Hazards and Problem solving Risk Awareness
Remember, diving fundamentals are paramount. No lobster or fish is worth an injury or fatality. Weapon safety cannot be overstated. While safety of the specific types of weapons was covered in their own sections, please take time to read and fully understand this section.
The safe and proper use of a speargun should be the primary concern for any underwater hunter. The speargun or pole spear are weapons and should be treated as such. When a weapon is out of the water, there are many rules that must not be forgotten to ensure safe transportation.
Upon arrival at the dive site, prepare the speargun for use. When walking with a weapon, be sure to have the spear tip pointed in a safe direction and where it can be seen. When entering the water from a boat, have a buddy hand the weapon after you have entered the water. If entering the water from the beach, point the weapon outward and do not load it until well outside of the surf zone.
Many divers prefer to load their spearguns while resting on the surface. Other divers would rather load their speargun on the bottom. Whichever technique is employed, remember to make sure that all divers and objects, e.g., boats, are clear and that the safety switch is in the ON position. (Never load above the surface.) The only time the safety should be released is just before squeezing the trigger.
Once the speargun is loaded, NEVER point it at any other diver, boat or creature that you have no intention of spearing. Do not attempt to make any adjustments to the spear point or any other accessory on the speargun once it’s loaded. Unload it first. Upon surfacing, unload the speargun before entering the surf zone or beginning the swim back to the boat. Never hand a loaded speargun to anyone on a boat.
Be aware of what is behind your intended target. Never shoot if you cannot see the other side of the target or if what is behind the target would be damaged, injured or killed if the target is missed.
Do not forget that the speargun should be in good working order. Prior to any dive or dive trip, inspect the speargun thoroughly. If anything looks suspicious, take it to your local dive center and have them check it over or return it to the factory as needed.
If in an area with sharks, you should be familiar with the following:
The safe and proper use of a speargun should be the primary concern for any underwater hunter. The speargun or pole spear are weapons and should be treated as such. When a weapon is out of the water, there are many rules that must not be forgotten to ensure safe transportation.
- Treat the weapon as loaded at all times.
- Prior to use, inspect bands, shock lines and shafts for any damage such as cracking, fraying and splits.
- Whenever a speargun or pole spear is out of the water, the tip or point should be covered and the weapon should be uncocked.
Upon arrival at the dive site, prepare the speargun for use. When walking with a weapon, be sure to have the spear tip pointed in a safe direction and where it can be seen. When entering the water from a boat, have a buddy hand the weapon after you have entered the water. If entering the water from the beach, point the weapon outward and do not load it until well outside of the surf zone.
Many divers prefer to load their spearguns while resting on the surface. Other divers would rather load their speargun on the bottom. Whichever technique is employed, remember to make sure that all divers and objects, e.g., boats, are clear and that the safety switch is in the ON position. (Never load above the surface.) The only time the safety should be released is just before squeezing the trigger.
Once the speargun is loaded, NEVER point it at any other diver, boat or creature that you have no intention of spearing. Do not attempt to make any adjustments to the spear point or any other accessory on the speargun once it’s loaded. Unload it first. Upon surfacing, unload the speargun before entering the surf zone or beginning the swim back to the boat. Never hand a loaded speargun to anyone on a boat.
Be aware of what is behind your intended target. Never shoot if you cannot see the other side of the target or if what is behind the target would be damaged, injured or killed if the target is missed.
Do not forget that the speargun should be in good working order. Prior to any dive or dive trip, inspect the speargun thoroughly. If anything looks suspicious, take it to your local dive center and have them check it over or return it to the factory as needed.
If in an area with sharks, you should be familiar with the following:
- No chumming
- Shark behavior/body language
- How you should behave around sharks
- Shark deterrents, if used