Omer Cayman HF 100

[Adon]

My first attempt at a trip report/gun review, sorry it is a bit long, and also some of the terms might not be correct!
I recently got my hands on the Omer Cayman HF 100. My friend was traveling to Europe on business so I had the shop send the gun to her hotel in France from there they traveled to Germany and then Turkey.
When I eventually received the package and opened it up I was over the moon, as it looked better in the flesh. On closer inspection I noticed that there was something funny about the reel. On closer inspection I noticed that there are two screws and nuts that hold the reel on to the part that slides on to the holder on the gun. This must have been due to the vibrations due to the amount of traveling that the gun had been through, but I will also keep an eye on these screws just to make sure they do not work themselves free again. I was lucky to find fairly similar screws at the local DIY shop, so no problem now.
After reading the DB forum on rigging the gun and changing reels etc. I managed to get the gun set up with the reel. I also changed the handle for the larger handle that Omer supplied. I opted not to have the closed-nose gun, but rather the open muzzle. I thought that this would make it quick to reload.
With the gun set up I was ready to get into the water. I had no plans to go for a spear, but having the gun there I could not resist. I called my friend Kei up and we planned on heading out for a dive early last Saturday morning. Was hoping for good weather as the weather in Kato region of Japan has been pretty bad recently. Got up Saturday morning and it was really nice!!! No wind, sunny and after our 2-hour drive to the sea no waves!
We were diving close to Katsuura on the Pacific side of the Chiba peninsula.
From the harbour wall the water looked crystal clear and flat, so we were both pretty excited about getting into the sea. However, after getting the gear on and into the water found that the viz was not really that good. We had at worst 2-3m and at best 10m, 10 being rare. I kicked out 80m through some seaweed and decided to load the gun, and after about another 20m I saw two large kurodai (sea bream) bolt from a crevice that was covered with seaweed. I also noticed that there was a black fish-shaped shadow from the area that they had bolted from about 3m I aimed and shot. The HF shoots very smoothly compared to other guns I have fired. Very smooth and quiet! AND also very accurate! I had popped a 40cm kurodai with a shot through the head with my first shot!! I was well chuffed!
I got the fish on the stringer and reloaded the HF. This caused some trouble. I am not used to the reel set up, and have never used an open-muzzled gun. I found it difficult loading the gun due to the line tangling up, also had problems with the spear engaging when pushing into the gun. I think that the later is due to the fact that I have the mono going though the hole at the end of the spear shaft. I have the crimp place just under the first shark-fin notch, but I think that it is having an effect when loading, so I plan to move the mono to another hole on the spear, which is about 15cm from the first hole. I also think that I will change from the open-muzzle to the closed-muzzle. When loading with the spear engaged in the gun the spear tip would pop out of the runner until I managed to lock it down with a loop of the mono. I think that it will be easier to do with the closed system.
Next shot I took was from the surface at a kurodai about 2m down. Shot went through the top of the fish’s head and out the gill. This gun is really accurate. Final fish I went down and was holding onto some weed and tracked a kurodai swimming from left to right, the shot was not so good as it went through the belly but it held. So after an hour and a half managed to come out with 3 fish. My friend Kei did not get any. Kurodai are a fast and easily spooked fish and I put down getting 3 to the HF. Although, reloading was a bit of a pain that is something that I can work on. The handle is very comfortable, tracking is good, accuracy is great, what can I say I am very happy with this gun!!
Only thing I will be looking out for is the screws working themselves free on the reel and also the barrel seems to scratch easily so might change the metal wishbone to dynema.
Kurodai sashimi mmmmm thanks HF!
The thing at the tail of the fish is my mobile. It now stinks of fish!

[spaghetti]

Happy for the outcome: those fish are very good looking, and you had the best way to inaugurate a new speargun.
The loading issue: I think it's just a matter of getting used to the open muzzle. If you focus on how to get the line properly looped, and do some practice, then it will come more natural the next times.
Me I've been spearfishing with all closed muzzle guns for more than 17 years, then I converted to open muzzles last year, and now I'm an open muzzle enthusiast, being the advantages the two following: the aiming visual pattern is cleaner, and the shaft is secured on the straight position. So definitely better than closed muzzle.

PS-Are you Japanese?

[Adon]

Hello,
I think that I will stick with the open muzzle and see how it goes. You are right I need more practice.
Actually I am not Japanese, I am Scottish, but my mother is Japanese and I have been living in Japan for the past ten years. Started spearing about 6 years ago, but did not really know what to do. Only found DB a couple of years back and have been getting info from the like of yourself ever since.
I love the gun. It is the best I have owned (I have not owned that many!).
The fish was tasty!! Nice sashimi and also fried or Shioyaki (salted and cooked over a bbq or in a grill).
Thanks for your all your help!
Cheers,
Adon

[Marwan]

whats the material of the HF barrel, its not carbon right?, how does it compare to carbon though?

[Andre_82]

This is my first time on the forum but i'm also considering buying the new cayman hf. the only thing holding my is the new cressi geronimo pro (95cm). What do you think? worth the wait? or should i just go for the cayman 100.

[Fondueset]

The Cayman Barrel is Hydroformed Aluminum. It is stiffer than carbon or even teak. I have heard this gun moves very well in the water.

[spaghetti]

Originally Posted by Marwan

whats the material of the HF barrel, its not carbon right?, how does it compare to carbon though?

Sure as Fondueset said it's hydroformed alluminium: Omer charts say the HF barrell is 20% stiffer than the Carbon T20 (which is 1,75mm thick carbon wall)and 7% stiffer than the Cobra Teak woodie. Which means: very, very stiff.
I haven't bought it or tried it in water, but I had the chance to hold it in my hands at the town shop, and I was pleased by its light weight for such a big gun. By the way, the shop owner said the HF barrell is made in the USA.
--
PS-Andre 82, no one yet has seen the Cressi Geronimo: it is scheduled to be available from the end of this month in Italy. It's good looking and has an interesting design. I'm curious to see it cause myself gonna buy a 100 centimeters bandgun to replace my old Excalibur Carbonium 100: still undecided between Seatec Gabbiano, Cayman HF and maybe the Geronimo...

[strangelove]

Originally Posted by spaghetti

still undecided between Seatec Gabbiano, Cayman HF and maybe the Geronimo...

Boy that surprise me, I thought you will pick the HF hands down, I am planning on replacing all my black vipers, but I made my mind already it will be the HF, I may go for the doppio one 90 and one 110, these guns are not cheap here in U.S. so I may have to eBay one of my kidneys ; ).

[marindiver]

Hi. I am also thinking about getting myself an cayman hf. Helded in my hands in the shop - first impressions very good. Light gun but one can add extra weight ( comes with the gun ) for better stabillity in shallow water, really like the handle, aiming is great, and it looks cool too. Little bit worried about those french articulatad wishbone - how its working with the shaft with hooks? Maybe it will be better to put on Seatec smoby, or Demka anemos, or just spectra instead. Furthermore, omer bands are not very popular among our spearos ( Croatia ) bad quality they said ( newer try omer myself though), are the ones on cayman ok? Quality of the shaft? Also greendiver mentioned paint comming off very fast on his friend`s cayman.
While in shop looking the gun didn`t remember to meassure the diameter of the band hole in the muzzle, could it be possible to mount a 20mm band?
Beccause I`m thinking about putting the Seatec 20mm yellow progressive band along with their australia 6,5 shaft. How do you think it will work with that setup, Spaggetty? It seems to me you have lots of expirience so maybe you have a better idea, or heard something from your friends who are yusing cayman. Or maybe the original setup is just fine.

[Adon]

Yes, marindiver there are weights that you can add to the handle and I think the front end of the gun. I just used it as is came but changed the handle. The handle is really comfortable. I have a picasso and I get cramps in my hand when I have been in the water for a long time. Although, I was only in for an hour and a half my hands were fine and I could have gone on for a lot longer. As you mentioned the gun is very light. In the water it tracks really well.
I have never used a carbon gun, was thinking about getting one, but the HF looked like it was a stronger gun so went for it. Am really glad I did.
I have noticed little scratches on the barrel from the wishbone and think that I will change to dynema, as mentioned previously.
There is the option of two bands so it might be better using two small diameter bands than the 20 as this might give you more flexibility.
I am happy with the set up as is, so will leave it for the time being.

[covert]

Ok as far a guns go ill just swear by my rabitech's. I love them so much it turned me into a biast rabi entheusiast also I beleive the harsh south african conditions dictates a sturdy accurate comfortable gun. So ive never tried any of the picasso's, omer's etc. Even though I love what Omer diving products, ie suits, goggles, fins. What i have found to be weird though is that my 120 Rabi tracks a hell of alot better underwater than my 90 Rabi. Admittedly I only use the 90 when diving in kelp.

[Marwan]

i have a couple of rabi's too, i love them, but in terms of tracking and smaller fish the rabi barrels are a bit heavier, thats because they are not 100% carbon, there is som fiber glass as well as the ss rings, which makes for one of the toughest barrels around, but at some expense in light weight and manouverability....

[KWM]

I have had a 75cm HF for a week now and used it fot the first time over the weekend. I was very impressed with the gun. It does on first impression's come across as slightly larger than you would expect, but that is because of the shape. I have been using open muzzle wooden guns for some time
(Totemsub Aqua) so was quite used to the difference between open and closed muzzle. The gun is balanced very well and can be moved through the water easily (tracking) Line release and trigger seem very good, handle
(fitted the larger one suited to right handed people) is very comfortable.

What I will say is that before I used the gun I did make a number of personnel adjusments. I replaced the metal wishbone with a dynema one
(the spear is a shark fin one) two reasons for this, 1) I prefer them, and 2) I found that because the barrel is only painted the noise of the wishbone on the barrel was very loud. Fitted the larger handle which can only be used by right hander. Removed the reel (don't use reels) this was more difficult than is sounds.
I would certainly recommend the gun at this length.

regards Kev

[mundial]

hi
i read all the posts on the gun
i can say that the guns barrle are very strong !
so for my opinion to buy less then 110 cm gun dont give you any advantage
yes it is balanced & have a good shape 'Muzzle & handle but it just dont
serve the point for what the gun is for
it is also too bad that OMER didnt made a larger barrles with this amazing
0 flex barrle!!

if i could i buy a gun from the HF serios i take a 110 with 2 16mm bands

for the open muzzle i may say that it take some time to get use to work
with guns like that but it is very good !!
enjoy your new gun
i can say i love shashimi esp if it comes from an AMBERJACK
but this is another story so called JIGGING ( also a japanies method )

[spaghetti]

Marindiver. The bands supplied with the Cayman, Omer Power 18, are very good. I have them on my T20's and I can witness they're an excellent combination of power, painless loading, progressive action. The bad feedback on Omer bands you heard in Croatia is probably related to the Omer Energy 16mm, which are nothing special indeed. But I can swear on the Power 18: don't worry, they're very good rubbers.
Strangelove: yes in facts I'm undecided, because I've heard a good feedback bout the HF, but I'm in love with Seatec Gabbiano (I already have a 120 and my wife newly bought me a 77 to replace muy XXV Gold that has been stolen from my bag on the beach). So the 100 would give me a homogeneous stock of same gun in different lengths. Still undecided tho...
Covert: never tried Rabi or RA (they're not available in my country). But I asked an opinion to Dave of Spearo Uk, who sells both Rabi and Seatec in his shop, and he said that Seatec is better for spearfishing in Europe (i.e. for european fish)