Gear Up For Abalone Diving

We talked in the previous section about some of the hazards you might face and how you can learn to "Safely" work with, or around some of those obstacles while Diving for Abalone here on the Northern California Coast. We continue in this section by helping you expand on your knowledge in regard to the proper selection of the Abalone Diving Gear you'll need to help ensure that all your Abalone Diving Adventures are Fun, Safe, and Successful.

Choosing the Right Gear for Your Abalone Diving Adventures

One of the most important aspects of Diving for Abalone in the Pacific Ocean along the North Coast is choosing the "Right" Gear.

Sure, you could probably get by with just about anything that will insulate you from the water, but if it's anything less than 7 mil thickness, is very uncomfortable for you, or doesn't fit right, you won't be able to stay in the water for very long. The water up here is pretty darn cold, and anything more than a few minutes of unprotected exposure to it will leave you headed for the nearest warm spot you can find. And if you aren't already beyond the beginning stages of Hypothermia, you'll spend the rest of your day wishing you'd gone the extra mile, spent a few extra dollars, and gotten the right gear in the first place!

So if you are ready, we'll now give you a list of the essential gear we think you should have to safely and comfortably Dive for Abalone. One important thing to mention here, especially if you have never been Diving for Abalone before, is that you can always start out with Rental Gear from one of the local Dive shops at a reasonably fair cost. Just be sure you call ahead to verify that they have it available. The Rental Shops do a really brisk business on the weekends during Abalone Season, and if you are too late, you'll be stuck on shore. But if the tide is low enough you can always try roughing out a limit of Abs Rock Picking in your Jeans and Tennis Shoes.

Wet Suit -

• You really couldn't go wrong with a 7 mil thick Farmer John style wetsuit - The reason we like this style so much is because it is simple, and it provides two full layers of protection in the areas that really need to be protected most (you know which areas we're talking about here, right?). That, and you can remove the top section when you get out of the water and start your long climb back up the hill after your day of diving is done.
• Another good choice would be a Henderson Thermoprene 8/7mm Semi-Dry Wetsuit. This is a Front Zip / Hood attached, Semi Dry Jumpsuit. It might be a little higher priced than the above Farmer John Wet Suit, but this suit is designed for divers who want the warmth of a dry suit without the hassles. Constructed from 100% Thermoprene 8mm neoprene with 7mm Thermoprene flex panels, this is the warmest suit in the Thermoprene line-up. The entire suit is double glued and double blind stitched for dependable performance in the most unforgiving environments. The one thing that might be considered a negative about a one-piece Wet Suit is that you cant just take the top part of it off and stuff it in your tube for the hike down to your dive spot or even worse, when you're trudging your way up the hill, you will surely work up quite sweat by the time you get to the trail head.

There are many more good choices than just the two recommended above, and if you want to check out the full selection, just head on over to the leisurepro Website and browse until your heart is content. 

Boots and Gloves -

Having a good warm wetsuit is important, but if you back it up with cheapo Boots and/or Gloves, you're kind of defeating the purpose. Keeping your hands and feet warm will ensure that you won't need to get out of the water until you are darned good and ready to. 

Boots - We recommend that you spend a little extra for a good quality, warm and comfortable boot with a solid, non-skid type of sole. Below are a couple of recommendations that won't hit your pocket book too hard, but should suffice very well just the same.

• XS Scuba's 6mm Deluxe Zippered Boots from leisurepro - These Boots are a great choice with a lower cost than some of the other brands you can find out there. These boots are well built, with glued and double blind stitched seams, strong non-corrosive #10 YKK Delrin zipper with nylon zipper stop, nylon edge binding, extended toe and heel protection, and they're tough enough to withstand the type of use we're talking about here.Warmth is achieved with 6mm nylon II neoprene, and a cold water zipper dam. The aggressive SureGrip sole keeps you stable on the slippery decks or rocks making these one great pair of boots!
• Cressi Dive Boots with Zippers from Leisurepro - These boots are deigned to be used with open heel fins. They are made from soft, nylon II neoprene and have a practical zipper from the sole to the ankle, making them easy to slip on and off. Water seepage is reduced to the minimum with a thin flap seal under the zipper, which acts as an effective barrier against any water that may seep through the zipper. Strong non-slip molding covers the entire sole. Reinforcements on the top of the foot and the heel provide protection against wear and tear. All seams are glued and sewn for a water tight seal and added strength. Boots are available in 5 sizes from XS to XL and come in 3, 5 or 7 mm thickness. These Boots are covered by a 12 month limited warranty.

Gloves - Your hands are the tools you will use to maneuver your Abalone Iron to pluck Abalone from the rocks, and you'll want them yo be warm and comfortable because speed and stealth are required to do this part of the job efficiently. You'll find out what we mean the first time you bump an Abalone with your Ab Iron and it sucks down so tight that a stick of dynamite would play Hell breaking it loose from the rock it is attached to!

Dive Mask - Snorkel - Weight Belt - Fins

Just as important as all of the gear we've already talked about, a really good Dive Mask, a top-notch Snorkel that won't have you choking on Sea Water every time you stick your head in the water, a good Weight Belt, and Diving Fins that will propel you down to the bottom and back quickly will just about round out your full set of Abalone Diving Gear. 

The only other items you'll need (which regretfully at this point in time we are not able to provide a good on-line resource for) are an Abalone Iron, a Measuring Gauge, and a good Float Tube. You shouldn't have any trouble finding all of these things at any local sporting goods supply store along the North Coast.

Where to Get the Gear - 

If you've been looking around at how much it's going to cost you to get completely set up with all the right Abalone Diving Gear, you can see that it won't come cheap. You'll most likely be invested to the tune of around four to six hundred dollars before you are done. But if you've done your research, followed our recommedations, and chosen the proper equipment, you'll be set for quite awhile. That's one reason we so highly recommend getting the "Right" stuff in the first place. Once you've got everything you need, the only money you'll spend on a season of Diving Trips is the cost of your Fishing License, an Abalone Punch Card and Tags, and whatever it takes you for food & gas. And believe it when we tell you that once you start Abalone Diving, you'll want to go as often as you can!

You can shop around a bit and find pretty much anything you need on many reputable Outdoor Supply websites on the internet (avoid the Surfer Supply sites though because most of their stuff is more suited for the Southern California Crowd). You can also visit a local sporting goods supply store, and maybe they can get you suited up properly. You'll also want to keep an eye out in the classified ads or yard sales around any coastal town for some real bargains. But since you're here already, you should check out the gear we recommend from the leisurepro Diving Gear Supply Website (a very reputable Diving Supply Store with which we have an affiliate relationship). You'll know that you are getting the "Right" gear you need because we have already checked it out and made our recommendations. Ultimately, you'll end up being much better prepared for the "Extreme" conditions that exist here on the north coast.