want to ab dive for first time

I have a wet suit, kayak, buddies that dive and im going to fish timber cove sunday 23rd and from my research abs are open in august. Is that a good ab area? Might as well turn it I to a fish n dive trip I reckon? Any way to predict visability? Info appreciated.

I have a wet suit, kayak, buddies that dive and im going to fish timber cove sunday 23rd and from my research abs are open in august. Is that a good ab area? Might as well turn it I to a fish n dive trip I reckon? Any way to predict visability? Info appreciated.

TC is a very good spot for a beginner ab dive.

Buy your report card/tags and follow the rules and have some fun!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

ps...you say you have a wetsuit...do you also have gloves/booties, mask/snorkel, fins, iron/gauge/floatline etc?

If not you may want to consider renting or borrowing to give it a try for your first time before dropping $ to buy. 

Good luck and looking forward to your report on your first ab dive.
Have fun and be safe

Sounds like you are on the right path.  I started with just an ab gauge and ab iron.  It was not that hard to manage, but the experience got better when I added a float line to mark spots with.  Elastic wrist bands attached to gage and iron can help save your life if you get one stuck you can pull your arm out pretty easy.  For a couple bucks they are one of the most essential things you should have unless you attach to float line and never on your wrists.  A knife is also important as I have been stuck in kelp and in fishing line before and luckily didn't panic. 

After I got the ab thing down I added a speargun to the mix and then the kayak.

Hopefully the friends you are going with give you all the right info and make sure you will have all the gear you might need. 

Make sure your weight is proper before going out on the kayak.  Put the belt on and walk into the water.  Know how to release with one hand and be prepared to ditch if you get in trouble.  Make sure you don't sink with the weight you have on.  You should be able to exhale and sink slightly to where your mask is near water level.  But when you inhale your head should be above water.  Being uncomfortable out there and treading water will wear you out fast.

Im feelin the positive vibes...I just might invest in a good goggle and flippers and give it hell. No use in not doing it  

Great info and scaling for weight belt DG thanks alot man...im 6'2 190...any weight belt weight recommendations for my height and weight so I know what to rock?

Great info and scaling for weight belt DG thanks alot man...im 6'2 190...any weight belt weight recommendations for my height and weight so I know what to rock?

Usually start with 10 percent of your weight (19 lbs for 190) and have an extra 5 lbs. that you can add or remove if needed.  I also have a couple ankle weights and a removable 2.5 lb weight I can add to the belt without removing it in areas with a lot of surge.  The deeper you go and the more relaxed you get the less weight you will need.  So you may need more in the beginning.  This just a starting place.  Each suit I have is a little different on how buoyant it is.  Don't just get 5 or 10 lb weights.  If you get a couple 2 or 3 lb weights you can mix and match and dial it in better. 

Dang!
Super info, I wish I'd of had you guys as a resource when I started way-back-when!!! Could  have saved a lot (and I DO mean a lot) of trial and error.

Dang!
Super info, I wish I'd of had you guys as a resource when I started way-back-when!!! Could  have saved a lot (and I DO mean a lot) of trial and error.

Yeah me too.  I learned on my own and then started to improve with help from others who had experience.  Still learning. 

Dang!
Super info, I wish I'd of had you guys as a resource when I started way-back-when!!! Could  have saved a lot (and I DO mean a lot) of trial and error.

Yeah me too.  I learned on my own and then started to improve with help from others who had experience.  Still learning.

Yep, that. I think I've improved a lot as a direct result of the great stories and reports here.

I love learning, especially about fishing and diving. I've learned so much here and amongst the people of NCKA. It's kept me going and I'm thankful.

after a bit of reading threads on here and doing some reading-I got to go at this years Albion...what a blast and great eating--me and another member went and got our first abs ever---I  would love to live closer

one tip I got was to make 100% sure you have zip ties and a working pen as soon you hit shore-- it is a no flex stiff fine to leave the beach with  non tagged abs --may be wording this wrong---

I was very happy after my first dive!!
god luck and post some pics!!!

After over a weeks planning my buddy flaked on me late last night cuz he needed "rest" sunday instead of our first tc trip/my first ab dive.cool bro. Im a welder/ironworker dont talk to me about rest, rest when your dead. Anyway super buzz kill but I have my ab card now and gear so all is well. Fished tomales solo all...day...long for two missed takedowns ( bait was bigger herring head hooked, not having a tail trailer hook cost me 2 fish). Learned a ton more about tomales on the plus side. Even heard some elk bugling on the west bank suprisingly! Anchovies literally everywhere and some halibut. They are the there. Fish on!

After over a weeks planning my buddy flaked on me late last night cuz he needed "rest" sunday instead of our first tc trip/my first ab dive.cool bro. Im a welder/ironworker dont talk to me about rest, rest when your dead. Anyway super buzz kill but I have my ab card now and gear so all is well. Fished tomales solo all...day...long for two missed takedowns ( bait was bigger herring head hooked, not having a tail trailer hook cost me 2 fish). Learned a ton more about tomales on the plus side. Even heard some elk bugling on the west bank suprisingly! Anchovies literally everywhere and some halibut. They are the there. Fish on!

Tomales Point (the ridge that makes up the western shore of Tomales Bay) is a Tule Elk preserve. They're literally everywhere on the point. Pretty cool to hike out onto the point and watch them out there on the coastal bluffs.

After over a weeks planning my buddy flaked on me late last night cuz he needed "rest" sunday instead of our first tc trip/my first ab dive.cool bro. Im a welder/ironworker dont talk to me about rest, rest when your dead. Anyway super buzz kill but I have my ab card now and gear so all is well. Fished tomales solo all...day...long for two missed takedowns ( bait was bigger herring head hooked, not having a tail trailer hook cost me 2 fish). Learned a ton more about tomales on the plus side. Even heard some elk bugling on the west bank suprisingly! Anchovies literally everywhere and some halibut. They are the there. Fish on!

What a bummer. Well, now you have all the gears and mindset, watch out for hook up.
I can take you out if my time allows.

Ya def pm me or let me know!