Fitness & Stamina
Perhaps one of the greatest dangers that spearos face are themselves. In freediving the diver exposes himself to a foreign environment, where the water is often cold, where strong currents and surf are prevalent, and the diver pushes himself to extreme depths in search of quarry. Overestimating one’s ability in these circumstances is an enormous risk and a very real danger.
- Stay in shape and be honest about your conditioning. You may have been able to easily hunt at 90 ft in the past, but this may have changed, and you don’t want to discover your overconfidence at a dangerous depth.
- Use a dive computer, particularly one that shows depth and bottom time. In good viz, and in exciting conditions, it is easy to get carried away and dive deeper than you were intending to or can handle. With a computer you will always be aware of your bottom time.
- We recommend that you be strict and disciplined and mentally plan your dive time at the surface. Don’t extend your bottom-time longer than you had planned, and DO NOT swim after fish on your way to the surface. This is the dive segment where you are at your most vulnerable.
- Don’t underestimate how exhausting diving is. Studies reveal that active freediving burns more than 1000 calories / hr, (akin to woodchopping) so replace lost energy by rehydrating and eating sensibly.
- Be aware that any activity rapidly burns oxygen. If you are fighting a fish towards the surface, trying to free a spear, retrieving lost weight belts or wrestling holed up fish, you may lose anywhere from 20-50% of your normal bottom time.
Please review the following safety sections carefully before using Sumora dive gear:
