DIY Making a Dive Board out of a Bodyboard for Abalone Hunting

We go up north for abalones only once or twice a year, so I have not felt the need to have a dive board to hunt abalones. However, last time we went up to Mendocino to dive for them. I saw many divers had nice dive boards made out of bodyboards that looked so easy to work around kelp. My family regularly visits Costco, then I saw this very inexpensive bodyboard for $24. If the board was that cheap, I felt that I had to make one for my upcoming abalone hunting trip.
The Costco bodyboard is cheap, but large and nicely made. I thought about all sorts of material for attachments, but I decided to go with all nylon parts for the most since bodyboards are very soft. I found there were surf shops selling just leash plugs for $2ea, so I decided to use them as anchors for the net, shoulder straps, and other attachments. The plugs are very strong, but still flexible not to cause damage to the board, so I believe they are the perfect materials for my dive board.
It took about little over an hour to make. The Dyneema line has 450lb capacity, but it may not be good for high abrasion applications like the setup on my board. I have to test and see. I probably should attach extra loops for the shoulder straps just in case one might break during hiking up and down on hills with all the gear and catches.
** Parts bought for the dive board **
- Bodyboard at Costco for $24 + tax
- Leash Plugs at Amazon.com $2 X 11 + tax & shipping
- Bungee Net at Amazon.com $6
- Dyneema Line 1.75mm 450lb 180ft at Ebay.com for $20
- Straps (webbings and snaps) at Strapworks.com all for $16 + shipping
- Zip Ties at The Homedepot for $4
- Kelp Clip at kayakfishinggear.com for $10 + shipping
** Parts I already had **
- Bungee Cable
- Brass Snaps
I believe I spent about $110. Maybe more...
Shoot, the dive board is not cheap anymore :)

[@TacoMyrick]

Great tips. I like the bungee net setup. Thanks for sharing Bro!

[@bryanshawcpasc]

Finished mine today based on your design. Great work!

[@DraIsabellaAraujo]

Congratulations! Excellent job! That's funcional, safe and beautiful at the same time! I was spend a pretty time looking for a board like yours.

[@davidmarinucci3803]

Thanks for the tips bro! I had an old board laying around and I made something very similar. I have a feeling I'm going to love it. Ill be trying it out tomorrow!

[@thewrongguy]

You are so creative.

[@gr8freediver]

Nice job dude...Thanks for the video!

[@sumogurinet]

Thanks! I got many ideas from other divers as well.

[@sinnahj]

Love your work, making me and my sons one now

[@driftless1870]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

[@demonprince70]

very nice. you have given me the motivation to finish mine. looks good man. good luck on those abs.

[@victorferrera8507]

the best idea for spear fishing float.... thanks bro.....

[@barakkishon3721]

i love it !!! very good

[@sumogurinet]

Thanks! I actually considered to use some stainless steel parts, but they were too expensive for me. I figured Bodyboard leash plugs are made for them, so they should work for dive boards as well. The dyneema line we use for a sling and a reel line should be pretty strong, but I have to test in long term.

[@ADVNevada]

Perfect 👌

[@stillalive--]

Great thanks for sharing. I will never be capable of doing 1% of that!... Congratulations

[@Yury303]

Simple, effective, beautiful. Where would you put a dive flag?

[@SS-nv1wm]

I really need this

[@fabiocutrupi]

Complimenti ottimo lavoro 😊!!!😉👍👍👍

[@sumogurinet]

Thanks!

[@sumogurinet]

Thanks! Yeah, it takes some effort.

[@oakpwr]

Lol I pulled this up and didn't even realize it was yours Kei, I'm in the middle of building one right now.

[@Aquanaut650]

Awesome idea!
What do you do with the shoulder straps when you're diving? tighten them up to the board or remove them?

[@lindalee4768]

Will you burn the edges of each nylon rope to secured them and make them lasting longer? Great Video.

[@1jaygoble]

where do you buy the 2-piece plastic plugs?

[@sesgia]

very good and useful not as fancy as mine but it loos good

[@pacificsedge7873]

How far apart did you space the leash plugs for the cargo net?

[@speedymarc]

I just need to do the most complicated part, the flag and the tube that joins the board, I don't know how to do it, but I'll find out.

[@lindalee4768]

Do you have a newer version 2017? do you sell any of your finished, tested gears? We like to buy some, please reply. thank you.

[@LossLessIfy]

When punshing new holes into the bodyboard, does it suck water ? or is taht not an issue with bodyboards?

[@sumogurinet]

Thanks! Actually, I am going to install a new reel on my friends's riffe next week unless he does himself. I will video-tape that if he lets me.

[@bigunit4122]

Hi, im looking into making a similar sort of thing. I was just wondering, what were the dimensions of the bungee net. Thanks

[@Hypersion]

Why did you put the kelp clip on top?

[@KrnSMLS]

looks awesome man good work, what's the kelp clip for though? How does that work as an anchor or why do you need an anchor? I figured you'd have a float line on it and attach it to your spear gun?

[@Krosys1]

The kelp clip is to attatch the board to kelp that is on the surface on the water and runs all the way down to the bottom so his stuff doesnt float away

[@diytutorialsandmore9804]

Is there a hurricane going on while your recording any way great build high quality mate

[@seikibrian8641]

* ...while YOU'RE recording...

[@user-tb2vv9rv5n]

хорошее инженерное решение.

[@totilsom]

Excellent, BUT what about the dive flag???

[@juanbolivar35]

What about the Flag?

[@metro9636]

Looks expensive

[@josephsaeteurn9158]

$110 is too much and that doesn't include labor.