Abalone diving by Dan Silveira.dv

[@divejunkey]

Great video, I heard you speak early this year at Bamboo Reef in Santa Rosa, we went up north and had a great trip and scored my first tens. The vis is amazing, I wish we had more days like that!

[@freedivingdan]

divejunkey, Nice work on your first 10 inch abalone. That is an accomplishment that few freedivers ever achieve. Well done!

[@notpopebuthope]

AWESOME VIDEO! Thanks & Cheers from Austria!

[@LiquidImageCo]

We love this footage!

[@fulltilt7103]

Thanks. I was wondering if it possibly prevented great white attacks, which would suck.

[@darylekool]

i was talking to a game warden last time i was up in the north coast ab diving and he said that you can be cited for not having an ab gauge when only carrying a trophy gauge. I didn't see a regulation ab gauge along with your trophy gauge. Great video btw cant wait for the season to start...

[@freedivingdan]

The top 10 largest abalone ever taken in the world were found using the technique of attaching the float-line to the abalone iron. It is very useful to mark a cluster of abalone, so I can check them all to see which one is the biggest. If the visibility is bad, the line provides me with a direct path back to my honey hole. Good luck.

[@fulltilt7103]

Where the hell are you diving? You don't have to tell me your specific spot, but this is unbelievable. I've never seen so many abalone in one spot in my life! I usually dive at anchor bay near the islands and you'd be lucky to see two abalone next to each other.

[@mattmattison]

man the ab's are so plentful looks like popcorn spilled on the floor !!!

[@kwakp8man]

Awesome video Dan! I ordered a Omer Bandit and I think I will like it. What mask do you use ? I just need another spearo/freedivers opinions and recommendations. Thanks

[@sfbluestar]

Please tell me what camera you used to take this video!! The contrast is so perfect! I want to buy one. Thank you.!

[@freedivingdan]

@WheelingWillie , Thanks! As of this season, it was not in a MLPA, but it was in Sonoma County and I am sure it got hit hard by the plankton bloom. Sonly time will tell if it becomes a MLPA.

[@freedivingdan]

Hi fultilt7103, I was diving somewhere on the sonoma county coast. The spot is very common for other divers to dive. All I did was go where no one else likes to swim to. That is my trick. I hope that helps.

[@jsknacke]

Great video

[@harryh27]

Do they have to be 10 inches for it to be legal to take them ?

[@freedivingdan]

Hi fultilt7103, The kelp is not an issue if you can spend some time getting comfortable with it. Keep your gear streamlined and refrain from attaching too many dangly items to your self.

[@freedivingdan]

fulltilt7103, The camo wetsuit does not help me get more abalone, but when I am hunting skittish fish, It entices some of them to swim closer for a better, yet fatal, look. ;-). As far as I know, fish see in grey-scale. If I just ware the standard black wetsuit, I look like a predator to them. When I ware Omer 3D camo, I look more like the reef. I hope that answers your question.

[@fulltilt7103]

What benefit does a camoflage wetsuit provide for you?

[@UncleT0ny]

haha Dredg, this takes me back

[@fulltilt7103]

@freedivingdan Thanks man. I guess that's the trick. Go where it might be a little more hairy, where most people are afraid to go, and you'll be rewarded. It did look a little bit kelpy in your video which might scare some people off.

[@freedivingdan]

@smashingit7 , Early in the season - April and March are usually rough, but if you can find a calm day - usually the visibility will be very good.

[@uospoom]

What does MLPA stand for? Thanks

[@centralcoastspearos5561]

that view at 4:21 is nuts

[@freedivingdan]

According the the Department of Fish and Game of Ca. (2010-2011 regulations), Abalone need to be a minimum of 7 inches for recreational take. I choose to selectively target larger abalone as to allow the smaller 7 and 8 inch abalone reproduce. The larger the abalone become, the more susceptible they are to shell decay from a sea sponge that attaches to the shell, causing the abalone to die sooner. My goal when diving for abalone is to take 9+ in.

[@myna92]

where is this?

[@thatwestykid]

in australia on the east coast its 11.7cm is the shortest you can take

[@freedivingdan]

(d) Minimum Abalone Size: All red abalone must be seven inches or greater measured along the longest shell diameter. All legal-sized abalone detached must be retained. No undersize abalone may be brought ashore or aboard any boat, placed in any type of receiver, kept on the person, or retained in any person’s possession or under his control. Undersize abalone must be replaced immediately to the same surface of the rock from which detached.

[@jawmalawmnz]

Omg our abalone only have to be 125mm/5" to be legally picked. Those are huge

[@jTrux22]

what song is this?

[@freedivingdan]

Wesenflash, I believe the DFG regulations state that if you have copy of your abalone report card along with the original purchase receipt, you can buy another abalone report card from the DFG office. All you have to do it tell them how many abalone you had caught before the card was lost and sign that you honestly lost the card. Oh, and some $. For more details see the DFG website.

[@Sole208001]

beautiful...

[@freedivingdan]

darylekool, Yes, that is correct about being required to have a 7in gauge even if you are trophy hunting. It is a lame rule and is one of the laws that only Rogue DFG officers enforce. If your abs are 10 inches and the minimum size is 7in, then it is a poorly constructed law in my opinion. And since you were wondering, I always carry a 7 in gauge.

[@freedivingdan]

Jbikedh, what is "low water fishing"? I am assuming it is what we call "Rock Picking" here in California. This is a means of catching abalone that does not require diving, or even mask and fins. The abalone hunter reaches under the rocks and feels for the abalone in the inter tidal zone.

[@freckszone1941]

NICE VIDEO i need to get a underwater camera i use to be a commercial diver in san diego and made over 3000 dives now i just snorkel for abalone and lobster check out my channel videos on abalone and lobster diving 

[@freedivingdan]

I am working on a new video showcasing the accuracy of my Omer spearguns. Next time we go to Carmel, lets shoot some footage!

[@aharmer1]

Marine Life Protected Area.

[@freedivingdan]

The camera: Liquid Image wide angle HD (product #322) You will love it!

[@l0v3li]

the sea lion :)

[@freedivingdan]

dhiwthspeezy - Take one of my freediving classes and you too will be holding your breath like a pro. The Level 1 class gets most people to hold their breath for around 3 minutes and dive to 66 feet!!! My web site is posted in the info of the video. Check it out. Spearfishing is not a crime (Dot) com (All one word)