So yesterday I nearly died in BAJA

[renepotvin]

I hit my head at full speed on a ledge 15 feet from the bottom, a nice place to put a ledge, I still had 60 feet to go... mildly concussed, with the mask hanging on my nose, I had to fight against an incredible urge to breathe water all the way up to the surface. It felt like my body was fighting to kill me. This had never happened to me. Let's just say that I now know how it is possible to drown; it's a super strong signal to breathe in water, and it's absolutely terrifying. I've been freediving for 36 years, and I'm so addicted I dive over 100 days a year, and this was one of the worse accident I have had. A less experienced person would have died for sure, and with this current and low visibility no one could have helped in any way.

I did another 4 dives on this fish before I got it out. and check what a pleasant surprise I got lol.

https://youtu.be/uF8GkVg9KTU

YouTube

[Dbrown]

Glad you made it out and got to tell the story.

[renepotvin]

I'm sure the very "best" stories are never told.

[slingshaft]

Hi Rene, Such a good Video, I have always loved your narration. That is a great place to spend the winter months.
Kerry Kraft A.K.A. The Calabogie Kid L.O.L.

[sacha58]

WOW I've hit my head on a ledge , but never so deep and I never fought a Moray Eel for a fish..... may be a Conger CHAPEAU !

[Tyson Brown]

Oh dang, that hurts so bad. Happy New Year!

[Marco]

Do you use double wrap shooting line?

[Xareu]

Close call!
Had a similar experience in Brazil with a speared grouper deep in the rocks (at around 18m, sorry, can't do the imperial system math...) . Like you, I would ride the spear's line to the bottom and try to pry the fish out of the cave, then go up to breathe and repeat. On my second ascent, the line wrapped itself around one of my weights and dragged me to a halt about 2m from the surface. No thoughts about removing the belt, or cutting the line with the knife came to my mind, just animalistic kicking and clawing until I managed to barely reach the surface for a couple of breaths and then dropped the weight belt.
Today, I stay CLEAR from the spear line, and all other thin but resistant lines at ALL times. If I need to retrieve a stuck spear, I swim down from the opposite current leaving plenty of space between me and the line and keep an eye on it 100% of the line.
BTW, what is the depth there, looks like 16m from the video.
Take care, Martin.

[renepotvin]

Originally Posted by Marco

Do you use double wrap shooting line?

Yeah, most of the fish I shoot swims rather far like wahoo, yellows etc. Even barred pargos are typically just beyond one wrap. Not sure how far that cabrilla was but it must have been close to one wrap...

Not super useful in holes though lol.

[renepotvin]

Originally Posted by Xareu

Close call!
BTW, what is the depth there, looks like 16m from the video.
Take care, Martin.

It was 23 m to the bottom of the hole, the fish was at about 22 meters. There isn't much before 21 m here.

[Marco]

Measure how far you can shoot with a single wrap (about 6 meters) and you won't use double wrap again.

[renepotvin]

Originally Posted by Marco

Measure how far you can shoot with a single wrap (about 6 meters) and you won't use double wrap again.

Yeah, I go through the same processe over and over again... I use a single wrap on some guns, sometimes when I nead cable.... and I litterally have shafts stop short and go back to double wrap. Even competing I found I needed two wraps.

[Doc]

The great thing about almost dying is that you usually get to do it a bunch of times before your succeed. I sure as hell have had my close ones. Congrats on not dying.