Can a kayak take the place of a abalone tube?

Besides much more difficult to move up and down the cliff, it seems to me a kayak can do everything a float tube is supposed to do, is that correct?

I was working on getting a tube or boogie board, but now that I'm intending to get an ocean kayak, I thought maybe I don't need a tube any more...  Thanks.

Kayak > Tube in nearly all situations.  I'd opt for a tube if I'm just gonna get in grab my abs and get out or if I can't get my yak down the cliff.  Other than that, kayak is FAR superior.

Dude,launch and then paddle to spots you cant even get to unless you are in a boat or a kayak. Good example is launching at FT ross and paddling south and around the tip of reef and dive out there. I agree with Garcia about the cliff thang. We carried down to Horseshoe and it was fun but challenging.

Art's right - kayak is superior in many if not nearly all instances.  The exceptions being the cliff scenario and when you're diving around breakers or in the wash - your yak might not fare as well as a tube there.

Check out this psycho-dipshit's use of the yak as ab-tube...   

I strap my tube or my dive boogie board to the front of my yak.  Then I anchor my yak and have my board (usually) follow me around attached to my float line.  When I dove with Black ab, he just attached his float line to the yak and pulled it around after him......what a stud.

For a quick dive, a board is better.....it's really nice to have a both a dive board and a yak.

Dave

Tubes are great, so are kayaks.It depends on where you dive and the all important "access".Float tubes can be taken anywhere, kayaks need a place to launch and return and are difficult for one person where as a tube or mat can easily be carried over long distances and difficult terrain. Get both if you can afford it and you'll be happy for years to come.

It's nice to use both at the same time. Kayak out to the spot and swim with the tube as you venture away from the kayak.
I have easily worked 50 yards or more away from the kayak in thick kelp.
Nothing worse than finding that honey hole 50 yards or more from your kayak, popping one or two hubcaps and having to swim back through the thick kelp.... Except for not being able to find that honey hole again for that last hubcap.

Why not pop all three at the honeyhole See you soon Tote!

"I've been fishing in waters between Pillar Point and Pigeon Point and abalone "shore-diving" up north for 10+ years"

What were you using for 10+ years??
I don't think there is a correct answer for your question.

"I've been fishing in waters between Pillar Point and Pigeon Point and abalone "shore-diving" up north for 10+ years"

What were you using for 10+ years??
I don't think there is a correct answer for your question.

See the "shore-dive" in quotation?  That's as opposed to shore-pick.  I dove in chest-high water near shore, farther-out than most shorepickers but not really in open ocean.  So I used no tube; just a red mesh bag which I hold in my hand.

Why not pop all three at the honeyhole See you soon Tote!

I will be there but no diving for me. I am counting on you to 'supply' for the evening.

chest-high water near shore, farther-out than most shorepickers but not really in open ocean

I've heard many 10's come from that area between the rockpickers and the divers...   hmmmm   

im gonna launch at one of the regular launches then paddle to the not so much taken from spots , anchor up somewhere safe then use my boogie board to get where the action is , the yak is more like my homebase.

"I've been fishing in waters between Pillar Point and Pigeon Point and abalone "shore-diving" up north for 10+ years"

What were you using for 10+ years??
I don't think there is a correct answer for your question.

See the "shore-dive" in quotation?  That's as opposed to shore-pick.  I dove in chest-high water near shore, farther-out than most shorepickers but not really in open ocean.  So I used no tube; just a red mesh bag which I hold in my hand.

So how deep water do you want to dive now? 20' ++ if you want to do serious spearfishing.

Using a kayak for diving involves a level of expertise and experience.  Usually you do a surf entry, paddle around a point, be able handle swells/waves, be able to manuver thru rocks, be able to do exits, entry, and self-rescue, and be able to beach thru surf.  Not to mention conditions which may turn rough in a heartbeat.  Maybe you need to reconsider your question about  kayak versus tube.

"I've been fishing in waters between Pillar Point and Pigeon Point and abalone "shore-diving" up north for 10+ years"

What were you using for 10+ years??
I don't think there is a correct answer for your question.

See the "shore-dive" in quotation?  That's as opposed to shore-pick.  I dove in chest-high water near shore, farther-out than most shorepickers but not really in open ocean.  So I used no tube; just a red mesh bag which I hold in my hand.

So how deep water do you want to dive now? 20' ++ if you want to do serious spearfishing.

Using a kayak for diving involves a level of expertise and experience.  Usually you do a surf entry, paddle around a point, be able handle swells/waves, be able to manuver thru rocks, be able to do exits, entry, and self-rescue, and be able to beach thru surf.  Not to mention conditions which may turn rough in a heartbeat.  Maybe you need to reconsider your question about  kayak versus tube.

What the heck???? 

How does one gain experience or expertise if the don't even try it?  10 years experience boating out of HMB and shore wading in the rocks, I'm pretty sure he's got an idea of what the ocean has to offer.  Maybe even moreso than the standard new guy, getting pounded in the surf while picking.....seems like one would learn a thing or two.  I'm fairly certain nobody here started out as an expert but we managed to progress just fine.....it aint rocket science.