Hi, i'm pretty new to freediving/spearfishing. I've done a few dives, PPB (Mt Martha) Lake Maquarie NSW (Swansea) and i'm keen to get into it a lot more. I live in Parkdale and will be looking for some local spots to dive as well as anywhere on the Mornigton Peninsula. However i have some questions,

Q1: SFD Club membership > AUF membership: I'd like to join and probably will, but i'd like to know if the AUF insurance coverage includes me freediving at my own leisure, or if it only covers sporting events. This excerpt is from the AUF insurance PDS (Calliden Sports Insurance Policy)

"Covered Events
Your Members are covered when they:
1. Take part in a competition, game, performance or training session.
2. Attend a social function.
3. Travel to or from a competition, game, performance, social function, training session, administrative,
fundraising or volunteer activity (subject to Limitation 2 in Section 1).
4. Stay away from their home to take part in a competition, game, performance, social function, training session or administrative activities.
5. Are engaged in administrative, fundraising or volunteer activities.

The competitions, games, performances, social functions, training sessions, administrative, fundraising or volunteer activities must be:
1. For your Sport that is shown in the Certificate; and
2. Arranged by you or by your Business or sporting
association."

Q2: What are the options to store a fish after speared? (while still diving) i've seen those Float, Pin & flopper arrangements, do they not just act like burley to other fish and geat eaten up while you are diving? do you anchor them or tie them off to the bottom? (a very newbie question i know)

Q3: how nessesary is is it to have a Float & Flag? is it legally required? I've a lot of exp with boating but i don't want to get run down by one.

Q4: what brands of speargun/wetsuits/fins/mask&snorkel would you experienced guys recommend/avoid. I have some very amature gear, kmart fins, hand spear.

Q5: what size gun would you reccomend for a beginner? what kind of fish would you recomend targeting? (within PPB)

i'd like to come to a club meeting somethime but can't make tonights one. I'm also interested in entering the Valdes Pairs comp, as i was planning to dive Sat morning anyway.

any further tips for a newbie would be appreciated

Daniel Bain