Ab Diver Death..5th this year

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080810/NEWS/808100421/1350&title=54_year_old_dies_off_coast

Thats sad and something that does not really need to happen , can't understand why divers in trouble don't loose their weight belt . I've known a few who have come close and they always are still wearing their belt when they hit the beach !

we were staying  at Ocean Cove and diving when it happened. the sheriff raced down the hill and commandeered A boat to help.sad day, it really will make you think hard  about your life when see that happen first hand.

That's sad to hear but, we hear about it every year. Be careful out there, the kelp looks crazy thick this year.

Freddie

It definitely hits home whenever I hear stories like this, especially being someone that dives.

can't understand why divers in trouble don't loose their weight belt . I've known a few who have come close and they always are still wearing their belt when they hit the beach !

From experience dropping your weight belt especially when stuck in kelp isn't always the best choice. You become buoyant and are fighting both that and being stuck. If your stuck your stuck and the first thing that comes to mind is getting untangled. Only dropping your weight belt if you cramp of if your having trouble swimming is probably your best choice the majority of the time.

A couple of years ago I got stuck in the kelp with it wrapped around my fin heal strap. I had to fight the current at the same time as I was trying dissemble my strap add the buoyancy factor to that and it would of been impossible. I was wearing a 7mm farmer john suit with 27lbs of weight dropping that I would of wanted to pop to the surface like a bobber. Having the weight on your side can be a good thing in certain instances.

It definitely hits home whenever I hear stories like this, especially being someone that dives.

can't understand why divers in trouble don't loose their weight belt . I've known a few who have come close and they always are still wearing their belt when they hit the beach !

From experience dropping your weight belt especially when stuck in kelp isn't always the best choice. You become buoyant and are fighting both that and being stuck. If your stuck your stuck and the first thing that comes to mind is getting untangled. Only dropping your weight belt if you cramp of if your having trouble swimming is probably your best choice the majority of the time.

A couple of years ago I got stuck in the kelp with it wrapped around my fin heal strap. I had to fight the current at the same time as I was trying dissemble my strap add the buoyancy factor to that and it would of been impossible. I was wearing a 7mm farmer john suit with 27lbs of weight dropping that I would of wanted to pop to the surface like a bobber. Having the weight on your side can be a good thing in certain instances.

Excellent points - I totally agree.  It's about staying in control of where your body is, and ditching the weightbelt is usually only necessary if you're in trouble and under-bouyant on the bottom or you're wanting to float and swim freely.

I always thought that the massive weight of my weight belt dropping past my ankles, would pull the kelp away. hope i never get to find out.

  I don't dive, so I'm asking this without any knowledge, but wouldn't a dive knife have helped to cut the kelp away instead of trying to untangle it?
  Or, is the kelp that tough that untangling would have been quicker?

  I don't dive, so I'm asking this without any knowledge, but wouldn't a dive knife have helped to cut the kelp away instead of trying to untangle it?
  Or, is the kelp that tough that untangling would have been quicker?

I actually just read on another site that it sounds like his dive knife strapped to his calf was what caught the kelp.   

Many feel that it's best not to have anything extraneous strapped to you - game clip, dive knife, cumbersome straps on flippers are even a risk.  The kelp this year is extra thick, and diving in very thick kelp is taking your chances on getting tangled.  When you need air you don't have time to get a knife off your calf and start sawing through big kelp tubers.

Hi Yakers:

     In Kelp the worst thing to do is pull away in panic which, just tightens the Frons. It's sorta like a Finger Cuff.
    I find it's best to slow down and clear the Frons. I also Dive under the Kelp instead of swimming thru it. I tape my Fins' straps and keep all
Dive gear in in a Uni Net Bag tied to a Gallon Jug.
   I feel bad for the Family  but, he died doing what he like best. I would rather die in the Ocean than in a rest Home!
   
                                                                         Sea-ya
                                                                         Ernie
                                                                   

  I don't dive, so I'm asking this without any knowledge, but wouldn't a dive knife have helped to cut the kelp away instead of trying to untangle it?
  Or, is the kelp that tough that untangling would have been quicker?

Per DFG regulations section 29.15 you can not carry a knife while abalone diving.

(e) Special Gear Provisions: The use of SCUBA gear or surface-supplied air to take abalone
is prohibited. Abalone may not be taken or possessed aboard any boat, vessel, or floating device in the water containing SCUBA or surface-supplied air. Abalone may be taken only by hand or by devices commonly known as abalone irons. Abalone irons must be less than 36 inches long, straight or with a curve having a radius of not less than 18 inches, and must not be less than 3/4 inch wide nor less than 1/16 inch thick. All edges must be rounded and free of sharp edges.Knives, screwdrivers and sharp instruments are prohibited.

Yes even though you are not using the knife to pluck abs you will still be cited for the basic intent that you could use it to get abalone. Over the years I have had several game wardens look to see if I was carrying one. Just a heads up for those of you that didn't know.

  I don't dive, so I'm asking this without any knowledge, but wouldn't a dive knife have helped to cut the kelp away instead of trying to untangle it?
  Or, is the kelp that tough that untangling would have been quicker?

Per DFG regulations section 29.15 you can not carry a knife while abalone diving.

(e) Special Gear Provisions: The use of SCUBA gear or surface-supplied air to take abalone
is prohibited. Abalone may not be taken or possessed aboard any boat, vessel, or floating device in the water containing SCUBA or surface-supplied air. Abalone may be taken only by hand or by devices commonly known as abalone irons. Abalone irons must be less than 36 inches long, straight or with a curve having a radius of not less than 18 inches, and must not be less than 3/4 inch wide nor less than 1/16 inch thick. All edges must be rounded and free of sharp edges.Knives, screwdrivers and sharp instruments are prohibited.

Yes even though you are not using the knife to pluck abs you will still be cited for the basic intent that you could use it to get abalone. Over the years I have had several game wardens look to see if I was carrying one. Just a heads up for those of you that didn't know.

Wow!
I never thought of it to be interpreted that way. I guess you could have Johhny Gung-Ho REALLY write you a ticket for yet another 'infraction' if you weren't careful.
Thanks for the heads up even though I don't wear a knife when I ab dive.

With my very limited experience....would it be safer to not wear a weight belt and fins and simply pull yourslf down using the kelp stalks to get to the abalone? I learned this from Jonesz when he took me ab diving in the thick of kelp at Elk...granted we were only diving in less than 10 feet of water......

Hi Yakers:

         For me, it's much easier to be a little heavy . I don't like fighting to go down because, it burns me out too fast. I do some Meditation and deep breathing before each dive.
         I always use Fins for control because, I feel helpless floating like a Cork.
                                                           Sea-ya
                                                           Ernie

I hear ya Ernie...in fact, Jonesz did mention about putting on some weights next time. I did notice that it was a lot easier moving around the thick kelp without the use of fins. By the way, most of the abs we saw were in about 5 to 8 FOW.