Dive suits and spearguns

  Hi NCKA brothers and sisters!!

Nick and I absolutely fell in love with diving and now it's time to start investing into our new hobby. Wanted to get some different opinions on dive gear!

wetsuits:
 I was planning on getting a cool camo 2 piece wetsuit but someone working at a dive shop told me that they are made with rubber inside and glued so it's a little harder to get in and out of and they get holes in them easier than the wetsuits that are the same material inside and out. Plus more expensive

But then someone told me that trying to paddle your kayak in a 7mm one piece wetsuit will leave you with rashes and sores. So please share your experiences with wetsuits and kayak diving and let me know what direction you think I should go...


Spear guns:
We don't even know where to begin...
Should we rent one from Petaluma dive shop (ab biller 36) and then go from there? Should we buy one new or used? How much should we be spending? What length should we get? Brands? We are just beginners so we don't want to spend a ton of money but we also want to invest in a good gun since we plan diving for a while.

Would love to hear everyone's 2 cents?
Thank you

Hi Annie,

I started with a 7mm open cell farmer john wetsuit because I dive. Then I acquired a kayak thinking my wetsuit can be used in both activity. I used it for 3 kayak trips and found it too hot to bear. Plus it is very hard to relief when it comes the time.

i now have dive suit and Kokatat dry suit. Loved both in its own activity.

Speargun I used a 70cm. It worked ok. a little too long for hole/crack hunting. good for shooting while you re at surface to reach further. Best speargun I used was borrowed from BigJim, a patho laser 60cm. right size for hole hunting.

Annie,

There are plenty of more knowledgeable divers on here so feel free to take anything I say with a grain of salt.

1. 2 piece 7mm freedive suit is the way to go. I started in one piece SCUBA suits and eventually some NCKA buddies felt sorry for me and chipped in $ and got me a Yazbeck freedive suit. Night and day!! I then got an Omer and just got a new Subcraft. I'm in love with the new Subcraft but am always in love with new toys. 

2. You can, and I pretty much always do, leave/take off top part of suit for the paddle out and back. You will be way more comfy and sweat less and have more energy for when you get to your spot. Lube the top up on shore and shove inside yak and then just put on once you are clipped up at your spot. No rashes or sores at all.

This is the suit I have now:

http://www.redtrianglespearfishing.com/collections/wetsuits/products/subcraft-open-cell-7mm-wetsuit

3. I started off with a little pneumatic, then the standard AB Biller then a small Riffe...all the while more experienced divers were telling me to get a euro style rail gun. I resisted cuz I'm a dummy and thought I knew better (I guess that's why...who knows  ) . Now I use a euro style rail gun and would be super bummed if I had to go back to one of my previous guns. 

The Rob Allen 70 is very popular and I used it for several years and killed a ton of fish, and had a great time with it. I tried out a Pathos 75 and 60 this year and have been super happy with both. The 75 is a killer all around gun for up here I think, and the 60 is VERY cool for tight holes and close quarters.

http://www.redtrianglespearfishing.com/collections/frontpage/products/pathos-laser-open-pro

4. You can find good deals on gear in several places...my buddy Matt (Damanij on here) and his wife Suzie own Red Triangle Spearfishing and have some great gear in stock and can offer advice on different options as well.

Whatever way you go gear wise, just let us (NCKA) know what we can do to help you out with your new adventure. I learned (and still learn!) a LOT from other members on here so am more than happy to try and repay the favor by helping out with the learning curve.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Start cheap, don't listen to Jim hes overated. You will lose gear here and there. Get super comfy first then spend the big bucks like he does.

Start cheap, don't listen to Jim hes overated. You will lose gear here and there. Get super comfy first then spend the big bucks like he does.

 

Starting cheap with rental or borrowed gear is great advice until you are least sure you want to drop $$ on gear.

Then (IMO) it's game on.

 

Course....I used to have so much mis-matched gear that Andy and Joe bloodbath used to call me Rainbow Bright.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

My yazbeck 2-piece neoprene suit is comfortable, flexible, warm, and perfectly suited to diving and paddling. It's a little fragile, yeah... but neoprene glue works well for all the small holes and tears you'll inevitably start seeing. I think the important thing with the suit is to try it on, first. Freedive shop in west sac is great for this, if you're ever in the area.

I love my rob allen gun for it's accuracy, power, and durability. A lot of people seem to start with a 70, but I find that an 80 gives you a nice bit of range while still being useful for hole hunting.

You're starting from scratch, though, so it definitely doesn't hurt to rent/borrow equipment until you get a feel for what's right for you. Good luck!

I don't know if I'd say Jim is overrated but he definitely has questionable taste in beer and music.

I'd follow his first post on gear though......buy once cry once.  That and there's a world of difference between good gear and starter gear, especially when it comes to wetsuits.

andy is loco.....you're not gonna lose a wetsuit while diving

No......but I have a garage full of awesome brand new dive gear


I'll be in the water Saturday foo.

No......but I have a garage full of awesome brand new dive gear


I'll be in the water Saturday foo.

Change your screename to Exyakanddive.

I'll be in the water Saturday foo...


Ive had a change of plans. Gonna kill some stuff instead.

You need to end the lunchtime 12pack my man

 

All joking aside...whatever gear you get, just get out there and dive and have fun!!

The more time you spend in and under the water the more comfy you will be and the more fun you will have...

And don't give up or get discouraged when you have days that are rough!!

Missing shots, getting skunked, having weight issues (too much/too little on belt), leaky mask, ears/mask/sinus clearing issues, kelp struggles, swallowing water and getting sick etc are all totally normal for folks just getting started...and are really all just part of the process. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Sounds like you need a complete package, not just a suit and a gun. I recommend you get the right kind of gear now (not necessarily cheap or expensive, there are various models and options for the right price)

I'm not good enough to be sponsored and get free stuff to evaluate so I don't endorse any particular vendors/brands  here are what I use

1) suit: 2-piece open cell with built-in hood, 7mm
2) glove: Kevlar lined, 3 mm
3) socks: 5mm
4) fins: long
5) fins keepers: must have
6) mask: low (or medium low) volume
7) snorkel: simple J style
** Notice that you get fins, mask, snorkel separately, don't get the so called 'snorkeling' package in cute colors
8 ) snorkel keeper: do not get a plastic clip that will break and or fall off
9) gun: 60 mm (the best all around for our waters)
10) anti fog spray: despite what others may say, spit does not work well
11) belt: rubber
12) weights: those with straight through holes (better to be under than over)
13) kelp clip: must have
14) weight belt stringer: must have, keep it tight

There are other things like flash lights, larger stringers, etc...

James

Tooth paste works just as well as anti fog
Make sure you try on your gear.
Redtrianglespearfishing is legit.
Have an extra measuring device and iron if abb diving.

I rented my first season them slowly purchased good equipment over time and rented less and less.

Weight- start out low and work your way up and down in weight.  Everyone's body density is diffrent.  A 160lbs guy with a 7mm suit could take 28lbs when another only takes 21...