Scuba Diving club,
Southern California
1996
San clemente trip
San Clemente Island Freedive Trip
I just bought some new freediving equipment and got a chance
to try it all out on a club dive with Sea Sabers on the Westerly Saturday, June
22, 1996. My new gun -- The Blue Water model -- is a masterpiece made by Steve
Alexander. It has a 6 foot long 3/8 inch shaft powered by four bands. I must
say, I had trouble loading it at first and my muscles were sore the next day
just from loading/unloading it and I never did get the fourth band on the
finlet closest to the butt where it is supposed to go. I had to piggyback it on
the third finlet. I also bought a new low-volume freediving mask -- the Cressi
Sub Super Occio.
The seas had been flat all week, but the swell picked up to
over 6 feet Saturday. We were scheduled to go to Santa Barbara, but diverted to
San Clemente due to heavy seas. When we arrived, I suited up and dove into a
beautiful kelp forest. There was a lot of surge and I was beginning to feel
motion sick. My new mask was fogging because I forgot to clean off the Silicone
that comes on new masks. I began preparing for the hunt with a few short dives.
There were many large (6+ lb) Calico Bass all around like I have never seen
before. I had to keep reminding myself - ``If you shoot a Calico, a nicer game
fish will surely swim into range when your gun is unloaded'', so I resisted the
temptation. On the third surface dive, two nice White Seabass swam into the
kelp room. I take aim for the first shot on my new gun. I fired and the gun
kicked back and knocked my mask off and I missed the Seabass. I was amazed at
how far the spear traveled and when it reached the end of the shooting line, it
gave a very strong pull -- what a powerful gun. I saw four other Seabass that
dive, shot at three and missed them all. How I wished I had practiced with the
gun before this trip. I suspect the swell and the fogged mask contributed
somewhat, but it was mostly my unfamiliarity with the new gun and how to aim
it. Soon after I was on the boat, I lost my stomach contents then felt much
better. At least one third the divers lost it during or after the first dive.
This is so rare for me that I can't remember the last time I vomited.
Between dives, I borrowed some toothpaste from Jeff, the
deckhand, to clean the Silicone off my mask. I didn't get it all off the Right
lens so it continued to fog for the next dive, but I cleaned it really well
with dishwashing detergent before the third dive with no more fog problems.
The second dive, Jim (the skipper), dropped us in a sandy
area to look for Halibut. I headed towards the beach and I saw a White Seabass
swimming from the sand towards the kelp, so I decided to follow. Immediately, I
saw a large (6-7 foot) blue shark, so I decided to follow. Soon I saw several
White Seabass playing in the distance. I swam over and dove on them without
scaring them away - I took aim - and I missed - again! I was really getting
frustrated and loading the gun was work. I saw a nice Calico and decided to
take a shot -- a perfect hit. I began to feel a bit better about my skill, but
I knew time was drawing near. The shark continued to swim around underneath,
but was not interested in me or my Calico. I continued diving on my way back to
the boat looking for Halibut, but I saw nothing but bat rays. As I neared the
boat which was parked in another kelp forest, I dove and saw another White
Seabass. This time I took my time, aimed and shot -- a solid hit. He ran
pulling my floatline down to the bottom of the kelp stalk where he quickly tied
himself around the kelp base. I looked back at the boat and most the divers
were already on board. I unhooked my floatline from my buoy and dove down to
about 40 feet where the fish was tangled and pulled him through the kelp as
though I was sewing with my spear.
The third dive, we stopped near the outside of a large kelp
forest. Jim warned us to avoid the stronger current outside, but that is where
I was headed. There was baitfish everywhere. Almost immediately, I was
surrounded by a large school of legal barracuda, but I reminded myself not to
shoot (see above). Good thing too because a nice (30? lb) Yellowtail swam in
across current towards me. I reached out my gun and he darted away from me, but
then changed course back to circle around me. I rushed my shot and missed. He
continued to circle as I reloaded my gun, but took off before I got any bands
on. I saw the barracuda school twice more on this dive, but never saw another
Yellowtail or White Seabass.
Last dive, I saw another pair of big sharks, but also more White Seabass. As it was the last dive, I did shoot one of those large Calicos. Just as I had predicted, a large White Seabass swam by while I was reloading my gun. I was definitely getting used to aiming the new gun. I started back towards the boat and another White Seabass swam up from the sandy area behind me - an easy shot. This will be one of my most memorable trips.
(Home) (Boat Dives) (Buddy List) (Campouts) (Diving Links) (Dive Spots & Dive Boats) (Diving Time Line) (Email) (Meetings) (Membership) (Recipes) (Safety & Education) (News Letters AKA Snorkel Talk) (Non Sequitur) (Updates)
Posted August 30, 2003