Spearfishing & Free Diving

Here Are The Updated Rules Of A Spear Fishing Competition :

 GENERAL RULES:

  1. NatalSpearfishingTrials will be held from July 2011 to Jan 2012 to prepare and select the best team to representNatalat the SA National Champs. Nationals are scheduled for Middle 2012 at either H-i-W, PE or Stillbaai (to be decided at AGM).
  2. A schedule of trial dates will be complied and distributed by end July. To assist divers to adequately prepare, a reserve area for each trial will also be designated.
  3. Representative Divers are determined from results of a series of trial competitions which will be held to very strict rules and regulations similar to those of Nationals.
  4. The selection of these divers is orchestrated by a selection committee made up of the Natal Underwater Union (NUU)SpearfishingOfficer, The DUCSpearfishingOfficer and one other experienced spearfisherman (to be selected by the NUU Officer).
  5. In the event of dispute and or conflict the decision will be referred to the committee for adjudication and advice, however in the event of deadlock, the Natal Underwater Union Officer has final say. Other factors such as diver history will be taken into account. It is the duty of the selectors to ensure the strongest possible teams are chosen.
  6. Every diver participating in Natal Trials must be a fully paid-up member of SAUFF as well as a Club recognised by the Natal Underwater Union, viz DUC, Wahoo, Salt Rock or UKZN.
  7. The Entrance Fee for trials is R500.00. To enter contact Corry Versluis on 082 492 5990. An Indemnity form must be filled in and entry fee paid to Corry BEFORE the end of July and August respectively.
  8. The R500 will go towards the four teams’ costs during Nationals. Anybody not paid up by end August will forfeit their results and the fee goes up to R700. Anybody not paid up by end September will no longer be allowed to dive trials nor be eligible for selection

RULES OF THE COMPETITION:

  1. Divers are required to phone Corry between 5pm and 8pm on the Friday before a trial to confirm the dive area, meeting place and time.
  2. If a trial has to be cancelled due to bad weather on the Saturday it then takes place on the Sunday. If it is apparent the area will not be diveable the reserve area may be initiated after consultation with divers and majority decision will stand. Decisions on whether or not to dive will be made by 8pm on the day preceding the competition. If the weather is not suitable then the trial will called off until the next trial.
  3. Remember that a lot of people are getting up early and may be traveling from afar to attend a trial so divers can be forgiven for being a few minutes late but comps will start when majority of the divers are ready.
  4. There will be a meeting to discuss the day’s proceedings, and a meeting place at sea will be decided. Once all the boats meet at sea the trial can begin. (No spearing is allowed before this time.)
  5. All diving will be from boats because Nationals take place off boats and World Champs are dived off boats.
  6. Each boat is allowed to have a top man to handle the boat during a Trial and no less than 2 divers may dive on a boat. Prior to a Trial commencing divers must arrange the boat they are diving on. It is not the responsibility of the organisers to do this.
  7. Not allowed

Chum, burlying or any other baiting techniques.

Flashers or other fish attracting devices.

  1. Allowed

GPS’s,

Fish finders/Sounders

Marker Buoys

Shark Pod’s

  1. All divers MUST dive with a float. Floats must be used at all times when a diver is in the water, must be a readily visible color, be a minimum of 1.5 liters, and be clearly visible in the water during choppy or rough seas. There have been various close calls and this rule will be strictly applied. Marker buoys do not count as floats and are only to mark spots.
  2. A trial lasts for six hours, although may be shortened if required to a minimum of four hours. Any diver seen in the water after the allotted time will be disqualified. For safety reasons at the sixth hour the safety boat must be notified by radio or cellular phone that all is ok, and the boat is heading for the launch site.
  3. All participants must comply with current regulations of Sea Fisheries and Marine Resources legislation
  4. Points are allocated to each divers catch as follows.
  • Only one fish per species is allowed. All fish must be weighed in gutted and gilled. Fish that are eligible for records may be weighed in whole.
  • A maximum of 10 fish may be shot
  • Divers may keep their fish after the weigh-in is complete.
  • Each fish must weigh a minimum of 900g to qualify.
  • Seven species that are excluded from competition are Surgeons, Angel fish, Unicorn fish, Batfish, Sea Barbel, Barbel Eel and File fish
  • Sea fisheries regulations will apply and overrule any other rules w.r.t. size, closed season and protected species legislation
  1. After beaching all divers are required to load their fish into containers and proceed to the weigh-in.
  2. It is forbidden to exchange catches.
  3. To facilitate comparison between different competition days, each diver’s points are calculated as a percentage of the top diver. The top diver scores 100%.
  4. After all trials each diver’s top three percentages are averaged and thus ranked by adding percentages together.
  5. Some rules may appear onerous and pointless but they are there for diver safety and to ensure comps are run smoothly and with integrity befitting those of Provincial trials. Divers are expected to adhere and also to speak up if transgressions by other divers are encountered or noticed. No one wants to disqualify divers for transgressions but the rules are clear.
  6. Lastly, anything NOT covered or mentioned by the rules is prohibite

AWARDING OF COLOURS AND TROPHIES

  1. If a diver makes the top twelve in Natal Trials they are divided into the A, B, C and Development Team. All twelve divers are awarded NUU Colors (Dolphins).
  2. For a diver to get Natal Colors (Wildebeest) they must have dived in the A, B or C team at least three times and at least once in the A team or if never in the A team then they must have come in the top ten at Nationals once.
  3. The Natal Underwater Union Awards three trophies each year to competitive divers based on Trial results.
  • AnthonyBenjamin Trophy for the biggest bottom fish.
  • Biggest Gamefish Trophy.
  • Top of the Log Trophy for overall highest percentage.
  1. If possible, this year will see the staging of the Natal Open, the winner of which will be declared the Natal Champion