Chasse sous-marine à Margarita — vent, houle, visibilité, marées et caméras en direct

• cubera snapper
  Lutjanus spp. · 3–30 m · légal
  ⚠️ Only outside national parks (Los Roques/Morrocoy/Mochima etc. — no-take). INSOPESCA minimum size not published (verified:false); pargo ~30 cm guide — not a rule.
• grouper
  Epinephelus spp. · 3–35 m · légal
  ⚠️ Only outside parks. Slow-growing — go easy. Min size not published (~35 cm guide, not a rule).
• great barracuda
  Sphyraena spp. · 0–25 m · légal
  ⚠️ Only outside parks. Large individuals — ciguatera risk. Min size not published (verified:false).
• jack / trevally
  Caranx spp. · 0–25 m · légal
  ⚠️ Only outside national parks (Los Roques/Morrocoy/Mochima etc. — no-take). INSOPESCA minimum size not published (verified:false); pargo ~30 cm guide — not a rule.
• Spanish mackerel
  Scomberomorus spp. · 1–25 m · légal
  ⚠️ Only outside national parks (Los Roques/Morrocoy/Mochima etc. — no-take). INSOPESCA minimum size not published (verified:false); pargo ~30 cm guide — not a rule.
• lionfish
  Pterois volitans · 3–40 m · invasive — cible
  Caribbean invasive. Culling encouraged. Venomous spines — careful; edible.

• •An INSOPESCA recreational underwater permit is required to carry a speargun; needs an FVAS card + RIF. The formal process exists but is loosely enforced in practice — confirm with INSOPESCA/a local club.
• ✓PN Morrocoy and other park zones = spearing restricted/prohibited.

• ⛔ 🚫 In national parks (Los Roques, Morrocoy, Mochima, San Esteban, La Restinga) spearfishing is BANNED (no-take). Criminal + administrative fines.
• ⛔ Always banned: endangered species, ornamental fish, corals, seahorses, botuto (Strombus/conch), starfish, turtles.
• ⛔ Military zones (Turiamo, La Orchila, Los Monjes, Isla de Aves) — access closed, keep away.

Rules change and are loosely enforced. Before heading out, check with INSOPESCA (underwater permit, FVAS card + RIF); PN Morrocoy and other park zones are restricted.

• Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
• Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
• Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
• Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
• Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
• Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
• UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
• Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.