DOTY RULES!!!!!!!!!!

I was just reading the rules and came across the section regarding "without assistance from another diver".

I know that I have read multiple posts where two or more divers have gone out and have assisted in pointing out a fish upgrade to their buddy.

Is this a new rule??? or possibly something that needs to be amended???

Not signed up but interested 


1. All entries (fish and abalone) must be taken while freediving without any assistance from another diver. Assistance is defined as: Finding, marking the hole, luring, chumming or directing another diver to a fish or abalone. No other diver can load the gun, make a back-up shot, touch spear or iron or assist in the landing of fish or abalone. You may alert another diver to the possible presence of a fish in a general area, but not a specific area such as; next to my gun, at the end of my float line, right underneath me, in a hole under that big rock, etc.

I think its new

Antonio,

Yes, this is a new rule for 2014.

2012 and 2013 only stated that no other diver could touch spear or abalone iron until fish/ab was secure on surface.

This rule was changed after input from many divers, and with the guidance of fuzz and his replacement Rob102. Both of whom are much more experienced divers than myself. 

We also added the "No Chumming Rule", and got rid of the "Fuzz can't compete rule".

 

Any other questions just let me know!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Muchas Gracias Señor

I like the new rules!

I like the new rules!

I'm glad Ken!!

 

I know it is impossible to make everybody happy all the time, but hopefully the guys who are playing and enjoying the game will be stoked on them...or at least not too bummed. 

Hope I get to dive with you again soon!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

FWIW...the DOTY committee (including myself) stand 100% behind all the 2013 and 2012 DOTY scores.

The 2012 and 2013 rules did not state that you could not point out fish to your buddy, so any "finding and sharing" of fish was totally acceptable and I know a lot of divers (including myself) had a ton of great experiences showing other divers where new species of fish were hiding...

In 2013, as far as I know, there was only one fish that was pointed out to a diver that made a change to the top five standings. And when that diver got that fish he passed the person who pointed it out to him. 

But the "spotter" didn't care, he was just stoked for the diver who got the fish. 

For my fish, I had my last Ling of the year pointed out to me and it gave me 31.62 upgrade points. But even without those upgrade points I would have won by over 80 points. 

Charlie saw my PB cab first but after multiple tries he couldn't figure out how to shoot it cuz it was so far in a hole and told me to shoot it if I could. I swam down to check out the "impossible hole" and the cab had swum right out in the open to wish me happy birthday so I blasted him.   

All the rest of my 2013 DOTY fish I found 100% on my own. 

Anyway, hopefully the way the rules are worded now will make the playing field even more level.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

I like the new rules Jim.   Now that fuzz is allowed back in the hunt and I can't point fish out for him anymore you guys may actually have a shot at beating him

I like the new rules Jim.   Now that fuzz is allowed back in the hunt and I can't point fish out for him anymore you guys may actually have a shot at beating him

 

Thanks Art!

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

ps...you and Angle should come down on 1/18 for the 2013 DOTY awards...last time I saw you was the 2012 Awards! 

In regards to the DOTY rule changes this season, the previous rule number #1 stated that there was to be no assistance by other divers.  It went on to describe that assistance as: loading a gun; touching the spear; landing the fish for another.  I believe that these rules stem from IUSA governing world record catches. 

As for our local reef fish that are targeted in the DOTY comp, they are far from elusive.  Typically they are lying on the bottom or hiding in a hole.  The skill in hunting these fish is in knowing their habits, their habitat and actually finding them.  After conferring with Fuzz we agreed that the rule should be amended to make it necessary for the diver to find their own fish. 

The use of bait draws "holed up" fish into the open.  While it is legal and a acceptable way to harvest fish, it requires no skill to draw out fish that a diver may not have been able to find.  We agreed that the use of bait should be eliminated from DOTY.

Rule 16 stated that Fuzz couldn't compete.  I can't speak for everybody, but it is generally accepted that there is no better diver than Fuzz.  Eliminating Fuzz is like grading on the curve and sets a lower standard.  Also, if Fuzz can't compete then it would be unfair to have him as a dive partner.  Allowing Fuzz the option to compete raises the bar and gives everybody the chance to beat "the best".

All this being said, DOTY is a charitable contribution and it is meant to be fun and the new rules are not meant to stop groups of guys from diving or hunting together. It is an individual competition and should promote personal growth and recognize the diver who had the best season.

The rule changes are not in any way meant to detract from previous winners.  For instance, Big Jim was the only diver last year to land a halibut and that additional species alone is how he won the DOTY, not with any upgrade that someone else may have spotted that he landed.  Regardless, all scores from all participants in previous seasons were obtained within the rules of the respective year and are not disputed.

I have heard from many divers saying that they like the new rules.  I have heard concerns from a few that this may not be conducive to group diving.  We have addressed this by just not pointing out or marking the fish for others.  I would like to hear from everybody whose participation or lack thereof is due to these rules.  We want as many participants as possible and I would like to hear what you have to say.

Thanks

In regards to the DOTY rule changes this season, the previous rule number #1 stated that there was to be no assistance by other divers.  It went on to describe that assistance as: loading a gun; touching the spear; landing the fish for another.  I believe that these rules stem from IUSA governing world record catches. 

As for our local reef fish that are targeted in the DOTY comp, they are far from elusive.  Typically they are lying on the bottom or hiding in a hole.  The skill in hunting these fish is in knowing their habits, their habitat and actually finding them.  After conferring with Fuzz we agreed that the rule should be amended to make it necessary for the diver to find their own fish. 

The use of bait draws "holed up" fish into the open.  While it is legal and a acceptable way to harvest fish, it requires no skill to draw out fish that a diver may not have been able to find.  We agreed that the use of bait should be eliminated from DOTY.

Rule 16 stated that Fuzz couldn't compete.  I can't speak for everybody, but it is generally accepted that there is no better diver than Fuzz.  Eliminating Fuzz is like grading on the curve and sets a lower standard.  Also, if Fuzz can't compete then it would be unfair to have him as a dive partner.  Allowing Fuzz the option to compete raises the bar and gives everybody the chance to beat "the best".

All this being said, DOTY is a charitable contribution and it is meant to be fun and the new rules are not meant to stop groups of guys from diving or hunting together. It is an individual competition and should promote personal growth and recognize the diver who had the best season.

The rule changes are not in any way meant to detract from previous winners.  For instance, Big Jim was the only diver last year to land a halibut and that additional species alone is how he won the DOTY, not with any upgrade that someone else may have spotted that he landed.  Regardless, all scores from all participants in previous seasons were obtained within the rules of the respective year and are not disputed.

I have heard from many divers saying that they like the new rules.  I have heard concerns from a few that this may not be conducive to group diving.  We have addressed this by just not pointing out or marking the fish for others.  I would like to hear from everybody whose participation or lack thereof is due to these rules.  We want as many participants as possible and I would like to hear what you have to say.

Thanks

Well said Rob!!

Thanks again for all your help and for stepping up to be on the DOTY committe this year.

I really appreciate it. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

I like the new rules. Even though I'm a new diver who will be "competing" in DOTY for the first time this year, I would only want to enter a fish that I found and captured on my own. If I choose to let someone point out a fish to me (not likely), I  simply won't enter that fish in the "competition". 

I like the new rules. Even though I'm a new diver who will be "competing" in DOTY for the first time this year, I would only want to enter a fish that I found and captured on my own. If I choose to let someone point out a fish to me (not likely), I  simply won't enter that fish in the "competition". 

That is just fine Mike.  These rules are just an honor system.  I wouldn't expect someone to go home without a fish or to miss an opportunity for another diver to point out what a "ling hole" or "cab hole" or what structure reds like.  If you happen to be in that situation and someone spots a fish for you, by all means take the fish if you like, but you have to police yourself on your entries.  Like Jim has said before, it's just a wooden plaque worth no more than bragging rights.

In regards to the DOTY rule changes this season, the previous rule number #1 stated that there was to be no assistance by other divers.  It went on to describe that assistance as: loading a gun; touching the spear; landing the fish for another.  I believe that these rules stem from IUSA governing world record catches. 

As for our local reef fish that are targeted in the DOTY comp, they are far from elusive.  Typically they are lying on the bottom or hiding in a hole.  The skill in hunting these fish is in knowing their habits, their habitat and actually finding them.  After conferring with Fuzz we agreed that the rule should be amended to make it necessary for the diver to find their own fish. 

The use of bait draws "holed up" fish into the open.  While it is legal and a acceptable way to harvest fish, it requires no skill to draw out fish that a diver may not have been able to find.  We agreed that the use of bait should be eliminated from DOTY.

Rule 16 stated that Fuzz couldn't compete.  I can't speak for everybody, but it is generally accepted that there is no better diver than Fuzz.  Eliminating Fuzz is like grading on the curve and sets a lower standard.  Also, if Fuzz can't compete then it would be unfair to have him as a dive partner.  Allowing Fuzz the option to compete raises the bar and gives everybody the chance to beat "the best".

All this being said, DOTY is a charitable contribution and it is meant to be fun and the new rules are not meant to stop groups of guys from diving or hunting together. It is an individual competition and should promote personal growth and recognize the diver who had the best season.

The rule changes are not in any way meant to detract from previous winners.  For instance, Big Jim was the only diver last year to land a halibut and that additional species alone is how he won the DOTY, not with any upgrade that someone else may have spotted that he landed.  Regardless, all scores from all participants in previous seasons were obtained within the rules of the respective year and are not disputed.

I have heard from many divers saying that they like the new rules.  I have heard concerns from a few that this may not be conducive to group diving.  We have addressed this by just not pointing out or marking the fish for others.  I would like to hear from everybody whose participation or lack thereof is due to these rules.  We want as many participants as possible and I would like to hear what you have to say.

Thanks

Well said Rob!!

Thanks again for all your help and for stepping up to be on the DOTY committe this year.

I really appreciate it. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

That rocks! Yea Fuzz!! I'm thinking og joining in for this year, too. It sounds like a lot of fun!

But the "spotter" didn't care, he was just stoked for the diver who got the fish.

What a great thing to be so in to the discovery and hunt you will do this for a friend. Very cool indeed.

The rule changes are not in any way meant to detract from previous winners.  For instance, Big Jim was the only diver last year to land a halibut and that additional species alone is how he won the DOTY, not with any upgrade that someone else may have spotted that he landed.  Regardless, all scores from all participants in previous seasons were obtained within the rules of the respective year and are not disputed.

Well said Rob!  There is no doubt that BigJim earned the #1 spot!!  It takes a ton of dedication to put the quality of fish and species that he put up.