prior to every dive. Most people find this silly but trust me on this one.)
| Safety area | Common beginner mistake | What to do instead |
| Buddy diving | Both divers descend at the same time | One dives, one watches from the surface |
| Equipment handling | Loading the speargun on the boat deck | Load underwater, unload before surfacing |
| Visibility conditions | Diving in poor visibility to “make the trip worth it” | Postpone if visibility drops below safe limits |
| Gear checks | Skipping checks after the first dive of the day | Quick inspection before every single descent |
| Local regulations | Assuming last season’s rules still apply | Check current regulations with local fisheries |
However there is much more to the Ocean than meeting her in a new wetsuit to go hunt some fish for supper. The Ocean doesn’t care about any of that, she only cares that you are going to treat her with the utmost respect, enter her domain safely and come prepared. So get out there and have a dive, hunt some dinner, but do it safely with a good buddy and some quality respectful gear. When you have done all that you will realize Spearfishing is one of the most ‘alive’ experiences you can have underwater.
