Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 10:34:56 AM

Login with username, password and session length

Recent Topics

[Today at 10:06:12 AM]

[Today at 10:05:24 AM]

[Today at 08:17:00 AM]

[March 27, 2024, 07:25:42 PM]

[March 27, 2024, 07:05:39 PM]

[March 27, 2024, 04:18:57 PM]

[March 27, 2024, 12:35:34 PM]

[March 27, 2024, 11:18:23 AM]

[March 26, 2024, 07:45:07 PM]

[March 26, 2024, 06:19:03 PM]

[March 26, 2024, 05:47:06 PM]

Support NCKA

Support the site by making a donation.

Topic: First Ab dive of the year with kayak  (Read 1684 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

DG

  • Sea Lion
  • ****
  • First joined in 2013
  • View Profile
  • Location: Ft Bragg
  • Date Registered: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 3670
I have been itching to go ab diving, but have had to many other things going on recently.  I decided to go out of Russian Gulch today and take the kayak.  I had borrowed a wetsuit from a friend that had one that was to large for him. Well, I am large and it was a full suit except it did not have a hood.  My other suit is full 7mm with attached hood and I can over heat so I wanted to try this one.  I had only taken the kayak out in the ocean recently to catch crab, but never for diving.  I am still getting more used to it each time I go.  I had to adjust my weights because with this suit I did not need as much.  I just started to sink and don't think that's how the buoyancy is supposed to work.   At least I tested this close to shore. 

I went far out where I thought the big abs were and I was right.  Only problem is I am still trying to get to deeper depths.  So I saw some fat ones at about 20' and decided to try for them.  Well I did not get very far as I took off to much weight and barely was able to go a few feet down.  Went back to kayak and put on another 5 lbs and was able to get to the abs just as I felt a little panic with my air and had to go up.  I tried this over and over but everytime I got close the ocean surge would push me 10-20' in the opposite direction.  It only took me a few hours of trying before I gave up and went closer to shore where the surge was less forceful.  That is where I found a few legal ones.  I only kept one so we could fry it up, but I will be going back to that spot because I want to keep trying until I can dive deeper safely. 

While out there I practiced self rescue and by the end of the day felt really good about getting in and out of the kayak on the ocean.  Last year I think the deepest dive was about 5 ft, so this year is off to a good start. Visibility and weather was great. I will have to go back a scuba as there were a lot of people doing that today and they all seemed to be having fun. 
-----------------------------------
NorCAL HOW Volunteer

2018 NCKA - DOTY Committee Member

2017 DOTY 2 biggest fish awards
2016 DOTY 2nd place / 4 biggest fish awards
2016 Triton X - 2nd place
2016 Triton Open - Biggest Lingcod
2014 DOTY - 1 biggest fish award


DG

  • Sea Lion
  • ****
  • First joined in 2013
  • View Profile
  • Location: Ft Bragg
  • Date Registered: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 3670
I forgot to mention when I got the kayak back to shore there was an abalone just sitting on the beach.  Not sure if someone forgot it or if it was a set up. It was legal, but I was not sure if keeping it was legal nor did I really want one I did not actually get myself, so I took it back to some rocks and attached it to the underside.  Hopefully it survives and grows really big for someone else.  All that work and I could have just got one by walking on the beach. 
-----------------------------------
NorCAL HOW Volunteer

2018 NCKA - DOTY Committee Member

2017 DOTY 2 biggest fish awards
2016 DOTY 2nd place / 4 biggest fish awards
2016 Triton X - 2nd place
2016 Triton Open - Biggest Lingcod
2014 DOTY - 1 biggest fish award


  • Cabeza de Martillo
  • View Profile
  • Location: Costa de Oro, BCS
  • Date Registered: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 7707
Be safe out there brother.
Pronounced in Spanish  ka·be·za de mar·t·yo
Translates to Hammerhead in English for my Gringo amigos.
....and yes that's me with a 6ft. green moray in the avatar.

"Spearos before Hos" - Silent Hunter

"Give your son a fish and you'll feed him for a day.
Teach him how to spearfish and he'll feed you for a lifetime" - Cabeza de Martillo

Proud Papa of ...........
2018 JAOTY Lucas aka Baja Ninja
2018 JDOTY Noah aka Silent Hunter


Fiver

  • Enlightened Soul
  • Sea Lion
  • ****
  • View Profile
  • Location: Pleasant Hill
  • Date Registered: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 1211
Way to get out there, but like Cabeza de Martillo, be safe and try and dive with a buddy whenever possible.  So much of diving has to do with how comfortable you are in the water.  Usually on the first dive of the year, I'll have trouble staying on the bottom.  That's when I realize that I am too excited and pumped just to be out there.  When I remind myself to relax and take it slow, staying down is much easier.  If you aren't comfortable at 20', start shallower and work your way deeper as your confidence increases.   I haven't done it personally, but taking a free dive class would be a great learning experience and confidence booster as well.  Good luck and be safe!


kayakjack

  • Sea Lion
  • ****
  • kayakjack
  • View Profile
  • Location: santa rosa
  • Date Registered: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 3350
Right-on Duane !  Thanks for the report. I am looking forward to diving with you this year.


DG

  • Sea Lion
  • ****
  • First joined in 2013
  • View Profile
  • Location: Ft Bragg
  • Date Registered: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 3670
I have been training for months in rivers and felt it was time to kayak in ocean.  Believe me I am paranoid about safety and read everything on this site prior to going out on the water.  I knew a couple of guys who died years ago when their crab boat hit something. It has taken a lot to get over some fears in the ocean.

I know everyone says bring buddies but sometimes it doesn't work out.  I usually do but today was mostly practice for me and I never left sight of people watching from cliffs or water and did back off of the really deep areas when I was not comfortable diving deep.  And after being pushed to close to rocks I kayaked to a more protected space.  I was out there for hours but took lots of breaks and only dove when not breathing hard or tired. 

I will probably take a class soon as I am sure some techniques from experts will be valuable.  I want to learn proper breath control and increase my underwater time.

Jack, we will be going out soon.  The pressure from suit and cold water suppresses the pain I usually feel in my neck and shoulder when out of the water.  It is a nice break from it.  I just floated around like I was snorkeling for hours and loved it.  Even so I will not go out on bad days.  So if weather changes on your way over the hill we can always play on the rivers. 
-----------------------------------
NorCAL HOW Volunteer

2018 NCKA - DOTY Committee Member

2017 DOTY 2 biggest fish awards
2016 DOTY 2nd place / 4 biggest fish awards
2016 Triton X - 2nd place
2016 Triton Open - Biggest Lingcod
2014 DOTY - 1 biggest fish award


willidru

  • Sand Dab
  • **
  • View Profile
  • Location: Walnut Creek
  • Date Registered: Mar 2014
  • Posts: 57
If you check in with Kelli Ocean Sport in Concord I believe they are putting on an FII free dive class in June.


LingKiller

  • Salmon
  • ***
  • View Profile
  • Location: Walnut Creek
  • Date Registered: Jul 2013
  • Posts: 239
If you are up in the North coast, check out the classes offered by Pacific Coast Freediving company.  Eric and Jake are 1st class free divers and teachers as well.  It is a 2-day class.  First day is in a hotel in Santa Rosa and then pool in a nearby high school.  Second day is ocean day and we did ours at Mendo Bay.  The class made a big difference for me.   Highly recommended.


DG

  • Sea Lion
  • ****
  • First joined in 2013
  • View Profile
  • Location: Ft Bragg
  • Date Registered: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 3670
I will look them up. 
-----------------------------------
NorCAL HOW Volunteer

2018 NCKA - DOTY Committee Member

2017 DOTY 2 biggest fish awards
2016 DOTY 2nd place / 4 biggest fish awards
2016 Triton X - 2nd place
2016 Triton Open - Biggest Lingcod
2014 DOTY - 1 biggest fish award