equipment advice

Hi guys...
I am looking at getting into spear fishing and doing more free diving etc and was wondering if I could get some advice on gear?

since I am just starting out I am not loking for anything too extravagant, ut would like to know some failry reputable brands to be looking at.
have reasonable mask, fins could use an upgrade, definitely need a speargun.
also with the speargun, what features would generally be adviseable for a newbie? ive noted a lot of different lengths etc, railguns, line clips....

Any advice greatly appreciated!
chhers!


Posts: 4561

Date Joined: 01/02/10

1100 is a good size for an

Mon, 2018-03-19 16:43

1100 is a good size for an all round gun. Rob Allen and Freedivers are a couple of guns that I use that have a good rep.

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Feral's picture

Posts: 1508

Date Joined: 01/11/06

 depends on where your going

Mon, 2018-03-19 21:43

 depends on where your going to dive too,  if around reef areas stick to a short 900-1000 size gun.  If blue water is more your thing then 1300+. Rob Allen is a good brand as you can easily upgrade muzzle etc later and it not horribly expensive.  jump on Adreno and have a look at fins,  any of the $100-150 free diving fins will be fine (the foot pockets are the only bit you need to worry about so if you can try a few at a local shop that's a good idea) 

Oh as an after thought DONT buy a reel for your spear gun that shit will cause you more issues as a new spearo than anything else.  If your diving the deep blue then get a float line,  if in shallow just put 1 extra wrap of line on the gun if you need it (you probably won't)

Posts: 935

Date Joined: 26/03/17

cheers! any preference

Tue, 2018-03-20 11:53

cheers! any preference whether to go for fins with the pocket, or ones u can clip on with booties?

Madmerv's picture

Posts: 672

Date Joined: 24/01/15

Strap ons

Tue, 2018-03-20 12:47

 I always prefered the strap as you can use them bootie free if diving in warm water but if you dive anywhere that is a bit chill (perth) then IMO booties are a must to keep those toes warm. If you change out the thickness or even type of bootie then adjustments are needed.

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 Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !

Posts: 4561

Date Joined: 01/02/10

 I use booties for scuba.

Tue, 2018-03-20 14:10

 I use booties for scuba. Totally different type of thrust required though. 

Long freediving fins use a footpocket. Adreno has good pricing and quick freight. 

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Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?

Madmerv's picture

Posts: 672

Date Joined: 24/01/15

Freediving

Tue, 2018-03-20 18:53

 Yep forgot the freediving part of his post.

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 Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !

Yarzi's picture

Posts: 15

Date Joined: 14/02/12

I have a spare Gun

Wed, 2018-03-21 02:32

 Hi Sea Goat,  I have 6 Rob Allen rail guns ranging from 1m to 1.6m.  If the water is mirky and shallow like around reefs etc ill use the 1m.  If Im out wide diving deep in cleaner water need more punch so ill use the 1.6m with a float.

My uncle lives about 90km from the Rob Allen factory so when ever someone visits I stock up on gear.  I have a spare 1.2m rail gun, been used on 1 trip by a mate.  I can put a new rubber and and throw in a new spear, if ur interested send me a PM.  

Yarzi

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 Why do people buy s#*t they dont need to impress people they don't like!

Simon5.7's picture

Posts: 45

Date Joined: 26/12/17

 Hi Sea Goat, beware once you

Fri, 2018-03-30 08:35

 Hi Sea Goat, beware once you get into freedive spearfishing it becomes very addictive and your normal above water fishing activities may diminish significantly

with fins I'd recommend buying proper freedive fins with a foot pocket as they provide best propulsion and use less energy than other conventional fins. As mentioned earlier though upto $150 will get you a decent set of beginners fins

with your speargun definitely get a rail gun and I'd also suggest using a float line initially as you can always upgrade the gun to add a reel later on. 

I've got guns of different lengths, with and without reels but find the one I use pretty much 95% of the time is my 1300 Beuchat Marlin Oceania I bought about a year or so ago from Adreno on special for about $350. That also came with a reel and line at that price but I prefer to use a float line with this gun. I use this setup for both reef and Bluewater hunting and its accuracy at any range is brilliant 

the 1200 Rob Allen that Yarzi mentions above would be an excellent gun as well. One of our dive crew uses that exact gun with a twin 16mm rubber setup that gives it an excellent range that sees him slay plenty of macks 

what you can't buy off a shelf though is experience so it might be worthwhile joining one of the spearing clubs in town. There are 2 in Bluewater Freedivers and the WA Undersea club

Both have plenty of keen spearos that are happy to share their knowledge on how to get the most out of the sport and most importantly how to dive safely

good luck 

Posts: 935

Date Joined: 26/03/17

thanks heaps for the info

Wed, 2018-04-04 14:56

thanks heaps for the info guys...will definitely look into those groups. doing a freediving course next weekend so hopefully will learn some of the basic safety tips! tried a few guns for size in stores and reckon will go a 1.1m to start with until I get used to the loading etc... now to save for a shark shield! ;)