Basic Spearfishing Course
(left and middle: the first ever catch of former students that got instructed by Wolfgang - right: Herbert Nitsch with a 25kg GT)
Instructs competent and comfortable freedivers in the art of spearfishing with focus on safety, selectivity, and environmental and local aspects. Instruction will cover a wide range of aspects that all put together will contribute to a safe and successful spearfishing experience.
Prerequisites
- 20m Constant weight
- 2:30 minutes static (swimming pool) or 1:30 divetime for 20m dives
- Good health and fitness (stronger current on day 3)
- Minimum 19 years of age with guardian permission
Equipment required
Wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, timing device/freediving computer, gloves and knife.
Rubber weight belt and weights provided for free.
Check out our Webshop and ask for speargun sale/rental
You will also need a speargun. You can bring your own, or travel light and rent one of our spearguns (let us know ahead)
Format
Basic Spearfishing is held over 3-days, 8-hrs / day
2 classroom sessions
1 pool sessions
3 open water sessions (1 without gun, 1 reef fishing, 1 pelagic day)
Price US$445.00 (only 3 places per date available)
and includes the following:
- Personalized instructions
- 1 instructor/assistant : max 3 student divers ratio (in-water)
- Basic Spearfishing Student Manual
- 1 Pool, 3 Classroom sessions
- 3 Open Water instructions (1 without spear-gun)
- Hands on experience with spearfishing equipment
- Rental of 1 VHF radio per buddy team
- Rubber weightbelt+weights
- All boat fees (Day 1-3)
- All transportation to and from the dive site/boat starting place
- Fish preparation (not included drinks, side dishes)
Excludes: spear-gun rental; buoy rental, dive equipment rental
Payment Terms:
a 300US$ PayPal Down payment is required to secure a spot
Date
2012, May 15-18 if fully booked there will be another course May 29 - June 1
Schedule
DAY 1 - Training day
9:00am - 11:00am: Classroom
Introduction & Registration
Geographical Orientation
Local Marine Environment
Rules and Regulations
Dangerous Marine Life + Brief First Aid Info's
Shallow water blackout
20 freediving safety rules
buddy system
rescue procedures for freediving
Types of Hunting
Fish ID and Behavior
Ethics, Conservation and public relations
11:00 Small lunch (not included in the price)
12:00 Transfer to the divesite
1 pm Boat ride to one of the best dive spots (snapper, grouper, big resident school of jacks)
2pm-4pm “No kill” - spearfishing training
Training of aspeto “waiting” technique to get closer to fish
Body language and streamlining
Descending and ascending without spooking away fish
4:30-5:30 Giant Trevally watching (if available)
Swim in a fishpond full of massive Giant Trevally and/or Milkfish
8pm-10pm Static apnea in a natural hot spring
DAY 2 - Reef Hunting
9:00 - 10:30 Classroom
Hunting Ethics
Spearfishing Equipment
Spearfishing Safety
Aiming principles
Equipment setup and spear-gun testing on stationary targets
Aiming and Shot Placement training
12:30 Small lunch
13:15 Transfer to dive site
14:00 - 17:30 Reef Hunting
Applying all learned skills under close supervision
Changing buddy teams
19:00 Fish Dinner
usually between DAY 2 and DAY 3 will be one day rest
DAY 3 - Pelagic Day
Detailed briefing the night before or early in the morning
Whole day spearfishing trip to offshore structures
6-8 hours fishing trip (4-6 hours in the water!) to one of the best spots for big pelagics in the Philippines
Starting time depends on tide table (early 5-6am start possible)
⅓ of the catch of the day will be donated to locals and/or the boatman
19:00 Dinner
(All fish caught are eaten, and if it is a big catch we invite our hosts and friends)
Additional Info's
- Already experienced spear fishers can join, but have to follow the whole 3 days to ensure all are properly educated and briefed for all activities.
- Breaking rules, aggressive, non cooperative or “Rambo” behaviour will not be tolerated and divers will be expelled after 1 warning.
