Be Careful!

Please be careful when you are abalone diving! We just had our 6th abalone diver die today in Mendocino County since April 1, 2006.

I'm sure you all know to have you weight belt set so you can drop it off you with just one quick movement. And don't be afraid to drop it immediately when you feel you are in trouble. 

I'm kind of surprised they haven't passed legislation to protect us from ourselves already..

I often carry a spare weight belt so that I can retrieve my weight belt if I drop it. I find that having the spare I'm more likely to consider ditching my belt.  If you use a floatline you'll probably be able to find the belt easilly since it'll drop near your iron/gun.

I'm under the impression that most deaths this year have been due to heart attacks and other things, that scuba diver that died appeared to have his belt off... 

Anyway, can never complain about being too safe.  The ultimate in safety is just not to go when the conditions are crappy like they were last weekend.

If you can stand a little cold use less neoprene and dive with no weight belt at all. I have been doing it for three years now and it is such a relief not to deal with a weight belt. I dive in a 3mm shorty. Granted I only stay in the water 5 or 6 mins get the abs and get out and paddle like a mad man to get warm again. Honestly, this is not a bragging moment just something worth thinking about. It helps me remember my limits. Cheers

Thank you for the warning MahiMahi, this is why I almost always dive with a partner unless I can't find one and the water condition is "perfect".

If you can stand a little cold use less neoprene and dive with no weight belt at all. I have been doing it for three years now and it is such a relief not to deal with a weight belt. I dive in a 3mm shorty. Granted I only stay in the water 5 or 6 mins get the abs and get out and paddle like a mad man to get warm again. Honestly, this is not a bragging moment just something worth thinking about. It helps me remember my limits. Cheers

Yikes!  I got cold just reading your post. 

Please be careful when you are abalone diving! We just had our 6th abalone diver die today in Mendocino County since April 1, 2006.

Is it 6th since 4/1/2007 or 2006?  Either way that's a big number for a recreational sport...  Be careful...

It's 6 this year! Most were not local.

I believe the number is up to nine already.

Weather has been crappy.  I remember going in nice conditions for several weeks straight last year, haven't had a good window yet this year...  Better to earn WAF that beat yourself up in crappy conditions.

Unfortunatly some folks don't know when to stay outa the water... This year's been a tough year to get a window, and I think folks impatience gets the better of them, and they take bad risks. I remember years ago watching them diving for this woman's husband at Salt Point and listening to her describe how she kept hoping she just missed him and he'd pop up any minute, but after a few minutes she came to the reality of what really happened... left me with a sick feeling...