Ab Diver Death..5th this year

Hi Joel:

        I always go for low hanging fruit. I'm good for about 35 Ft. and maybe 50ft. if, I'm Diving every weekend. I don't Dive for Abs too much
because, I'm a little burned out cooking them.
        I still enjoy Diving for them and, usually give the Abs away for future consideration .
                                                                   Sea-ya
                                                                   Ernie
                                                               
       

!#$#, a knife citation is freakin insane. I knew you couldn't take abs with them but not carrying them period?  HTF am I gonna take an ab with a 3" knife....nuts.


Manatee....you guys were rock picking bro, not diving.  I would say the no weight, no fins, kelp pulling thing is dependent on how deep you intend on picking abs. Anything ,more than say 7 feet its not advantageous. Use less lead, you can still be bouyant enough to float and not struggle at depth.  But then again what do I know....Divemaster P shunned me for being a newb.  

But then again what do I know....Divemaster P shunned me for being a newb.  

Wow, you really hold a grudge.   

<<<<< --- By the way....check out my new mask strap.

Knives and Kelp usually don't mix. I use to carry one on the inside of my calf. One time I was coming up from 15' @ F Ross. Even though I was kicking, I just stopped moving, which instantly caused my to panic and kick a lot harder. Free dive fins can put out a lot of energy when you kick hard. It took two kicks and POP, I was free, but I broke my knife off my leg. Panic control, as mention before, is the number one way to save your life...but this can be easier said than done. All I had to do is reach down and pull the kelp off my leg, but I couldn't stop myself from just kicking harder. Usually kelp water is a little dirty, most use black silicone masks so vision is narrowed, and your body is covered in neoprene so you can't feel where the kelp has you. All you know is that you are not moving anymore. So, if you must wear a knife in kelp, my suggestion is to glue on a sheath pocket (w/ a top and bottom) made out of neoprene. That's the best way to make it streamline. You also might want to consider a closed-heel foot pocket fin instead of buckle type. Buckles can grab stuff and a closed heel will perform better in the long run anyways.  I like diving in kelp, it makes me feel protected from real big fish. This year however, the kelp is out of control. Safe dives too all.

ps Mooch, last year two deaths were from people in suits with no fins. After thinking it over, I don't think you should go into the water with out them no matter how shallow. Fins are just too important if you need too move in an emergency...and they work a lot better with a weight belt.

-Lee

There is some very good advice in this thread.  I've been freediving in the kelp of northern Cal for a little over 20 years.  I agree with:

1.  Leave the Knife it the yak and stream line all gear.
2.  If tangled try to stay calm and untangle

I'd never tell a rookie diver not to drop his weight belt but I do strongly agree with trying to untangle first.  Before each dive I take a few deep breaths and alway remind myself "right hand release this weightbelt has no value."

I have been just a a couple of feet from the surface with a fin strap hung up on kelp, kicking for all I had and going no where.  All it took was a quick reach down with my hand and I was free.  That was some of the sweetest tasting air of my life.

I don't mind diving in thick kelp and as another NCKA put it.  "It makes me feel a more protected from the big fishy."