All general guidelines are listed below, PLEASE read and sign:
2023 National Guidelines
There will be 4 divisions: Masters, Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed. The event will be kayak-based. This is an individual and team event so please keep your fish separate on your kayak. The competition will be 1 day, June 15. Banquet, awards, raffle, and Hawaiian party on June 16.
June 15th Competition Day
This event is freediving only, NO CHUMMING is allowed at any time. No fish may be shot outside the event boundaries at any time.
NO fish may be shot in the event area 30 days before the event. This will result in a Disqualification for that individual. Practice shooting fish outside the event zone.
Travel time will be 30 minutes before and after dive. Teams are responsible for getting their kayaks for competition day.
The use of GPS, fish finders, and cell phones for time, is legal for the event and scouting days. Each diver is allowed only 10 scouting days, within 30 days of the event.
Divers must have flags on kayaks for safety, as there can be boat traffic. Dive teams may choose to dive close together for safety or spread out. Your kayak needs to be available for your safety.
Divers from opposing teams may dive the same region safely. All Divers must Join USOA for our insurance to cover you in a Kona, Hawaii.
No other non invasive fish may be shot during competition, if so it will result in automatic disqualification.
Fish must be shot on the day of the event. Fish are awarded 1 point per fish and 1 point per pound. Weigh only your largest fish for awards.
Each diver is allowed UNLIMITED invasive species (Roy, Ta’ape and Toau)
Your kayak and fish bag should be organized with only your fish. No sharing or trading fish.
North and South boundaries will have marked buoys. Any competitors outside of the boundary will automatically disqualified.
A safety boat and/or Jet Skis will be inside the marked boundary, for your safety. Any competitor that needs help by emergency personnel will automatically be disqualified.
At the end of the competition, competitors will need to return to the starting line through the 2 marked buoys. Anyone who doesn’t return through the marked buoys will automatically be disqualified.
Anyone caught sharing fish will be disqualified.
Mutilated fish brought to the weight scale will not be counted for points.
Please make sure all guns are unloaded before coming to shore.
By law, all kayaks and competitors who swim out needs a diver down flag
In the event of a protest, protester must summit protest in writing within 1⁄2 hour of completion of weigh in (preferably earlier!) along with $100.00. The $100 protest fee will be refunded if the protest is upheld.
One representative from each County present at the weigh-in will have a vote on the protest committee.
The USOA event Director will oversee the protest allowing each party 5 minutes to explain their side. Any decision of the protest committee is final.
Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated and is grounds for immediate disqualification of a diver or entire team.
Dive safe, dive fair and have fun!
Diving Conditions:
Visibility: 30-80 feet. Gun choice 80-110cm
typical Temperature: 75-80 degrees
Suits 1.5-3mm, hoods and boots
Depth: 10-100 feet
Wind Average wind 5-10 mph throughout month of June.
Air Temp: Average highs in the mid 80’s with nighttime lows in the low 70’s. Wear sunscreen and hats, Stay Hydrated.
Bottom: Sand and Rock.