XtremeSpearfishing - Articles

Aseptic Oste-necrosis of the Diver

2008-04-28T11:39:00-05:00

...Among other consequences, one of the manifestations of the decompression disease is what’s denominated vascular necrosis Disbaric Osteonecrosis, or Ischemic Osteonecrosis or plainly; bone death. (Greek “baros” pressure or weight) by exposure to high pressure breathing gases while in immersion underwater…

TOO BIG TO BOAT

2008-04-26T03:18:00-05:00

I was hanging at about 20 feet and ready to give up for the day when I was shocked by this massive form moving toward me out of the murk. Shark? Too thick, wrong shape and open mouth but no teeth. I wasn’t sure what it was, but probably one of those mystical meros that I had heard about. He checked me out as possible food and started to turn away and down. I thoroughly and carefully considered all the ramifications of shooting this unexpected fish, for a long time--- at least for one second ---- and swung my gun, tensed my arms, and squeezed off the shot---BAM-

Portuguese Man-of-War

2008-04-22T20:50:00-05:00

Known in Spanish as “Agua Mala (bad water)” or “Barquito Portuguese” (Little Portuguese Boat – due to its resemblance to old Portuguese war sailboats), or in English as “Jellyfish” or more commonly “Portuguese Man-of-War”, when it actually is neither a boat, nor water, nor fish, nor jelly, nor Portuguese.

The Physalia is a hydrozoa of gelatinous appearance shaped like an Argon gas filled balloon. The animal is of a reddish or violet-hued translucent blue color, between 3 and 12 inches (9-30 cm) long…

CAUGHT IN THE RUSH

2008-03-26T22:54:00-05:00

We were relaxed, floating along and diving down into the bait, expecting a big Pargo to appear at any moment. As we neared the point, we kept our faces in the water watching below, fascinated, as the bait was going off, and everything was perfect---- until I looked up. In literally one instant, my mental state went from peaceful, calm, and relaxed ----to freaked out and scared stiff…

A Fish of a Lifetime

2008-02-22T13:33:00-05:00

The divers of Team Head-Hunter have been out on the Gulf of Mexico many times, but this trip was special. Never before had perfect weather, perfect timing, perfect planning and perfect gear come together to let them catch “THE FISH OF A LIFETIME”.

What you should or must know about Shallow Water Blackout

2008-02-12T20:01:01-05:00

“El Blackout”. Lo que Ud. tiene que saber.

Ya hemos tratado ciertos aspectos generales del blackout anteriormente veamos ahora sus causas. Cuando el cerebro sufre la falta parcial de oxigeno, (hipoxia) por la disminución en el torrente sanguíneo del contenido de este gas esencial para la vida es que se presentan los síntomas precursores. Si esta falta llegara a ser total (anoxia) puede haber daño irreversible, en mayor o menor grado, a las células cerebrales (neuronas) independientemente que la victima sobreviva.

Big Game Hunting in the Ocean

2007-12-10T14:42:00-05:00

A Year at Aliwal Shoal

2007-12-08T14:39:00-05:00

Natal Combined Trials

2007-12-07T14:36:00-05:00

At the inaugural meeting of GSUC, I indicated that I would be going down to Natal to get some diving in. The words were no sooner out of my mouth before the Punisher and the Penetrator were on board! There was just no way I was going to skipper while they dived, so a quick call was made to Kassie and he agreed to be Buggy/Topman. The weather sites were watched very closely and in spite of really bad weather at the start of the week, everything seemed to indicate that the last of the SW fronts would be passed before we arrived.

My Mentorship Program

2007-12-06T14:30:00-05:00

When you get into a sport, it is because you find something exciting or challenging about it. Perhaps it is discovering new things or overcoming challenges. It is rare that you approach participation with a game-plan.

However, as you improve, you look at extending your boundaries. Whether that be competing, diving deeper or looking for particular species or sizes…

WAHOO ON THE ROCKS

2007-11-29T17:00:00-05:00

We went back to the place where earlier, I had seen the seven bohala, thinking there might be a big one down deep. I was cruising along looking down and when I looked up I had an awesome surprise! Was that a wahoo just under the surface right in front of me? I have never seen nor heard of wahoo here, and this unexpected encounter delayed my action for a split second…

TUG OF WAR TILL DEATH

2007-11-07T11:35:01-05:00

October is usually a mild month in the Bay of Panama but not in 2007. Since we had not dived for three months we were really ready and anxious to get back in the ocean and shoot some fish. The trip to the US to get married and show Michelle around, had been fun, but we both missed the ocean and the challenge of our diving adventures. We could not wait to be sleeping in our panga again, under a tarp, in the middle of an all night tropical rainstorm. We had already waited a couple of weeks for the winds to calm, but we finally lost our patience and decided the weather forecast for the virtual buoy locations had to be wrong

DOUBLE TROUBLE

2007-11-07T11:34:00-05:00

We wanted to get in one more trip to the Perlas Islands before we went back to the US for a couple of months with Michelle’s new fiancee visa. We know from experience that five day panga trips to the Perlas work best with three people, one in the boat and two diving, but it is hard to find a dive buddy with the time, and one that has experience with boats and the ocean. Also it seems strange, but some people just can’t get into the fun of sleeping on the floor of a tossing panga with the ocassional night time raging winds, lightning and torrential rains. I guess they just worry too much about the small stuff. But a phone call from the interior solved our dive buddy problem. Elsy had a few weeks and wanted to come stay with us again, and was excited when we told her she could come on a dive trip with us.

PUSH BUTTON DIVING

2007-11-07T11:33:00-05:00

Wasted -Wiped out...Three or four long diving days in a panga, constant sun, wind, waves, not enough food or rest, and a zillion drops into the deep, pushing a long breath hold. We were tired at the end of this trip and even a young diver like Michelle was toasted. We were dirty, salty and fishy, had a ton of wet gear, it was getting late, and we were too tired and it was too dangerous to make the 8 hour night drive back to Panama. We could get a hotel but the idea of unloading the truck and carrying all the heavy coolers, wet bags and smelly gear from the truck to the room did not sound good. What could we do?------ A Push Button !…

DEADEYES AND DARK WATERS

2007-11-07T11:32:00-05:00

Thank heaven, because after 8 hours of driving, our new luxury accommodations turned out to be the cement floor of a concrete block house with an outhouse and an outdoor sink with running water that drained directly onto your feet. However, the life savers, were electricity for the two fans we brought, and the running water we could rig into a shower using the ropes and tarp we brought with us…