Free diver lurker

Im thinking about trying free diving this year when I head up to shelter cove. What are the basic things I will be needing?

You can find most of the stuff on Craigslist pretty cheap.

You must have a 7mm wetsuit. I got mine on CL for 75 and it's very warm and comfortable.

Weight belt and the right amount of weights for your body weight.

mask
fins
booties
gloves
snorkel
hood

For Abalone you need
pry bar
guage
report card
if you dive from the yak then you don't need the float you would otherwisw need. I just started last year and had a blast. I will be diving SC this year if conditions permit.

Sweet! Appreciate the 411, will start to purchase...Andy

You may want to practice your freediving in places with better viz like Monterey. SC conditions are ususlly crappy. What size are you ?
I have some wetsuits and fins I'm considering parting with.

SC conditions are ususlly crappy

I'll second that.  Save your first dive for a better place.  Even here in Norcal, the Mendo-Sonoma coast is way better for freediving. The viz generally sucks up there.

i'll be happy to show you some spots in the mendo area

You may want to practice your freediving in places with better viz like Monterey. SC conditions are ususlly crappy. What size are you ?
I have some wetsuits and fins I'm considering parting with.

Im 5'9" 200 lbs!!

"Shelter Cove...what will you be needing?"
99% of the story there is visability...right AbKing?
As a kid, I would ruin my sleep dreaming of 30 foot visability in Shelter Cove.
It never happened and after 4 trips with no better then 5 foot in green water I gave up.
If you can dial it in on a good vis period, I would love to shoot up there myself.
 Good visability happens on its own schedule... not ours.
 Steve

Im 5'9" 200 lbs!!
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The suits I have won't fit you unless you want to feel like a sausage, however if you're interested in some SCUBA type fins you can have them for cheap. Let me know if you're interested.

This is what ive got together so far, I still need the following, mask,hood,snorkel,gloves,and most important............EXPERIANCE...Andy

This is what ive got together so far, I still need the following, mask,hood,snorkel,gloves,and most important............EXPERIANCE...Andy

Plenty on Craigslist, make sure to check the tab "all SF Bay Area" and sporting goods/diving. You can grab everything you need on there right now except for the experience, that comes from research and going with the right people from the NCKA. Plenty of opportunities just around the corner. Cheers Mike

If you got access to a swimming pool, practice diving there first to adjust your weight for neutral buoyancy and be comfortable with the process.

You'll end up a little underweighted if you practice in a pool (because salt water is denser).  You'll want to get everything settled in the shallows at a protected spot like stillwater cove in sonoma county before hopping off the yak in 20' of water.