CURRENTS IN SPEARFISHING – SAFETY COMING BACK TO THE SHORE
Many times we want to go spearfishing but we do not take care about the weather forecast or study first the place we are going to fish. In this small article we are going to see some dangers or complications we could have with currents and waves and how to avoid or to solve them.
The main problems we can find in our journeys are:
- Currents
- Winds
- Changing weather conditions. From a calm day to waves, wind…
We are going to see how they affect us, if the weather is going to change and have always a safe place to go out of the sea.
First of all is checking the weather forecast. It is important to know if the wind will start blowing when we will be spearfishing. Or if a storm or big waves are coming. There are many websites where we can check that: www.windguru.com and similar ones use to work fine.
Very important is checking the tides. Not only for safety reasons but for spearfishing and where to look for the fish. The tides will give us a lot of information about currents. In big tides (when the difference between low tide and high tide is big) use to be stronger currents. As less difference the currents will be weaker as there is less amount of water moving. And take note that the currents (the ones that depends on tides) are weak or even disappear when we are reaching the high and the low tide. Being stronger in the middle.
It is important checking the nautical chart of the place we are going to dive. You can find a link in our main page. We can study it and have an idea about shores, points with currents…
Close to a cape or a point that goes into the sea. Usually in capes and these points use to be currents. Stronger when in each side of this cape there are deeper grounds and in the cape is shallower. These currents are stronger in the cape and they go weaker when we go to deeper grounds. We can see an example in the image (Cape Prior)
When there are shores, islands or channels. Between the shore and a spot in the sea with shore ground is easy to find current. They appear because of the narrow place so the water flows faster there. As we are going further from this narrow spot they weak. We can see a good example in the image.
Another dangerous spot would be in the bays. The water inside the bays flows in and out in each tide. So where the bay gets narrower and in some other points the current can be strong. Specially in the spots where are a bottleneck.
We must understand that all the water that is flowing goes faster at these points as the same amount of water must go in a narrower point. Be very careful as these points can be very dangerous. The same happens in the deep changes. So when there is deeper and goes to a shallow place the current will increase. We can find this very often in Ireland as it is plenty of small bays. If we check the nautical chart and google earth (or maps) we can find and study them before going into the water. In these spots the tide is very important as we saw before.
In shores and island with waves we can find a different king of current. Is the one that appears when the wave brakes. And disappear very fast as we move away from them.
In all these situations the most important is not panicking. Currents are usual. We will find them in a lot of our dives and if we know how to do won´t be a big trouble (unless exceptional situations)
The basic rule is not to fight a current, unless it is a weak current and we are 100% sure that we can fight it. We must be in a good shape and having a good equipment (very important our fins) so we can swim and reach the spot we want. It is very important as if we have a cramp or if we got tired we couldn´t fight it so would be dangerous.
As we said the most important is not fight the current unless we know we can. We will use the current to move us to the spot we want. Usually we will go to the shore. Take note that close to the shore (1-2m) the current almost disappear, so we could come back along the shore (or just go out and come back walking) So we will go in diagonal using the current. Swimming in diagonal to the spot and once we are on the shore we are safe.
It is very important swim slow and easy. We will have a rhythm swimming that we can hold it for a long time. We do not need to go fast we just need to reach it. If we try to do it fast and need to rest won´t work as the time we spend resting the current will move us where it want.
Sometimes can be a good idea look for deeper grounds so the current could be weak or even disappear. And sometimes the current is stronger on the surface so a good solution can be go diving. Close to the bottom. On the surface we will rest swimming slowly (keeping our position) and then dive and go spearfishing. Will be easier and we won´t have stress as we are doing what we like.
There are many different solutions. The most important is no panicking. Keep calm and understand that with a good equipment as we have won´t be any trouble. Just a delay coming back.
When we have shores close to us usually one of their sides is without current (and the other side has all the current. This sheltered side is a good solution to swim along. Maybe more distance but easier.
We can see how to do in this image:
Always looking for diagonals and sheltered spots. Most important: keep calm.
Be very careful in low deep spots further from the shore. When we go with a boat and we reach these spots there could be strong currents sometimes. It is important check it before go into the water or maybe we can´t be able to come back again.
WIND
The wind can be a problem because how it moves us. But always less than the current. Will affect mostly to our buoy. With wind the boards will be a problem and we do not recommend them these windy days. If we try to swim in our board will be much harder than if we go on the water just moving a small torpedo buoy.
The wind has another problem and it is that it makes small waves. These situations are very uncomfortable and we could be seasick easy. Our recommendations is go to sheltered spots on windy days.
GOOD SHAPE: Easy to understand that we must be in a good shape. In these situations we need to swim for long time and fight these currents. And to allow us to rest on surface swimming all the time while we are resting to dive again. So we must know ourselves and avoid dangerous spots or situations. Choose sheltered places, easy to dive, while we are training and improving our spearfishing techniques. Always check if there are currents so as soon as we notice it we can remain close to the shore and in safe spots.
FINS: Good quality fins are important in these situations. Fins adapted to us, with the specific stiffness for us. If we are using one too hard or too soft could be even dangerous.
BUOY: attention to this point. Usually we do not take care about it and is very important. A big buoy, with a big surface, will be harder to move through the wind. And buoy too big will be heavier and harder to move too. The buoy must be always as clean as we can have it. Not bags hanging, or guns. And all that we have we must have it stick to the buoy (with elastic ropes) You can see how to set up a buoy in this article. The buoy must be hydrodynamic. Too many guns there, bottles, nets… will make it harder to move. So we must have on it only what we need and properly stowed. Be very careful with boards as in bad weather they will be more dangerous. Sometimes in the worst situations or when we have a lot of weight in our buoy (fish, crabs…) could be easier to move just hang the buoy with our arms and swim with it in front of us. Only in specific situations.
KNOW WHERE TO GO OUT AND HAVE ALTERNATIVES
We must check before going into the water where are we going to dive. Check the nautical chart and in google earth alternative spots to go out if we can´t come back or if the weather change find safe spots to go out. It is a good idea having a “crocks” or similar in our buoy if we need to go out far away and come back walking.
USE THE CURRENTS
Many times the current change while we are in the water. With the tide coming the current is going in one direction and when the tide changes the current change too. When this happens we can go fishing with the current and come back with the current again. So will be easier and safer. If we do the opposite we would be fighting the current all the time. So it is important know the place and how the currents work.
SO:
- Never fight the current unless we know for sure we can beat it.
- Do a diagonal using the current (same direction of the current) to come back to the shore. Once we are there swim close to the shore or go out and come back walking.
- Use a light weight buoy, hydrodynamic. And do not have too many things on it.
- Be in a good shape and properly trained. Take care not to go into situations we are not ready for it.
- Study the spots you are going. Check the weather forecast and have alternatives if you need to go out in a different spot.
- Most important is KEEP CALM, do not panic. Look for the best solution and do not try to do it too fast. Swim slow so you can stay doing it for a long time and come back safe.