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So you’ve decided to take the plunge (so to speak) and take up spearfishing, but where do you begin. First of all learn the local regulations, in NSW you cannot spear on SCUBA, and you must have a fishing license if you are over 18. A visit to the NSW fisheries (or your local state) site will also be a good starting point for information. There are certain species you are not allowed to spear and there are certain species you would not bother.. There are any number of spearfishing clubs, check in your area if there is one.... There are even spearfishing competitions. If you are interested in the competition side of things you could send us a note and we will let you know if there is one in your area.
Starting with the basics; the first choice, for someone new to the sport, is 'Software' or in layman terms - mask, snorkel, fins and a gun. BUT where do you start? It does not matter which dive centre you go to they will all tell you the same thing, the brands they sell are the best, so how do you know what to purchase, if you could try first that would be ideal. But no one seems to do that, one option is to talk to others who already spear, and see what they use. The equipment we mention here is the equipment our ‘core group’ of regular divers use and as such come with our recommendations.
Masks
The same rules apply when selecting a spearing mask as for scuba. Having a well fitting and comfortable mask is imperative. If your mask doesn't fit it can ruin a good dive or snorkel. Masks come in three main materials Rubber; silitex and silicone. When we are showing clients through mask selection, we usually run them through these pointers - The best mask is not necessarily the most expensive, it is the one that seals - (ask the shop to show you how to do the sniff test) and feels most comfortable on your face. In order of importance for selecting a suitable mask for spearfishing, as far as we are concerned
Fit/comfort, Colour, Material and finally Price .
It does not matter (too much) how much money you spend on a mask if it does not seal or fit properly, it is of little use.
Other factors in selecting a mask for spearfishing is low volume is the preferred choice by most. A low volume mask sits close to the face and allows for easier clearing and a wider field of vision. As you dive under the water the pressure of the water will force the mask to ‘suck’ onto your face - the lower the volume of the mask the less air you have to exhale to equalise the pressure in the mask.
Black silicone skirt as opposed to clear liquid silicone skirt. A black silicone mask blocks out the light and thus makes it easier to focus, less distraction when focusing on that perfect fish. Ideal for underwater photography or spearfishing. A clear skirted mask allows more light in and some find this less confining.
The final concern is colour all masks come in a variety of colours and the choice is up to you.
We sell more of the Oceanic Shadow or Mini Shadow Mask than all our other brands combined.
Snorkels
There are three different types of snorkel
The J valve; The rigid purge valve The drop away purge valve.
The Drop away is more commonly used for scuba diving, the rigid purge has the benefit of being cheap, and the J valve (not necessarily the one pictured) is the more commonly used by spearos, but when it comes down to it - it is personal choice. Prices are anywhere from $10 upwards
Fins
Fins come in two main styles open heel and closed heel. The main differences being closed heel are great for spearfishing and snorkelling but not so good for scuba - Why? you may ask -our explanation is. When you are scuba diving you are carrying between 20 and 25 kg of weight - wandering over the rocks is real uncomfortable when you are barefooted and besides that its hard to hop and say 'oh darn' when you have kicked your big toe on a rock while wearing full scuba kit. Hence open heeled fins with boots.
Closed Heel Fins. Closed heel fins are ideal for snorkelling and spearfishing because you are not carrying the excess weight of scuba. Our recommendations are select a closed heel fin which is comfortable, with a soft foot pocket that is not too tight - a pocket which is too tight can cause leg cramps when you are finning, also can lead to blisters. On the other hand a pocket which is too big has a possibility of the fin floating off during use. When purchasing a long bladed spearfishing fin look to the brand which has replaceable blades. You will find that replaceable blades give you a couple of options; one you can purchase blades which are of different stiffness. Two when you snap a blade (which invariably happens) you only have to replace the blade and not the entire fin.
Open Heeled Fins. Open heeled fins are the more commonly used fin for scuba diving, when selecting make sure that the foot pocket fits the boots you have selected. The boot does not have to disappear all the way into the pocket, the pocket should not be too tight across the top of the boot, and definitely not too loose. We have always recommended that where possible trial a couple of different pairs of open heel fins. The one flaw in using the open heeled fins is the possibility of the fins tangling in your spear gun rigging.
Boots/Socks
The standard style dive boot is not commonly utilise by spearfisherman, most will use a dive sock usually of some type of neoprene 3 or 5 mm. They start at around $25 and go up in price from there. Why use socks? They offer protection from your fin pocket rubbing and creating blisters, they also offer thermal protection from the cold.
Miscellaneous
There is a myriad of equipment which comes into this category. I would say the first in the list is diving knives. The knife is the most commonly lost piece of dive equipment. Our popular sellers page has a few styles which we have no qualms in saying are okay. Floats and float lines there are a number of variants here - float should be bright in colour - orange, red, yellow and have a flag. There are two internationally recognised dive flags. Float lines are used for a couple of reasons - they attach your gun to your float; and two a great place to store all the fish you have caught.
Guns
The big question which one is the correct one for me... there is no simple answer to this one. What exactly are you wanting to do with it. Rock hops or blue water shooting, pelagic fish or reef species. Timber, alloy, carbon, and of course your level of experience, and how much do you want to spend.The best answer to these questions is to contact us and we will give you the best information we can to suit your needs. Or look into coming along to one of our equipment nights to have a look at what is available
Wetsuits
Another big question - 2 piece or 1 piece. Camouflage or solid colour; 5m or 3m; slickskin lining, jersey or plush lined. A basic 3m 1 piece suit starts at about $105. A 2 piece, 3 mm cammo suit such as the seatec pictured is only $525 off the rack, and can be made to measure for an extra charge. There are untold numbers of suits available and like everything else confusing. Our opinion The Seatec Eclipse 3mm 2piece hard wearing and MADE IN OZ. Overall this suit has come up time after time with 100% positive feedback, from the regular spearos who have used a number of different brands of suit.
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