The Cetma Composites Canova R1 has all the elements to be outstanding in its performance, as we have deeply presented already in our X-Rays article. Carlo Forni has been trying it for weeks and has also had the opportunity and luck of a great shot on a 20 KG amberjack, let’s read his review.
Intro
“I have been spearfishing in the last year utilising a lot the Inverter and Vela systems spearguns, also to grow my experience. I have of course tested the Sigalsub Nemesis HT, winner of the 2023 and 2024 Best Choice by Apneapassion, but also the excellent new Beuchat Hero Invert and the Picasso Magnum BW Carbon Rail. But, of course, with the Cetma Canova R1 we are at a completely different level, both in performance…and price”
Buoyancy of the Canova R1
“I have tested the Cetma Canova R1 in the Hard setup, which has an 8 mm diameter x 120 cm long single barb shaft, and a Vela System made of a pair of 18.5 mm diameter bands and tow pairs of 16.5 mm. My first impression of the Canova R1 is that all the details are great. You grab the anatomical but symmetrical handle and the superficial soft rubbery surface adheres perfectly to your hand. This speargun out of the water does feel heavy, and this is normal due to the dimensions, the Vela system, the long thick shaft and the very important structure of the barrel. But as soon as you are in the water the situation changes, with a speargun which is practically neutral in buoyancy.
Loading the Canova R1
What has immediately impressed me is the facility in loading the Cetma Canova R1. In fact, despite its length, simply following the standard process of loading, the effort and difficulty are really low. First lock the Devoto shaft in the release system, then position the monofilament with three passages of line. On the muzzle, the monofilament passes on the barb of the shaft keeping it in position. Definitely a nice and comfortable solution.
You then start by pulling the upper wishbone, well designed and easily to grasp with both hands, to the mid and then the first shark fin of the shaft. Then you turn the Canova R1 upside down and progressively pull the three couples of elastic bands positioned in the inferior part of the speargun. Such a process is really easy, as the metal element, which ensures the hooking of the rubber pairs just in front of the reel, is extremely well designed.
Not only that. The frontal steel structure which connects the three pairs of rubber bands to the line and down to the wishbone, keeps the bands tidy and easy to grab and pull. You then make a decisive move to pull the Dyneema wishbones just between the reel and the steel structure and the hooking will be easy and precise. Do that with all three pairs of rubbers and the deal is done!
Swing and buoyancy
What happens once the Cetma Canova R1 is in the water is that the weight disappears thanks to the perfect buoyancy studied by Cetma, while of course you still feel it slightly when moving such a long and important speargun up and down or laterally. Such weight though is much lower than the one of a wooden speargun, thanks to the carbon fibre material and the internal closed-cell polymer core with vibration-damping capabilities.
In general the swing, despite the great dimensions of the Canova R1 and the evidently roomy Vela system, is still good. This is probably due to a very high-level design which aims to limit the area of the lateral section of the speargun. The vertically narrow barrel, the wide but thin reel perfectly integrated under it, and the very neat and adherent rubber bands, give the Canova R1 an unexpectedly great level of swing, especially laterally.
Aiming and shooting
The line of aim after loading the Cetma Canova R1 is quite amazing. Completely clear with a great view of the shaft all the way from its start to the tip, is what we can call the perfectly clear line of aim. The two concave channels lateral to the integrated open track shaft guide generate an even clearer view of the target.
The shot of the Cetma Canova R1 is something magical. The trigger has a sensitivity which is perfect, as the release of the shaft is just when you want it, not too late, but not unexpectedly too early. The pressure applied on the trigger must be minimal, in fact, but not so little that the shot might come out accidentally.
When the shaft is released the recoil is…practically zero. The Vela system balances perfectly the forces acting on the shaft and the speargun, and the quantity of weight of the Canova R1 counterbalances the residual force pushing the speargun backwards. Not only, the force, as it happens on the Cetma Arrow 85, perfectly applies in the center of the palm of the hand. Consequently, there is no upper or lower movement of the speargun. In conclusion, the shot has an unbeatable precision.
Additionally, the shaft exits the speargun with an amazing smoothness. There is no shock, but with all its weight it has an amazing power even beyond 6 meters, hitting any target hard. I can say this with great awareness, as after a few shots at some nice breams and barracudas, always at target, I had the chance and luck to shoot a wonderful 20 Kg amberjack.
Perfect shot on a 20Kg amberjack
In the waters of Ponza island, at the end of October, I dive at 20 meters with my Cetma Canova R1. I am in constant weight and with noone in the water with me. So, I decide to make a couple of dives at the top rocky area coming up from more than 50 meters of depth. The first dive is unsuccessful, even though there are big shoals of small fishes and the view is amazing. The conditions are perfect, with clear and still warm water.
I come up very relaxed, and prepare well for my second dive. Then I go down again, finning for some time as I have few weights on the belt for safety. I then glide on a rock which looks out to the deep water, where I cannot see the bottom. Immediately, after maybe 5 seconds, the huge amberjack comes from my right and above at more than 6 meters. I have just the time to aim at the centre of the body of the fish, but not just behind the head as the amberjack is moving quite fast and not reducing its distance from me.
A great shot!
The shot is great, precise and powerful, hitting hard the amberjack even at 6 meters or more. The 8 mm shaft passes the amberjack from slightly below the lateral line of the fish, reaches the spine and the huge fish is simply “frozen” by the shot. I release the clutch of the reel to be able to reach the surface with no effort.
From there, I start pulling the line towards me to bring the fish up. Even if the amberjack does not battle as its spine has been hit, I can feel the huge mass of the fish. As it comes up I still cannot believe its dimensions. I grab the shaft and put my hand inside its gills. It is mine, one of the best catches of my life, the fish that many can only dream of is in my hands and cannot escape. It’s hard to pull the amberjack on the boat with its 20Kgs. What a day!
