Spear Fishing Course
COURSE STANDARDS AND OVERVIEW
This course is designed to introduce divers to the skills and excitement of
Hunting underwater with a spear gun. The course familiarizes student divers with
the
knowledge, planning, organization, procedures, techniques, potential problems
and hazards associated with using spear guns and hunting under water.
Prerequisites
To qualify for the Spear fishing course, an individual must:
1. Be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver, or have
a qualifying certification from another training organization.
2. Be at least 15 years old.
Instructor Supervision
The maximum student diver‑to‑instructor ratio for open water training
dives is 3 students per instructor (3:1).
It’s recommended that the instructor
conduct the skills practice and supervise the underwater tour during the first
dive. The instructor may then choose to indirectly supervise the second dive.
Certified assistants may assist with supervision and accompany students during
the training dives.
Considerations for Open Water Training
The Spear fishing course includes two open water training dives.
The first dive
allows divers to practice basic Spear gun use and safety. The second dive
prompts divers to plan and execute a typical Spear fishing dive.
After the training dives, student divers are required to log their
dives
in their personal log books.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course covers the knowledge and techniques for diving with a Spear gun to
hunt fish.
To conduct a Spear Fishing course, include the following:
1. The planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems, and
hazards of diving and hunting with a Spear gun.
2. Equipment considerations including but not limited to Spear gun
care,
maintenance and precautions.
3. Proper procedures for: determining the range, gun
failure, runaway shaft, descents and ascents and loading and unloading
gun.
4. Techniques to avoid harming fragile aquatic life.
5. Techniques for entering and exiting the water with a Spear gun.
6. Following local laws regarding taking of Fish and the ability to
recognize the game fish to take.
CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES
The certifying instructor obtains a Spear fishing certification by submitting a
completed, signed PIC to the appropriate PADI Office.
The instructor who
conducts the student’s final open water training session is the
certifying
instructor. The certifying instructor must ensure that all
certification
requirements have been met.
KEY STANDARDS
Prerequisite Certification: PADI Open Water Diver, or qualifying
certification
Minimum Age: 15
Recommended Minimum Course Duration: 10 hours
Minimum Open Water Training: 2 dives
Student‑to‑Instructor Ratio: 3:1
Minimum Instructor Rating: Spear Fishing Instructor
Max Depth Limit: 60 ft.
KNOWLEDGE REVIEW SECTION
Go over the spear gun types and which ones are best for inshore or off shore.
-
Explain Band Guns
-
Explain Pneumatic Guns
Go over safety protocols and the safe use of spear guns.
1. Never Enter Water with a loaded gun.
2. Never point at anything you do not intend to shoot.
3. Always make sure of your target and what is behind it.
4. Treat all Spear guns as if they are loaded.
5. Disengage band or shaft when not in use.
OPEN WATER DIVES
There are 2 Open water dives. The first dive is a target practice loading and
re-loading the gun of choice
Band or Pneumatic. Max Depth 60 ft.
The second dive will be to hunt a local fish.
Typically this will be done near shore.
We will be diving off scuba-now one.
The boat has NC Fishing permit for passengers on board. Max Depth 60 ft.