I wonder if we need it?

When I see the title of the forum, I think its for pure freedivers, people who go up and down ropes, hold their breath until they pass out or as close as they can come to that, etc. I know that this web site has Spearfishing in its name, so I doubt we have many pure freedivers. But since I'm accustomed to Deeper Blue, which actually has a bunch of those guys and has forums for them, when I see a post to the Freediving forum, I tend to skip over it.

Then now and then I click on the thread, and see that its actually about spearfishing.

Maybe we should have threads for Freedive Spearfishing and Scuba Spearfishing? After all, we don't have a forum titled Scuba, so why have one titled Freediving? Is the implication that "normal" spearfishing is done on scuba, so its only necessary to title another forum for the exception? Most of California and the rest of the world would disagree.

But maybe its a bad idea to even have separate titled treads anyway. We have seen the struggle between scuba spearfishermen and freedive spearfisherman on Spearboard, and it seems to have generally quieted down, so maybe we don't want to highlight the difference?

If its all spearfishing, maybe we don't need a separate Freedive forum. But if we want to differentiate between freedive spearfishing and scuba spearfishing, then each kind of spearfishing should have separate and equal forums so that Freedive is not hanging out there as some sort of special case.

I hope that didn't confuse everyone else as much as it did me. Its just offered as food for thought.

I agree with Bill.

I think it more of a section to get freediving questions answered. This would include weighting, technique, gear and other stuff that might be useful. Since freediving is a thing many do without any training just to get into the sport they will have basic questions.

This is not the case with scuba. Most likely Scuba spearfishers are certified in some way and dont have questions like which snorkel is the best.

Although it is used by some members to post spearfishing reports I dont think that should be so.

I agree with ooboxer. :D

Being that it is illegal to spearfish in SCUBA in Okinawa, I am only familiar with freediving while spearfishing. I think the only thing that could present a problem with both free and scuba diver spearos is that some of the topics about free diving while spearfishing might be irrelevant to a SCUBA spearo.

I can see where the separation could be something that either party would see as convenient, but other than that, to each his own. I'm pretty sure I'd be more than willing to take my gun down for 20 or 30 minutes at a time without having to come up for air if it was legal. So no worries, I don't think one version of spearing is better than the other, its a matter of preference, availability, and for me legality. :absolut:

I think the freediving section is more about gear, techniques, and discussion of freediving and apnea. The actual shooting reports should show up on the regional thread under spearfishing. It is a discipline within spearfishing. It deserves it's own thread, much like the tech diving thread. Not that either is better than scuba, or worse, just a different set of discussions for people that are interested.

When I see the title of the forum, I think its for pure freedivers, people who go up and down ropes, hold their breath until they pass out or as close as they can come to that, etc.

It is actually so much more than this! The main things that a freediving section will bring to the table are detailed discussions regarding technique on improving apnea skills that benefit us as spearos. We clearly see members of this forum discussing Kirk's PFI courses and Martin's new FIT courses, and these discussions fall into the freediving section. Other examples of subject matter for this section are:

Apnea diet
Apnea training
In depth stereo fin analysis
Monofin discussions
Freediving computers
Diving physiology
Neoprene characteristics
Equalization technique
O2 and CO2 transfer
Contractions
Freediver safety and rescue technique

I also see this as the best section for people to learn about and understand terms such as:

Soft pallet
Epiglottis
Hypoxia vs. Hypoxemia
SBW
Samba
LMC
Packing
Valsalva manuever
The differences between disciplines such as CWT, CNF, DNF

The most important thing I believe is that through educating, it will bring additional safety to the freediving spearos and better enjoyment of the sport.

Thank you.

:)

OK, you guys have convinced me that there is another good use for the Freediving forum besides posting fish reports. I just wish people would put their fish reports in the appropriate regional forum.

I get my fish freediving, but I put the reports in the CA forum. It seems like there are some guys, at least back on Spearboard, putting fish reports from the Florida East Coast and Okinawa in the Freedive forum.

Sorry to have bothered you with my fish reports in the past Bill. ;)
The reason behind posting it in the freedive section was for other freedivers to be able to see, without having to look through all the different regions, especially since our club membership spans several states and countries... Besides that, I know I enjoy reading freediving reports, regardles of their region of origin. This made them easier to find for tohers that are like minded... To each his own.

Dive safe,

Gerald

Sorry to be a PIA Gerald. Its no big deal. This thread proves I have too much time on my hands. Once I figured out that you put your spearfishing reports in the Freedive section, then I clicked on stuff with your name on it.

I'll go diving tomorrow and stay off the board for a few hours.

Sorry to have bothered you with my fish reports in the past Bill. ;)
The reason behind posting it in the freedive section was for other freedivers to be able to see, without having to look through all the different regions, especially since our club membership spans several states and countries... Besides that, I know I enjoy reading freediving reports, regardles of their region of origin. This made them easier to find for tohers that are like minded... To each his own.

Dive safe,

Gerald

Gerald, maybe post the trip report in your regional area, then make a quick note in the freedive section as to where the trip report is for your buddies. The regional guys want to see what you caught, in what area, and what the conditions were. All good data no matter how you are harvesting.

Gerald, maybe post the trip report in your regional area, then make a quick note in the freedive section as to where the trip report is for your buddies. The regional guys want to see what you caught, in what area, and what the conditions were. All good data no matter how you are harvesting.

Thanks for the suggesteions Howie. I've been posting in the "approriate" section since this board started, and haven't done the "note" method since they would get deleted on the old site. Good suggestion though.

Bill, I was just giving you a hard time. Dive safe tomorrow. Looking forward to another blind mice sequel.

Gerald

I can't offer an opinion on which forums should be included, but I do think there needs to be some kind of separation or distinction between reports and announcements for scuba and freediving.

When I first started on spearboard I didn't know about the extent to which scuba spearfishing is practiced in the US. This led me to perceive each post and report as a freediving report. I ended up involving myself in threads that I shouldn't have. It took me some time to key in on certain phrases, like "we did our first drop.." to distinguish that this is a scuba report. It took me an even longer time and I'm still in the process of finding out who is a scuba spearfisher and who is a freediver. I can see this as being confusing to any new person entering the forum. I can also see this as a potential source of tension. From time to time you see a person from another part of the world make a first post poking at scuba spearfishers, I believe this is a product of frustration having read a bunch of reports then realizing that these guys are doing something completely different than what you had in mind.

My idea is not to stir up the differences, only to make it clearer at first glance who is doing what for the sake of harmonious coexistence. Unfortunately I have no idea how this can be done short of having scuba tanks or long fin icons next to a persons user name.

Dan

I can't offer an opinion on which forums should be included, but I do think there needs to be some kind of separation or distinction between reports and announcements for scuba and freediving.

When I first started on spearboard I didn't know about the extent to which scuba spearfishing is practiced in the US. This led me to perceive each post and report as a freediving report. I ended up involving myself in threads that I shouldn't have. It took me some time to key in on certain phrases, like "we did our first drop.." to distinguish that this is a scuba report. It took me an even longer time and I'm still in the process of finding out who is a scuba spearfisher and who is a freediver. I can see this as being confusing to any new person entering the forum. I can also see this as a potential source of tension. From time to time you see a person from another part of the world make a first post poking at scuba spearfishers, I believe this is a product of frustration having read a bunch of reports then realizing that these guys are doing something completely different than what you had in mind.

My idea is not to stir up the differences, only to make it clearer at first glance who is doing what for the sake of harmonious coexistence. Unfortunately I have no idea how this can be done short of having scuba tanks or long fin icons next to a persons user name.

Dan

There are also a lot of us who do both and wear tanks and long fins, -OK- so no I am confusing my self:D

I had the same thoughts, I freedive and tank dive. I read reports from both to learn more about techniques being used, gear, conditions, etc. I feel that the seperate rooms further divides us even though we all participate in the same sport.

I feel that the seperate rooms further divides us even though we all participate in the same sport.

I agree.

I don't hunt both ways, mostly out of conventional thought on the species over here, though I did get scuba certified years ago.

So what have we decided?:confused:

Wat do you guys think about putting an explanation under the header, something like: "This area for discussion of techniques & equipment specific to freediving. Please post trip reports in the regional areas. Thanks!"

Because of the fact that there are many differences between the 2, separate discussion areas for both are good. I have been confused as well by some posts by SCUBA spearos, so it would definitely be nice to know that a certain area pertains mainly (not totally) to the topics related to freediving. Input from SCUBA spearos should be welcomed regardless. Who is anyone to single either out entirely? Is that even possible?

I just look at todays posts or the new posts when I log on. I read the header and decide if I want to read the thread. I like to read about everything that has to do with spearfishing (Tank, Freedive, scallops, lobster,Tuna, Drum) and nothing to do with politics and relegion or how another website is slowing down to nothing or what kind of tires I should get for my Hyundai.:2gunsfiring_v1:
I just typed this whole thing while holding my breath. How is that for apnea trainning??:moon:

I just look at todays posts or the new posts when I log on. I read the header and decide if I want to read the thread. I like to read about everything that has to do with spearfishing (Tank, Freedive, scallops, lobster,Tuna, Drum) and nothing to do with politics and relegion or how another website is slowing down to nothing or what kind of tires I should get for my Hyundai.:2gunsfiring_v1:
I just typed this whole thing while holding my breath. How is that for apnea trainning??:moon:

damn gr. seeing you type with one finger that must have been a 30 minute breathe hold. awesome:smthumbup:

Man I can't slip anything past this crowd.... I had a really hard time trying to clear my ears from start to finish, which required me to squeeze my nose and only use one hand:D.....To type that is.
Seriously, I like having different forums. Keeping them seperate does not divide the spearfishing community in to "he said", "she said" scuba verses snorkels. After all, this is a spearfishing web site, not a freedive or scuba web site. Lets all learn to become better at catching fish and sharing what we have learned in the process.

Maybe we should have threads for Freedive Spearfishing and Scuba Spearfishing? After all, we don't have a forum titled Scuba, so why have one titled Freediving? Is the implication that "normal" spearfishing is done on scuba, so its only necessary to title another forum for the exception? Most of California and the rest of the world would disagree.
I'm sure a lot of the SCUBA guys have a lot to talk about. Honestly theres not much to freediving but holding your breath. SCUBAs got a ton of shit.

Honestly theres not much to freediving but holding your breath. SCUBAs got a ton of shit.

First, you shouldn't start the above statement with the word "Honestly". It implies that you can speak credibly about the subject and that you are stating a fact.

You may want to take Kirk's PFI course, Martin's FIT course, read Tery Maas's "Blue Water Hunting and Freediving", or Umberto Pelizzari's "Manual of Freediving" and then determine how innacurate that statment is. The first time I dove scuba was 1976, I became certified in 1982, and I became an instructor in 1989 at the University of Florida. As a student instructor for the academic diving program, I instructed and gave grades to other university student who took the class. It is my professional opinion that freediving is easily far, far from just holding your breath.

If you have the opportunity, call Kirk Krack or Martin Stepanek about there courses and speak to them for a few minutes regarding how in depth apnea diving is. You can certainly trust what Martin says since he was a professional commercial saturation diver for many years as well as a world record holder in freediving.

:)