Freediving kayakers? Shaving Crew?

I read in posts about some freediving. Tricks and tips for freediving off a kayak?? How about gear storage and transport to dive sites? Wear your wetsuit while paddling / pedaling? Use your kayak as your dive float? Other best practices from which a newbie could benefit?

Had to shave mustache away from nose to let new freedive mask (Sporasub Samurai SLC) seat properly. Crew (aka darn cat) fascinated. Captain offers to shave Crew: Crew highly offended, offers a tail-up going-away salute. Captain suggests its Crew's best side, Crew mutters at least he has a best side. Situation normal.

Hey Don have you read this?

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=42

Yeah, Bill, I ran across it a little while back.  It is enjoyable and and help.  Hope the article and these posts will stimulate a little discussion.  Thanks.

I don't really have trouble with my moustache, though I've put vasoline in it to help seal the mask.  Air leaks around whiskers much better than water does, so it'll hold better in the water than doing the suction cup test on dry land.  If you use vasoline on the moustache the water will bead up and be unable to get between the hairs.

Thanks for the reply.  I will keep some vaseline handy.  Wonder how Crew (aka darn cat) would enjoy a nice vaseline smear on his whiskers?  (Crew: many have tried, many have died ....)

5-19-06  Friday

Hectic work week but determined to be dive-ready for weekend.

3:10 pm. Pool test of freedive gear at Dolphin, Stockton.  Nice young woman from Sacramento shop minding the store solo.  Dive knife in, no line cutter.  She says no titanium knives with line cutters available; decide to keep wicked-fine looking little fish-killing knife.  Buy knife lanyard and straps; dry box for valuables, and snorkel strap (stock hard plastic clip on snorkel pulling snorkel sideways out of mouth).

Old rubber weight belt looked okay but black rubber dust on hands told the tale: deteriorated and not to be trusted.  New weight system required.  Cost of new rubber belt versus nylon belt and bag system not so different, but bag weights more expensive.  Decide to go with belt and bag system, and a pair of weight bags in the 5 (red), 4 (blue), 3 (black), 2 (green), and 1 (yellow) pound sizes – for a total weight of 30 (!) pounds. 

Talk with staffperson about stuff and freediving gear.  Ask best practices with gear and freediving.  Nothing major learned but nice, encouraging talk from her.  (Crew (aka darn cat): Aha!  Renewed interest in diving begins to make more sense.  Admiralty kept Captain in drydock too long.)  Stop it, she’s young enough to be Captain’s daughter.  (Crew: that’s your story and I’m sure you’re sticking to it.)

Put on Aqualung Aquaflex 7mm, vest and hood, and back entry full suit.  Put on booties.  Put on freedive fins, mask, and snorkel.  Put on dive gloves.  Waddle backwards to ladder. Use side of ladder to sit on poolside and then ease into the four foot deep, shallow end of the pool.  Nice to cool off in the water.  These fins are long!

Breath hold without any  cleansing or packing breathes barely enough to comfortably swim length of pool underwater (about 50-60 feet?); lack of conditioning and hay fever definitely, maybe stress excitement.  (Crew: how many times did you sneeze into that mask, anyway?) Positively buoyant at the 13 foot bottom of the pool.  Left ear painful pressure, try repeatedly but cannot equalize.  Mask fogging a bit despite toothpaste wash at home and application of defogger at home.  Weight belt too big; repeated adjustments make it better – will need to work on at home. Did not strap on knife.

Somehow spent over an hour in the water!  Fun but tired, and back a little sore – I think from different fin stroke (long, slow, wide kicks) and heavy weight belt.  Shoulders still feel a bit restricted in suit but not too bad.  Staffer gives tip on keeping water out of booties by doubling over the tops. 

Wet wetsuit and new weight belt make dive duffle very heavy.  How is this going to work in the kayak?  (Crew: Captain could lose some more personal ballast.  Wasn’t that one of the reasons the Admiralty approved the kayak?)  Captain starts to think Crew could get by with a few less cans of tuna!

Leave shop at 5:30 pm (!)  Starving!  Thirsty!  Tired!  Walk to grocery store.  Back in car.  Eat. Drink.  Go home.  Hang gear to dry.  Take nap. (Crew: Captain looked like something I dragged in.)