How To Pack Your Spearfishing Equipment For A Trip Abroad

Today, our focus will be on the essential aspect of traveling overseas with spearfishing gear. This holds significant importance because, as you embark on a journey spanning 4,000 miles, investing between 5k to 10k, along with your time and energy, the planning of spearfishing expeditions becomes a crucial consideration. Whether pondering these adventures months or even years in advance, having explored numerous locations, particularly in the Pacific's island chains like Hawaii, Tahiti, and Fiji, it becomes evident that these remote areas can either enhance or jeopardize your trip depending on your level of preparedness. Luggage Requirements To begin with, I'd like to discuss the initial steps before delving into packing and preparing for your journey. Before the actual process of organizing your luggage and gearing up for the trip, I strongly advise undertaking a few essential tasks. Firstly, connect with the airline – make a call, engage in conversations with fellow travelers on Instagram, and seek insights from team members who have experience in similar ventures. Numerous individuals are usually willing to share valuable information about their travel essentials, past destinations, and challenges encountered with various airlines. It's crucial to conduct thorough research. When I initiated this journey, I invested considerable hours conversing with airline representatives and fellow travelers to identify potential hurdles that could jeopardize or inflate the costs of my trip. Through these experiences, I've compiled key components to consider. The foremost factor involves examining the luggage requirements set by different providers and airlines. Traveling from Hawaii, which is inherently remote, presents unique challenges with limited airline options. A select few airlines connect us to mainland areas, and even our international airport has restrictions. The luggage weight restriction is a significant concern, necessitating an inquiry into the maximum weight allowed for both check-in and carry-on bags. Some destinations may require alternative cargo providers due to weight constraints. For those, like myself, not transporting an extensive load of spearfishing gear, cameras, and additional equipment, the weight restriction remains a critical factor. I opt for a minimal setup, carrying only a couple of GoPros and a drone. However, individuals with more extensive equipment face additional challenges. The content they create may be exceptional, but the logistics of transporting spearfishing gear, cameras, and other items are undoubtedly complex. Consideration of weight restrictions extends to both check-in and carry-on baggage. Main flights often offer more leniency compared to remote connector flights. In destinations like French Polynesia, where connector flights to extremely remote areas may have a limit as low as 25 kilograms, early arrival becomes crucial. Understanding the specific time frame for luggage check-in is vital. I recommend arriving at the earliest possible time, even a day in advance if feasible, as these flights are often utilized by locals transporting goods to remote islands. To avoid potential complications, arriving early ensures your luggage is among the first to be checked in, especially when dealing with flights that operate once a week. Locals often use these flights to transport household goods or other products to their family members on remote islands. Being among the first to check in increases the likelihood that your luggage will make it onto the plane and reach your destination simultaneously, preventing any disruption to your spearfishing expedition. This practice has proven effective in minimizing the risk of missing crucial flights and experiencing gear-related setbacks during international travel with spearfishing equipment. Make Sure You Have Everything You (Might) Need Next, I'd like to emphasize another crucial aspect: ensuring you have all the essentials and then some. When venturing to extremely remote locations and investing substantial amounts, it's imperative not to find yourself stranded without a necessary item, settling for small reef fish instead of the impressive pelagics you aspire to shoot. Allow me to elaborate on what I typically bring along. My preferred setup includes a standard sport tube and a backpack in most instances. I tend to avoid an additional check bag, particularly when traveling to tropical destinations, where board shorts and flip-flops are the norm. However, in colder climates, dipping into the 70s, I make exceptions, packing a jacket and some warm attire. Maintaining a lightweight approach is my preference. I've calculated that my sport tube, with all the equipment showcased here, falls within the acceptable weight limit, approximately 30 kilos. This aligns with the allowances of most airlines for mainland flights and Pacific island chains. Should I need to reduce weight for connector flights, a simple solution involves transferring my rigging bag, weight belt, and two floats into my backpack, bringing the total down to around 20-22 kilos. Now, let me delve into the specifics of what I pack. I consistently carry two sets of carbon fins, having encountered instances where one was lost or damaged. Two spearguns—165 and 135—both rollers, provide versatility for hunting a wide range of marine life. Four shafts, two per gun, complete with cable and spectra, ensure I'm equipped for the potential challenges of shark-infested waters and sharp reefs. I also bring two masks, strategically stored in their original housing to prevent breakage during transit. Essential accessories include a 100ft float line, a 50ft bungee, and my trusty flasher rig. To adapt to varying water temperatures, I pack two wetsuits—3mm and 5mm—and mix and match as needed. Additionally, I carry a selection of spare parts, including extra rollers, vacuum-sealed bands, and tools in my rigging bag for on-the-go repairs. Anticipating potential mishaps, I pack two sets of booties and gloves, two snorkels, and a spare lock for my sport tube to avoid any unexpected issues during the journey. Lastly, having a go-to bag for daily use on the boat is indispensable, preventing chaos and ensuring that everything stays organized and accessible throughout the expedition. How I Pack My Sportstube To commence the packing process, I consistently place my weight belt at the bottom of the sport tube, rolling up my towel and nestling it alongside for added cushioning. It's essential to pack the bottom section, allowing for a framed structure with approximately three and a half feet of packing space above. The tube should be positioned upright since laying it down won't accommodate all the gear effectively. Following this, I position my go-to bag on top of the weight belt. The shafts are then carefully arranged in the far right back corner, with the larger gun, a 165, placed in the left section of the sport tube, shaft included for video demonstration purposes. The second gun is positioned toward the rear right side, creating a framework that facilitates middle packing. Both sets of fins are inserted with the fin pockets facing down. To enhance rigidity and prevent movement between the fins, I secure them together using velcro straps with turnbuckles. The floats, separating the two sets of fins, are placed in the middle. On top of these, I add my two wetsuits, fortifying the structure further. With the foundational items in place, I incorporate the float lines, rigging bag, and miscellaneous items like flashers. As the packing progresses, there should be ample room for personal items such as soap, shampoo, and other smaller belongings. To complete the packing, the top of the sport tube is securely placed over the contents, ensuring everything is snugly fitted. It's crucial to double-check that the fins are tucked inside and not protruding, a task made easier by keeping the tube upright during the process. Finally, the lock is secured on top, acting as a safeguard for the gear. With this method, the packed sport tube weighs around 30 kilos, and once additional items like soap and miscellaneous gear are included, it typically totals around 32 to 34 kilos.
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Visualization For Deep Freediving

Greetings everyone, I'm Christian Castano, a freediving athlete hailing from Colombia. I'm proud to be a member of the Alchemy team, and today I'll be delving into a crucial aspect of our freediving training – visualization. Specifically, I'll be concentrating on its application during deep dives, intensive training sessions, and competitive freediving. What Is Visualization? Visualization is a technique rooted in sports psychology, aiming to reshape our external reality through the lens of our mental perception. This method is designed to enhance concentration, alleviate stress, and facilitate the seamless execution of planned actions during deep dives or any critical freediving moments. The key is to incorporate these visualizations systematically into our minds while maintaining a fluid and relaxed approach. By doing so, we embed these mental images in our brains, creating a connection that blurs the line between reality and our thoughts. Essentially, the power of the mind is harnessed, allowing us to feel as if we have already undertaken the dive through the strength of visualization. How To Visualize Many individuals believe that visualizing a deep dive requires holding one's breath. However, I recommend starting the process without breath-holding, in a relaxed setting such as a bed or yoga mat. Begin by envisioning the entire sequence of the dive, starting from the moment of preparation and arrival at the dive site. In a competition scenario, imagine the surroundings, including photographers, judges, and the safety team. Consider the countdown, creating a mental picture to prepare for the actual competition moment. It's crucial to remember all the steps involved in your dive, including specific countdowns for disciplines like free immersion. Ensure you incorporate details like reaching the freefall phase, maintaining proper body position, executing the turn, grabbing the tag, and initiating the ascent. Pay close attention to the recovery breaths and surface protocol, embedding these actions in your mind to react automatically in case of low oxygen levels, preventing issues like blackout or samba. When practicing visualization, lie down on a yoga mat and focus on positive thoughts about achieving a personal best or a deep dive. Recognize the power of the mind, as even without breath-holding, your heart rate may increase. Emphasize positive emotions, sensations, and feelings during the visualization, conditioning your mind to expect a great experience during the actual dive. This approach helps manage mental challenges, expectations, fears, and nervousness, contributing to a more successful and enjoyable freediving experience. My Personal Experience Allow me to share my experience with visualization exercises and how they played a crucial role in my freediving journey. This story unfolds during my time in Honduras in 2019, specifically on the island of Roatan, where I was gearing up for the world championship. A challenging twist occurred when, just before commencing my training, I developed abdominal pain and discovered that my appendix had burst. This unforeseen circumstance landed me in the hospital for ten days, followed by an additional 20 days of mandated recovery without water activities. With no opportunity for physical training, including breath-hold exercises, I turned to visualization as my sole means of preparation for the impending world championship. Embracing this practice, I dedicated mornings and afternoons, lying on a yoga mat in a relaxed state, even without holding my breath. My focus was on cultivating positive thoughts about how each aspect of the competition would feel. A few days prior to the competition, I sought approval from the doctor to resume water activities, and with the green light, I had only one day for a brief dive check, reaching around 40 meters. Despite my body not being physically prepared for such diving, my mind was remarkably ready, thanks to the consistent visualization. On the competition day, I announced a dive close to my personal best, 85 meters, with my previous record standing at 87 meters. Although my body wasn't optimally conditioned, my relaxed and stress-free mental state, nurtured by visualization, made a significant impact. Arriving at the official line, I experienced zero nervousness or stress. I approached the dive with an accepting mindset, acknowledging that success or failure wouldn't define my performance since I hadn't trained physically. To my delight, the dive turned out to be one of the best and most amazing experiences of my life. It unfolded flawlessly, without equalization issues, and I resurfaced cleanly, earning a white card. This anecdote attests to the effectiveness of visualization in enhancing the mental aspect of freediving. However, I also recognize the importance of balancing mental and physical preparation, as demonstrated by a later blackout on the last day of a week-long competition. It serves as a reminder that while mental training is a primary tool in freediving, a well-conditioned body is equally vital. Exercises & Tips As mentioned earlier, a beneficial way to commence visualization is by doing it without holding your breath, simply relaxing on the bed. However, as part of my evolving training routine, I gradually introduced breath-holding after attaining a state of relaxation through extensive visualization and dive repetition. I noticed that incorporating calm breath holds, coupled with imagining my deep dives, significantly extended my static breath hold duration. Essentially, visualizing deep diving became my go-to for static breath holds, contributing to a notable improvement in my overall performance. Another valuable tip I'd like to share involves recording yourself during the various phases and steps of your dive. Walk yourself through each element, from the initial pull or kick to the duck dive, mouth fill, charge, recharge, and the free fall phase. State the actual time it takes to reach each point, aligning it with your known breath-holding capabilities. Even if your dive duration is short compared to your breath-holding capacity, set the breath hold duration accordingly to ingrain the information in your mind. Describe each action during the turn and ascent, simulating the self-talk you'd engage in during the actual dive. This method systematically organizes the information and actions, reducing the likelihood of errors. Emphasizing the inclusion of recovery breaths in your visualization is crucial. By doing so, you prepare for scenarios like a samba or nearing a blackout, ensuring you respond appropriately with proper breathing and a thorough surface protocol. In conclusion, this is how visualization has profoundly assisted me, and I hope these insights prove helpful to you. Until next time, ciao!
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Deeper Blue Reviews Our Heavy Freediving Neck Weight

In a recent review by Deeper Blue, the spotlight is on Alchemy's latest innovation—the Heavy neckweight. Building on the success of the acclaimed Alchemy Freediving neckweights, this silver-hued accessory promises to redefine the freediving experience with its unique blend of increased weight, enhanced comfort, and streamlined functionality. Meet Heavy Deeper Blue's earlier review had sung praises for the original Alchemy Freediving neckweights, particularly the 1.55kg/3.4lbs model. However, it seems the diving community's call for a heavier yet more compact alternative has been answered with the introduction of the Alchemy Heavy neckweight. Boasting a wider form factor, the Alchemy Heavy not only provides more weight but does so without adding unnecessary length around the neck. This design innovation distributes weight more comfortably along the back of the neck, minimizing drag during vertical dives and ensuring a secure fit. The silver color of the Alchemy Heavy neckweight, as noted by Deeper Blue, serves a dual purpose—beyond aesthetics, it enhances visibility in dark waters. Reflecting light as effectively as white, it makes it easier for diving buddies to track each other during underwater excursions. Weighing in at 2kg/4.4 lbs, the Heavy model is deemed by Deeper Blue as an ideal match for a 3mm wetsuit. While it may be slightly light for extended pool glides, it excels at speeds of at least a meter per second, providing the perfect balance for discerning freedivers. Highlighted under specific benefits are features that make the Alchemy Heavy neckweight stand out. The wider form factor not only increases comfort but also prevents slipping during vertical dives. The clip-free design allows for swift removal in emergency situations, and its easy adjustability ensures a personalized fit for users. Deeper Blue also notes the neckweight's durability, emphasizing its robust construction with thick silicone over a lead bar, eliminating concerns of lead leakage or structural breakdown. In conclusion, Deeper Blue hails the Alchemy Heavy neckweight as a natural evolution of the already lauded Alchemy neckweight series. Its elegance, efficiency, and durability make it an indispensable accessory for serious freedivers. While acknowledging the premium price tag, Deeper Blue emphasizes that with proper care, these neckweights are poised to endure for decades, solidifying their status as a sound investment in the realm of freediving.
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Robert MacKichan
30/03/2021
HONDURAS
alchemy V3 Pro

Built with great quality and care. Great for traveling and all around enjoying the ocean. Snorkeling exploring the reef and going on the line these are fun easy to travel with fins.

Verified Buyer
Thomas Oh
28/11/2020
SOUTH KOREA
alchemy V3-30

The v3-30 is a bit inconvenient because it is long when taking underwater pictures, but I think it has good performance in depth diving.

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Robert
27/11/2020
GUAM (USA)
alchemy S-30

Lightest and toughest fins in the game! I always get compliments by other divers fascinated with how light Weight my alchemy S30s are paired with c4 300 Foot pockets. I can go all day swimming the blue on long shore dives with no problems. Love the performance and the look! The bar has been set high!

Verified Buyer
Michelle Fallon
28/11/2020
UNITED STATES
alchemy V3

I'm extremely pleased with these lightweight, high performance freediving fins! I've traveled halfway across the world with them from Hawaii, to Mexico and to the Bahamas. Made to perfection with only the highest quality of materials I couldn't imagine doing my dives without them.

Verified Buyer
Sky Lindell
13/12/2021
UNITED STATES
alchemy V3

Best fins I ever used. Best on the market brings me down and up to 100+ with ease. Until they broke on me but I think that’s due to a manufacturing defect. Still can’t wait for the next pair.

Verified Buyer
Lorena Hrbut
30/11/2020
AUSTRALIA
alchemy V3

I absolutely love my V3 soft Alchemy blades. I first tried them when I was going through my Freedive Instructor Training and compared to other blades which students and Instructors were using these were by far everyone's first choice and mine. They are light, durable and every kick feels like you are cutting through butter. I use them for all aspects of Freediving which involve Spearfishing, Teaching, UW-Photo and even at my work which involves swimming with Whale Sharks (they are really fast sometimes!).

Verified Buyer
Annette Shin
30/11/2020
SOUTH KOREA
alchemy V3

I sprained my ankle really bad early this year. And ever since, my recovered ankle still gives me the stiffness while finning. However with my pair of soft Alchemy fins, I can dive as much as I want. It is light, powerful yet gives the sophistication. My next choice of fin will definitely be an Alchemy fins :)

Verified Buyer
Tsung Han Kuo
30/11/2020
TAIWAN
alchemy V3-30

Very good.

Verified Buyer
Faiz Shahminan
25/11/2020
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
alchemy S-30

The make, length, flexibility, strength of the fins are amazing. I bought it though it was meant for spearfishing but I use it for depth training, teaching and fun dive and I can say amazing fins. Never doubt Alchemy products at all.

Verified Buyer
Stephane Warin
25/11/2020
FRANCE
alchemy V3-30

Very efficient, it is not easy for me to find the correct size of foot pockets, I am always between 2 sizes. The C4-400 is fine, the carbon is just awesome and the fins are light. Classy expensive fins. Top world class efficiency. As a freediver instructor, I test sometimes the fins's students. Alchemy is another world clearly.

Verified Buyer