Training
Gear
Travel
Safety
Fishing
St ingray Injuries
PU
E N! E R F A TIO C I L B
3 Hot Training Tips Page 5
p. 11
FREEDI V E & SPEA RFI SH BETTER Be Steal th y + Streaml i ned Lear n f r om t he Exper t s
Tsukiji- Japan's Lifeblood - Lionfish Recipe - Puerto Rico Travel Summer 2016
From The Publisher
Here we are with the second edition of OneBreath Magazine. The first edition was received with such positive energy and support that we are even more excited as we bring this edition to print. It has been a truly great experience to connect with so many who share our love of the ocean. We met literally thousands of people that are supportive of this effort to provide more information about diving and spearfishing. We continue on with our mission to support fun and safe diving in the pages that follow. We hope you enjoy the training tips, get inspired to travel, and try out the recipes too. Thanks for reading, and do connect with us. We'd love to hear your ideas. Cheers, Sam & Kim Perry
Summer 2016 Feat ure St ories
5
Keep Training Fresh- Training Feature 3 East Ways to Advance Skills, by Ashley Futral Chapman
8
Japan's Lif ebl ood
On eBr eat h M agazin e.com #On eBr eat h M ag
The Tsukiji Market Experience by Anthony Dooley
11
St ingray Injuries by Ryan Gates
14
Rincon Puert o Rico-Travel Primer by Anthony & Marcy Dooley
16
Freediving Cert if icat ion- Why You Should Get Trained by Sam Perry
17
How To Achieve St eal t h by John Wilson Ph.D.
27
Lif e in Fins- A Travel Diary- Ian Almasi
29
St reaml ining f or Spearf ishing by Sam Blount
33
in f o@On eBr eat h M agazin e.com
Spear t o Fork Feat ure: Lionf ish Sausage Recipe
Special thank you to Austin Powell of Mississippi, Anthony Dooley of Puerto Rico , and Sam Blount of North Carolina for each providing multiple dive photographs for the magazine and website.
The contents of this magazine represent the views of the individual authors. The publishers of OneBreath Magazine or contributors assume no responsiblity for use of this information. Freediving is an inherently dangerous sport and can result in inury or death. Divers must use their own judgement when freediving and training for freediving. Importantly NEVER DIVE ALONE. Always dive with other divers that understand the dangers of freediving and are prepared to respond to emergencies as they arise.
by Capt. Andy Clark About the Cover: Diver Mark
34
Spear t o Fork Feat ure: Kevin's Hawaiin Poke by Capt. Andy Clark
35
Ocean Art - Artist Profile: Ryan Sobel
Winnaburger. Off Frying Pan Tower, Coastal North Carolina. Photo by Sam Blount- Frontline Freediving
Ashley Chapman is a Three time wold record holder, and professional PFI Freediving Instructor. She is a regular contributor for training and technique at OneBreath Magazine.
Keep You r Di ve Trai n i n g Fresh 3 Easy Ways to Advance Your Skills By Ashley Futral Chapman
Competition season has been busy
diving are like your worst house
this year, but if you are not
guest. They?re pretty hard to get
following it I understand. Not all
rid of without loosing your
readers are interested in
composure.
competitive freediving. Chances
Listed here in the most digestible
are, most of you are spearos,
manner possible are the top three
videographers and all manner of
ways to stay fresh mentally
recreational diver. That doesn?t
through the long and arduous
mean you can?t take a few training
training season ahead. Hopefully
tips from the competitors who are
you?ll read this and close the
working extra hard right now, the
magazine with a new outlook on
guys who are out there day in and
how to dismiss your ?house guest?
day out perfecting the technique
with a smile on your face.
for the rest of us to adopt. The last issue of One Breath contained training tips for everyone. My personal four favorite exercises included. But as
of regression:
the season progresses these
It is too easy to get hooked on
workouts are not enough. In fact,
numbers. The feeling of bettering
the biggest problem a lot of
an old personal best depth is
athletes face as they really start to
mentally extinguishing yet
max out their potential is the
irrevocably intoxicating (or why
mental barriers associated with the
would we do it?). So, battle the
highly physical and even more
mental beast with the art of
mental freediving training.
regression. This is a little trick I
Charging a new depth takes a lot of
learned from Mandy-Rae Krack of
mental prep as fear and anxiety
PFI while training for my first world
tend to creep into the psyche
record. She advised me to drop
unannounced and uninvited.
back in depth once in a while for an
Poised to rifle through your
easier dive.
refrigerator, dirty the dishes and leave a trail of breadcrumbs behind on the couch. In short, the anxieties associated with depth
5
Mast er t he art
Continued...
TRAI N SM ART Relax and remember that you actually enjoy freediving and give yourself a chance to work on technique. She was right! Every third day at least we drop the depth back five meters or more so I can enjoy an easy dive, focus on technique as opposed to depth and ascend successfully. You?ll gain confidence when dives you thought were hard now become easier and easier. Enjoy!
Visual ize, Grasshopper: There is no better way to trick your brain into thinking you?ve already successfully completed a dive than by thinking about it. Visualizing the dive requires you to initiate all senses. Imagine the feel of the water rushing down your snorkel, the smell of the outboard engine exhaust that you?ve been huffing the entire way to the dive site (which you should not be doing by the way, bad for the brain and your breathold), the sound of the waves smacking the side of your wetsuit 6
OneBreath travel writer Ian Almasi in competition, Deja Blue 2016, Grand Cayman. Photo by Joakim Hjelm Photography
hood, the taste of the salt water you
entering the water. By doing this,
have to purge out of your snorkel,
your brain registers that you?ve
you get the idea. Activating all
completed the dive. Your target dive
senses walk yourself, eyes closed,
will be much easier now that you?ve
through a dive in real time. Real
already made a plan. You know how
time means you don?t abbreviate
many kicks, when to sink, when to
details of the dive because you?re
take the mouthful and have worked
bored with the exercise (we?ll talk
on correcting whatever the current
another time about your ability to
technique issue is. I have to remind
quiet your mind for extended
myself at least two times of my dive
periods of time). You must visualize
plan before each dive. Visualization
every step of the dive, even mistakes
also teaches you how to zone out on
you commonly make. However,
command. Putting yourself in the
visualize yourself correcting those
ideal mindset for depth diving.
mistakes. Tuck the head, spit the snorkel and ?dive? to the target depth in your mind before ever
Training sessions are
with young kids might understand and the rest of you in any kind of relationship might have also gathered, there are times to reprimand and times to
not creat ed
coddle. Which brings the point
equal l y:
days happen. This is often when
I was reminded by one of my training partners just yesterday to calm down. Having had two lesser successful training days in a row I was disappointed in my performances and wanted to slump down into a depressive funk. How ungrateful, right there in the middle of beautiful blue waters, with my beautiful family and friends diving outside some
around full circle. Bad training you make the biggest gains because you learn how to coddle yourself. Stick your thumb in your mouth, have a good cry then get back out there and try again. Every other diver out there has bad training days, promise! We impress each other with our strengths but bond over our weaknesses. Be kind to yourself, gather strength from your dive buddies and wipe your nose.
of the most beautiful coral reef
Enjoy this training season. Start
in the world. I?m sure God was
by regressing, visualizing and
thinking, ?Seriously? What else
sucking your thumb...or coddling
do you want?? But that?s how
yourself instead of smacking
our pathetic little human natures
yourself around on bad training
are sometimes. Turning us back
days. You are not a terrible diver
into slightly more geriatric
and you?re absolutely made for
versions of my two year old. In
this. Even you do not have the
my case, the temper tantrum
authority to take that away from
might have been slightly more
yourself. Never dive alone,
sophisticated than Ani?s but the
watch each others?backs and ask
subject was not. I was not
lots of questions.
getting my way and the world had to know it! As those of you 7
Ian Almasi at Deja Blue 2016 in the Static Apnea competition. Photo by Joakim Hjelm Photography
Japan's Lif ebl ood Seafood is the lifeblood of Japan, and Tsukiji market is at its heart. Text and Phot os by Ant hony Dool ey
Wal king t he st reet s of Tokyo bef ore sunrise is somet hing out of Frank Mil l er's Sin Cit y. St eam pours f rom subt erranean grat es as various shades of grey, bl ack and red of t he pre-dawn cit y make f or a col or pal l et my west ern eye is not sure how t o absorb. It is 3:30 in t he morning and t he sidewal k sushi cart s are packed. Workers zip by on propane powered cart s del ivering seaf ood t o buyers f rom around t he worl d, seaf ood t hat just arrived t o port f rom ships pl ucking l if e f rom every nook and cranny of our oceans. This is t he Tsukiji market , and it is ALIVE.
9
Even one spoiled urchin could hurt the reputation of the vendor and essentially shut them down; there is simply too much competition to allow for mistakes.
men in a mechanical rhythm. The group of buyers takes turns casually raising their hands until silence falls and the group disperses.
At the rear of the wholesale market we are led through a small metal door and I duck through into a huge, cold warehouse. Here, giant bluefin tuna will be cut with precision by the tail, its frozen meat carefully massaged by mongers, its color and firmness graded and its entire life worth given a dollar value. I stood in awe, looking over these giant beauties of the deep and thought about where they came from and how they ended up on this cold cement floor in the depths of Tokyo.
I stood there amongst the selling of the giants of the deep, carefully observing every last detail of this room, until suddenly the bright flash of the Australian's camera goes off and he is immediately reprimanded and kicked out. It is serious business here in the
A stumpy, old Japanese man with oversized bifocals is standing on a wooden crate in the middle of the auction floor, slapping a rolled up newspaper and barking out to a group of well-dressed
Tsukiji market and tourists are a constant nuisance according to our tour guide. Flash photography, open toed shoes, touching any product or even sneezing in the wrong direction will get you promptly escorted from the facilities. As the tour ended we made our way toward the market gates, past the endless tables of sea creatures of the wholesale
market, past the 20 foot high mounds of used styrofoam boxes being bulldozed into scraps, past the Namiyoke Inari Shrine where traders pray for more and more seafood to pass through these doors each day to fatten their wallets, past the sushi carts where workers enjoy their 6am dinner of fatty tuna and nori after spending the last working hours bartering over the same fish, and finally out the gates into the still dark Tokyo morning. My eyes absorb the color pallet of the city with a bit more understanding. If humans continue to deplete ocean resources at the rate we are going, places like the Tsukiji market, bluefin tuna auctions, sushi breakfasts and the employment of over a million people, will become as extinct as the creatures on the tables behind me.
"Here, giant bluefin tuna will be cut with precision by the tail, its frozen meat carefully massaged by mongers, its color and firmness graded and its entire life worth given a dollar value."
Fi r s t - Ai d
St i ngr ay I nj ur i es Text by Ryan Gates, A California Based Contributor
Large
Watermen throughout the world deal with stingrays every
buried stingray it will defend itself by whipping them
day, because they live in almost every tropical and
with it?s barbed tail.
subtropical part of the ocean. There are even freshwater
While stingrays are not aggressive they are also not
stingrays! They usually like to bury themselves with sand
harmless. Best-case scenario if stung by a stingray you
or mud in shallow water, but there are also a few species
will only suffer excruciating pain and a small puncture
of pelagic rays.
wound. Worst-case scenario, you die. My personal hero,
In areas with cooler water such as California stingrays
and one of the greatest animal lovers, adventurers,
prefer the coast in warmer months, and move to deep
explorers, and watermen ever to live, Steve Irwin, died of
water in the winter. In reality stingrays can be found
punctures to the heart and lungs by a large stingray while
anywhere at any time. Stingrays usually eat shellfish,
filming off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
worms, small fish, various small invertebrates, and unsuspecting tourists. Just kidding, people are not on the menu? so why is everyone so afraid of stingrays? Stingrays very rarely bite people, because they don?t want to hurt us, and they don?t see us as food, however when a bather is wading through shallow water and steps on a 11
Continued...
PREVENTION: The best thing you can do to treat a sting is to prevent it from ever even happening. If you can, avoid wading in shallow sandy areas, especially when the water is warm. Like other fish, stingrays are also especially active around dusk and dawn. When you do find yourself moving through an area that is likely populated with stingrays avoid stepping on them by doing ?The Stingray Shuffle?! That means dragging your feet through the sand, which stirs up the sand scaring rays away, and also lifts them up from underneath rather than stepping down on one. Remember, you may be familiar with this graceful dance, but many tourists are not. Do a good deed and make their experience in your home town more pleasant by warning someone if you see them walking through a stingray infested area. Tell them that there are stingrays there and that they should relocate, and/ or do ?The Stingray Shuffle."
Stingray Barb Photo by David McRee, BeachHunter.net
THE INJURY: If you are stung the barb will likely penetrate the top of your foot, leaving you with either a puncture wound, or sometimes a nasty laceration. The barbs are serrated, so they will not make a clean wound by any means. Sometimes the barb will break off and remain embedded in you (not good). Stingray barbs contain venom that will inflict an incredible amount of pain, and in some cases trigger a deadly allergic reaction. It is also common for the wound to become infected afterwards. Injuries can be fatal if the victim does not receive emergency medical treatment, and: 12
The barb penetrates a large artery and there is excessive blood loss. The victim suffers from a severe anaphylactic reaction. The wound becomes badly infected.
Place: Isla Canales, Panama, Diver :Brian Coen
Photo by Anthony Dooley
TREATMENT: If someone is stung by a stingray, they will need medical attention. In some cases you may just treat someone yourself, but often they will need professional emergency medical care. When in doubt seek help. Priorit ize -
Your safety is number one! Hurting yourself will only add to the problem. If possible use the appropriate body substance isolation. i.e. gloves, and a mask and protective eyewear if necessary. Call for help. If you think that the injury may be serious, get lifeguards, have a bystander help, or call 911.
Primary Assessment (t reat l if e t hreat s) -
-
Know your ABC?s? Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. Ensure that the patient has a clear airway, and is receiving adequate ventilation. Take a moment to note if they are struggling to breathe. Naturally their breathing rate will increase because of the pain, but if they are struggling to get the air they need, there is a big problem, and they need to go to the hospital immediately. If they have an EpiPen prescribed to them, and appear to be having an anaphylactic reaction (difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of the face) administer it. Control bleeding. Excessive blood loss is the most dangerous effect of a sting. Apply direct pressure on the wound ideally using sterile gauze pads, but any cloth will do. Do your best to keep the wound clean, and allow the blood to clot.
Secondary Assessment (manage minor injuries) Manage the pain. Aside from shock due to blood loss stingray victims can endure psychogenic shock due to the pain, so for that reason as well as simple comfort it is very important to manage the pain. DO NOT PEE ON THE WOUND!!! I don?t know why but after I was stung by a stingray everyone and their mother wanted to pee on my foot. They were all wrong. Urinating on an open wound is a great way to cause infection, not ease the pain. The correct treatment is soaking the wound in a hot water bath. Fill a bucket with water as hot as you can tolerate (Do not exceed 105°F) and soak the wound until it feels okay; it will probably take a few hours to get there, but the pain and sensitivity may last a day or two. The sooner you get your foot cooking the more effective it will be. Go to the doctor. Part of the barb could still be in the victim, and that must be removed by a doctor? not you, not the lifeguard no matter how experienced they are, only a doctor should remove the barb if it or part of it is still in. You also need to ensure that your tetanus shot is up to date, and going to the doctor after you soak your foot is the best way to prevent or recognize an infection. Stingrays are passive but powerful creatures that have a tendency to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. While we should neither fear them nor hate them, they deserve our respect. Avoid being stung, but if you or one of your buddies are, know what to do. One of the best safety measures you can take is a basic First Aid and CPR class. I guarantee you will never regret expanding your medical knowledge, and any further training you receive will only help you in life. Good luck out there, and dive safe!
13
FREEDIVING RINCON PUERTO RICO The west coast is incredibl e. From t he bl ue hol e at Shacks Beach & sunken piers at Crashboat s t o t he sunken B-29 Bomber of f t he airport runway, Aguadil l a has pl ent y of amazing spot s f or every l evel of f reediver t o enjoy. In Rincรณn, cont act Carson at Taino Divers t o get out t o Desecheo Isl and, l ocat ed 12 mil es of f t he coast , where you can f reedive huge nat ural arcs, sunken U-Boat s and t he l ocal f avorit e Candyl and. The pl ace is l oaded wit h marine l if e incl uding sharks, mant arays and humpback whal es. Anot her pl ace t hat shoul d be on your l ist if it 's not al ready is Mona Isl and. Locat ed 60 mil es of f t he coast it has become known as "The Gal apagos of t he At l ant ic." Taino Divers www.t ainodivers.com SEASON Best = Oct ober-May during t he dry season when t he wat er is cryst al cl ear. Runof f f rom t he mount ains during t he rainy season mont hs makes t he wat er grit t y.
GETTING AROUND- Rent ing a car is recommended t o get out t o Rincon and t ends t o come in handy when you?d l ike t o expl ore ot her diving spot s or some of t he isl and?s wat erf al l s and caves.
TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS: RINCON, PUERTO RICO
EAT, STAY + RELAX - You?ll find a
SPEARFISHING PUERTO RICO Puerto Rico offers a variety of species and locations on its four coasts. On the north coast (San Juan region) Roberto Reyes is the man to go with. He has been hunting Puerto Rico and the rest of the world religiously for 25+ years & holds many records. Just outside of San Juan are a few government placed fads where you can hunt mahi, wahoo, tuna and a variety of other pelagic species. During the dry season, the west coast is a bluewater hunter's dream. Big wahoo, mahi, kingfish and even springtime yellowfin tuna can be found in the deep waters just one mile off the coast. Anthony Dooley and Peter Correale offer bluewater trips during the peak months of January through March, leaving out of Rincón.
great mix of easy eats and beachfront sunset locations. Enjoy fresh sushi and sashimi at Pool Bar, try lionfish empanadillas at La Cambija which pairs nicely with their watermelon mojitos, and catch sunset with a coconut full of rum at Villa Cofresi. If you were lucky in the water, stop by Los Pescaderos and have them grill up your daily catch.
The best way to stay in Rincon is simple ? rent an apartment or house (weekly rates) Opt out of major Roberto Reyes holidays= better deals. Check AirBnb and VRBO for a heap of spots www.freediverspuertorico.com to choose from. Our favorites: Tres Rincon Spearfishing (Anthony and Pete) contact: dooley@theunchartedstudio.com Amigos: Right on the beach at the popular surfing spot, Dogman's. www.vrbo.com/ 331242 Fisheye SURFING- The west coast boasts some of View: Best view in town on a the greatest surf on the island. With private, beautiful hilltop with dozens of popular breaks in Rincon and infinity pool. the neighboring town of Aguadilla, you www.rinconview.com Uncharted can be sure to score your share of point Downtown: Spacious and affordable & beach breaks. Best time for waves is three bedroom apartment in the December - March, so you can ditch your heart of Rincon Plaza. 5mm wetsuit for some warm Caribbean www.theunchartedstudio.com water. Lessons: Rincon Surf School www.rinconsurfschool.com
TRAVEL TO + FROM- Less t han 4 hours via direct f l ight f rom New York Cit y and Fl orida. No passport required. The t own of Rincon on Puert o Rico's west coast is a remot e get away opt ion f or vacat ioners & advent urers al ike. Beach bars on t he sand, pl ent y of surf and it s cryst al cl ear wat ers are some of t he Isl and?s best f or f ishing and f reediving. Direct f l ight s are avail abl e f rom t he east US int o Aguadil l a (BQN) Airport , 16 mil es t o Rincon. San Juan?s Luis Muñoz Marín Int ernat ional Airport (SJU) has dail y f l ight s on major airl ines, 100 mil es, around 3 hours by car. Connect ing service f rom San Juan is al so avail abl e t o nearby Mayaguez (MAZ). DIVING CONDITIONS- The best t ime of year t o enjoy t he wat ers of Puert o Rico is Oct ober-May during t he dry season when t he wat er is cryst al cl ear. Runof f f rom t he mount ains during t he rainy season mont hs makes t he wat er grit t y.
WORDS & PHOTOs BY: ANTHONY + MARCY DOOLEY
Th er e ar e 3 r eason s you sh ou ld get cer t if ied. 1- It cou ld save you r lif e, 2It cou ld save you r f r ien d's lif e, 3You 'll dive bet t er t h an ever bef or e. I've experienced first hand the difference between diving before I got certified and after I went through a freediving education program. There are some things you can learn on your own, and at first freediving might seem like one of those things, but in reality it's not. In this case, what you don't know may very well take your life or the life of someone you love. Now that I'm on the other side of the coin, I don't hesitate to tell friends and strangers alike, "take a class." I'll admit, I'm very leery of diving with non-trained divers. I can't be certain they know what to do if I blackout, or that they will use safe diving practices in the water. Your dive partner is your lifeline, shouldn't they be trained to be the safest they can be? How can you comfortably dive to 60 feet hunting fish knowing the guy on the surface can barely get to 30 feet, thrashes about in the water, and struggles to do that safely? Cer t if icat ion Cou r ses Several organizations offer certification coures. So what is class like? First of all it's challenging and fun. Each program is different, but you'll get both classroom and water time with instructors that will give you safety technique, and practical diving how-to. In the classroom you'll learn about the 16
Why You Should Get Trained
Freedive Certification
by Sam Perry, Publisher
causes of accidents and how to reduce the likelihood of blackouts, the most common cause of death in freedivers. in the water you'll learn techniques to advance your diving. You'll get practical knowledge of how to help another diver in trouble. You will also learn how to train so that you can dive more safely and more effectively. There is a science to every aspect of freediving and you should make time to learn it. While there is no guarantee of safety and survival with an inherently dangerous sport like freediving, getting trained will change you. It will equip you with knowledge and skills. You will be surprised how much you didn't know after you've been through the program. You'll dive better, have more fun, and know how to stay safer. Costs vary, but isn't your life worth a few hundred dollars? And when want to take a trip and the dive boat requires certification, you'll be all set.
M ak e Dive Fr ien ds Not only will you learn and practice in a course, but you will make great diving connections along the way. It's a very welcoming community that's ready to have fun, but go about it smartly.
I truly hope you'll care enough for you and your dive buddies to take a class. Make a fun weekend out of it. If you're on the fence about taking a freediving course, drop me an email. I'm happy to chat with you about my experiences. sam@onebreathmagazine.com
Stealth How to Achieve Stealth Knowledge and Helpful Hints for Training Text By: John Wilson, Ph.D. Photo : Sam Blount
17
OneBreathMagazine.com
?The SCUBA diver dives to see what?s down there, the freediver dives to see what?s in there.? Jacque Mayol, the father of freediving.
Every good spearfishing article will tell you to be stealthy when hunting, but no one tells you how to do it. What follows are the fundamentals of ?HOW? to cultivate stealth. Every aspect of freediving whether for spearfishing or just for the experience of communing with the ocean requires the ability to focus.
A good freediver is focused ?within? no matter the stage of the dive, or the purpose.
Moving t o t he area where t he dive begins ? f inning on t he surf ace. Unless you?re attempting to attract yellowtail, or some species of tuna, and you fin as fast as a boat propeller, splashing the surface even slightly is going to frighten any fish within a considerable area, as well as decrease fin efficiency. Bottom fish will dig in deeper, free swimmers will hide in their holes or crevices or just leave the area. Kelp fish will scurry to deeper water. In short the challenge of finding the fish, and getting a good shot is made considerably more difficult.
Learn to move on the surface by finning efficiently and by keeping your fin kick completely beneath the surface. As soon as you break the surface the ?splash noise? will occur and you telegraph your position, and probable intention to the fish in the area. Off California and Mexico you can tell how good you are by watching the behavior of Calico Bass in the area. If they?re looking at you and giving you a wide berth, you have work to do on your surface dive. As for the other fish you won?t see them because they have left the area.
Continued page 20
19
Making t he Surf ace Dive ? t he Jack Knif e Surf ace Dive. The Jack-Knife (breaking the surface) The spearfisherman?s version of this dive is slightly different than that of the freediver who isn?t spearfishing. If not spearfishing one can raise both fins together, while the spearfisherman only raises one fin, then brings the other fin into the picture as the first fin tip becomes submerged. The procedure is to lie flat on the surface bend smoot hl y and quiet l y at the waist, keep your butt and legs at the surface, ?as you sink? smoot hl y and quiet l y bring one leg to the vertical helping you sink vertically. When ?the fin t ip? is below the surface, ?then-and-only-then? bring your feet together and begin your fin kick cycle. If you watch a seal leave the surface after he puts his head down all you see is his back ?rolling? into the dive at the surface. No splash of any kind. This is the look and feel you want to master to become a good spearfisherman. It?s so efficient you even want to use it in blue water hunting where stealth isn?t quite as important, because it conserves energy. No matter how good you believe 20
your surface finning to be when you arrive at your dive point, stop and lay on the surface for a few minutes without moving. This allows the fish in the area to settle and accept your presence.
If I?m in an area where they?re a lot of fish, especially Calico bass I may lay there for several minutes. In fact if I?m hunting a skittish fish I may lay at my dive point for as much as 30-minutes before beginning my dive. The advantages are that my eyes have ample time to adjust to the low light; I have time to observe other fish in the area and what seems to be making them respond. It also gives me time to use my diaphramatic breath training to slow my heart rate. Bubbles One might think, ?It?s the ocean, how could fish be sensitive to bubbles?? Well they are, in fact they?re extremely sensitive to the sound of bubbles. So much so that my spearfishing suits all have holes in the top of the hood, and the bottom of the booties. When entering the water I do a series of ?clearing? dives to let the bubbles leave my suit. I enter the water and prior to loading my speargun, if that is what I am using, I will sit vertically and let the air flow out of my suit through my hood; then I stand on my
head for awhile and let the air flow from my suit interior out of my booties. Keeping my finning below the surface is another contributor to stealth because the booties will pick up air if surface splashing and then produce bubbles at depth. This phenomenon will give away your presence, most assuredly when you don?t want it. The Snorkel In keeping with the concept of bubbles creating disturbing noise to the fish, as spearfishermen, we spit our snorkel out when we begin the Jack-Knife part of our dive. Taking the last diaphragmatic breath the snorkel gets spit out so it fills immediately and doesn?t leave a trail of bubbles on the descent. The other reason for spitting the snorkel out is that it helps the mammalian dive reflex kick in sooner. The mammalian dive reflex is the mammal reflex, including human, that is responsible for slowing the heart rate, increasing oxygen utilization, preparing the body for the blood-shift (where our blood leaves our extremities and concentrates in our core) and a number of other reflexes we have in common with marine mammals.
All of my snorkels also have an
will it cause you to spend precious
additional modification. I have cut
energy and oxygen while kicking,
them approximately in half. This
but it is noisy and will tire you more
reduces the air drag when breathing
quickly. The excess noise and
at the surface, reduces drag on the
movement will definitely broadcast
dive because there isn?t as much
your presence to the fish in the area.
rubber/ plastic to drag in the water,
Something you wish to avoid.
and lastly it?s easier and quieter to
The reasons above are some of the
clear.
several reasons we use ?long-blade?
Of course always remember to
fins in spearfishing and freediving.
begin your equalization
The plastic, fiberglass or carbon
?immediately?, don?t wait for the
composition of the blades also
pressure to build. I?ve also found
contributes to energy conservation
Mucinex Sinus helpful in facilitating
and stealth. Fewer kick-cycles also
the equalization process. It lasts 12
mean less movement resulting in
hours, I take it about an hour before
improved stealth.
beginning my diving.
Lastly, don?t look down when you?re
Antihistamines increase blood
descending you can damage your
pressure and heart rate something
trachea. Focus straight in front of
we want to avoid as freedivers. They also seem to only last about
you, and if you feel you must look
important to keep your fin kick at a
down, or up, make it a quick glance
comfortable pace. A comfortable
at most. Looking down will also
pace means slow usually, smooth
distract you from fish ?around? you.
and efficient, avoiding muscle strain.
Many hunters spiral on the ascent or
Efficiency is dictated by making sure
descent allowing good visual
If I?m diving under 100ft my
the water is flowing smoothly off
coverage of the area. If you notice
equalization method of choice is the
both surfaces of the fin taking full
fish swimming away from you as you
Frenzel method, or a method close
advantage of the fin design. Simply
traverse from the surface to your
to it I?ve developed. I clear about
put, no pigeon toeing (toes-in), or
desired hunting depth, take note it
every 2 or 3 feet on the dive.
pronaming (toes-out) of the fin
probably means you?re moving too
Finning t o a Desired Dept h or
position is allowed. If the fins are
fast.
Bot t om
touching or clicking as you fin
Coninued.....
two hours in the water. Besides lasting 12 hours Mucinex does not raise blood pressure or heart rate, it merely liquefies the mucous.
21
Photo by Anthony Dooley
When finning it is critically
(pigeon toeing), or sliding from side-to-side, (pronaming), not only
Level ing Of f at a Desired Dept h
ADD weight, to be neutral at a
Weighting for Neutral Depth.
?deeper? depth you SUBTRACT EXAMPLE
weight. Third, note the difference in A very important skill is weighting for a desired depth. This of course is all part of planning your dive or spearfishing excursion. Knowing the fish you?re going to hunt and what depth that particular fish likes is all part of freedive spearfishing. If you?re too heavy you will blow
beginning weight increment for men vs. women at the same level of fitness. Women need an extra 5 to 7lbs, while men only need an
If you weigh 160 lbs x .05 (5%) = 8lbs for a male
additional 3-5lbs. This is because
Add 3 to 5lbs =11lbs for a male (3lbs).
women have an extra layer of fat
Add 5 to 7lbs, instead of 3 to 5lbs if you?re female, and proceed as follows.
over that of men and fat is extremely buoyant.
through your fish?s cruising depth then spend your time and energy
Coming to rest on the bottom
finning vertically trying to maintain
If you?re going to weight yourself to
your desired depth. Not enough
be neutral on the bottom, don?t.
weight on your belt and you?re
Weight yourself to be neutral about
struggling to get or stay down,
five or ten feet above the bottom. As
finning like crazy, and frightening every fish in the area. The same thing happens with fins too short for the type of diving you?re doing. It?s important to know how to weight
Neut ral Weight Calculat ion: com put ing st ar t ing weight to be neut ral at 30f t wit h a 5m m open cell wet suit :
a spearfisherman you don?t want to crash into the bottom, you want to gently float down to the bottom in the glide phase of the dive quiet l y
So f or m ale: 11lbs should make you (if your male) neutrally buoyant at 30ft (give or take a foot or two). If you switch to a 3m m open cell wetsuit (from a 5mm suit), you should take 4lbs of weight off your belt to be neutral at 30ft. I recommend adjusting by 2 pounds for every millimeter of wetsuit. Therefore, if you switch to a 7m m wetsuit add 4lbs to your weight belt to be neutral at 30ft. If you wish to be neutral at 15f t inst ead of 30f t add 3lbs to your 30ft calculation.* If you wish to be neutral at 45f t inst ead of 30f t subt ract 3lbs from your 30ft calculation.*
yourself for the desired depth so
dist urbing not hing. In order to affect
below I provide a formula with
this you need to be neutral a few feet
examples. Neutral depth is that
(I like to use 10-15ft) above the
depth at which you don?t sink, or
bottom. This gives you a few
Leaving t he Desired Dept h or
float when you reach that depth.
seconds to put your body in shooting
Bot t om
Some important considerations are
position before settling on the
these: First , the formula above will
bottom. I usually use prone position,
provide the ?starting weight?. Some
many divers prefer upright sitting
fine-tuning is often required due to
with their knees and fins under them.
small adjustments for body shape.
(Preferred position for polespear
Second, note the weighting is
hunters.)
counter-intuitive. That is to be neutral at a ?shal l ower? depth you 22
A mistake I?ve seen many beginning spearfishermen make is in leaving the bottom or neutral depth from a dive. They will move too fast.
Continued...
St eal t h Cont inued
continue your ascent with a minimum
quietly and recover from your dive.
Sometimes even jerking themselves
or even no finning. By looking forward
Make sure of course you recover
off the bottom or righting themselves
you should be able to anticipate the
?completely? so you can maximize
and kicking from neutral depth almost
surface and when about two to three
your comfortable bottom time on the
as if in a panic. This habit virtually
feet from the surface replace your
next dive.
eliminates them from returning to their
snorkel (see below) and prepare to
Clearing and Replacing the Snorkel
shooting spot with their fish or prey
clear it using your method of choice. Loud blows at the surface can spook
If you have a hand free it?s easy to
still there. They frighten the fish away
certain fish so it?s best to clear it
replace your snorkel a few feet from
on their departure and like, the click
gently.
the surface. I?ve developed a little
from a metal speargun, the fish don?t return for a few minutes. Sometimes
Once you?re close to the surface,
they don?t return for an hour or more if
slowly, ever so slowly, roll forward and
at all.
let your body prone out at the surface.
The trick is don?t wait until you?re
Unless you have a fish in tow no
?desperate? for air to begin your
movement is required. Lie there
technique of using my shoulder to push it back in my mouth. I?ve found this comes in handy if I have a fish in tow and I am dealing with it and my gun or polespear. Whatever method you choose, just remember never break
ascent. Perform the entire dive
the surface like a submarine on
?under control?, slowly and
emergency blow and splash around
deliberate focused on not
getting your snorkel in your mouth.
disturbing the bottom or
Unless of course you?re done for the
frightening the fish. Besides if
day because nothing will be down
you wait until you?re desperate
there when you return. Remember to
for air you may be setting
watch the seals. I use two different
yourself up for shallow water
methods of clearing my snorkel. One
blackout.
involves a gentle ?blow-spit? to get the
Approaching t he Surf ace.
water out. Focus on the blow/ spit just enough ?blow? to clear the snorkel. A
Once you?ve decided its time to surface, glance upward to become aware of any kelp or other obstructions that may have floated and come to rest above you, then looking forward begin your ascent. A steady, unhurried ascent is the best. Once you?re above the neutral depth you should be able to take full advantage of your positive buoyancy to 23
?whale? blow is not required. The second method involves filling my snorkel with air and then snapping my head forward when I come to the surface. This method requires some practice but is the method of choice because it is virtually silent on the surface and allows you to begin breathing immediately.
Surf ace Recovery When reaching the surface and clearing your snorkel, take a couple of quick deep breaths, then hold your
oxygen you use per unit of time. This
you?re being actively bounced around
translates to more recovery time to
on the surface, and forcing an
make sure those tissues get totally
inadequate recovery due to this factor
recharged.
will produce the same noisy sense of urgency referred to in # 3 above.
breath for 2 or 3 seconds allowing the oxygen to equalize in your system.
Experience calmness and focus from
Your mental state. If you?re stressed
After doing this breathe normally.
the last dive. As you gain experience
your respiration will be automatically
If you?ve been doing your Square Table
you will find you refocus and retrieve
higher. If it?s too high you need to
Diaphramatic Breathing Exercises you
your calm state more quickly. The
really focus on calming yourself, or
should have a good hold on how long
more you dive the more comfortable
perhaps you need to call it a day. A
you need to rest on the surface
you become and the faster the focus
hunt er/ diver who isn?t cal m is a noisy
recovering for the next dive.
returns. Focus is necessary to center
diver.
Perhaps one of the biggest
on moving slowly.
Repeat ing t he Dive
safety and stealth mistakes
"Sl ow movement
Make sure you?re enjoying yourself.
spearfishermen and beginning freedivers make, besides hyperventilation, is cutting themselves
destroy enjoyment quickly. When you
movement ."
stop having fun, the five items listed
short on the surface recovery. I?ve heard several rules over the years
How hard you were working on the last
direction quickly. Remember
from for every 1 minute on the bottom
dive. The harder you work the more
freediving is underwater meditation;
you do 2 minutes on the surface, but
oxygen depletion occurs in the
freedive spearfishing is underwater
the fact is hard and fast rules like this
muscles. If you make your next dive
meditation with a meal attached.
don?t work.
prior to full recovery your tissues will
If you cut your recovery short besides
require increasingly longer times to
being dangerous it invariably
recover healthy oxygen levels in your
generates noise on the next dive.
muscles. The risk factor becomes
Always think, ?Rushing generates noise?. Your recovery time on the surface should include several factors to include: 1) time on bottom/ depth; 2) experience, calmness and focus from the last dive; 3) how hard you were working on the last dive; 4) how calm is your recovery surface; 5) your mental state. Time on bottom/ depth ? the deeper the dive generally the more tissue 24
resul t s in quiet
Pushing yourself for the next dive will
cumulative in this state. That is ?the more you cut yourself short on the recovery, the more recovery time you need and if you continue cutting it short it doesn?t take long before you?ve entered the ?danger zone? which leads to a sense of urgency which becomes directly proportional to noise. How calm is your recovery on the surface. If you?re on a rough surface, or a windy one, your recovery will, and should take longer. You can?t focus if
above begin to turn in the wrong
Import ance of Being Comf ort abl e at
get your catch in a few minutes, even
Dept h
Import ance of St amina During t he Hunt
As you gain experience you will gain
Stamina in spearfishing seems to be
comfort at depth. This also assumes of
mostly attached to the frequency of
course you maintain a regular course of
hunting and the hunter?s ability to stay
training. If you know you?ve pushed your
calm and focused. The more you go,
depth limit then you have set yourself up
within limits, the longer you will be able
for immediate mental stress. Add depth
to stay and enjoy your time in the water.
slowly, a meter at a time in your training.
Usually only about 2-4 hours is necessary
Remember everyone has mental and
for a successful and rewarding hunt, but
physical limits, and while its fun to
I?ve been, and still do occasionally, require
explore these, don?t be reckless because
up to 6-8 hours in the water and I have
you?re convinced the deeper you dive the
been in the water up to 12 hours. Of
larger the fish. This is absolutely not the
course this could be because I?m getting
case. Most of the fish I?ve speared in the
old and just don?t move as fast as I used
60+ years of spearfishing have been
to.
Unless you?re just underwater foraging for
between the surface and 50ft of depth. The point is it would be a mistake to think you?re going to just jump in the water and 25
though this does occasionally happen. lobster, oysters, mussels, scallops or the like, plan on spending at least an hour or three in water for the hunt. Remember slow equals quiet and quiet leads to success. I live on my sailboat, surrounded by oysters, mussels, scallops and several types of perch and halibut. I roll into the water from my boat and it still takes me around an hour to get the choice items I like; and I cultivate my own oyster and mussel beds and feed half dozen pet lobster and octopus under my boat. Continued page 26
St eal t h Cont inued
doesn?t hurt to read everything you can
fish behavior to spearfishing. He has
Remember, you?re in the sport to have
and while U-tube might be good
spearfished around the world in a wide
fun and enjoy yourself. Leave the ego
entertainment it is a lousy education
variety of environments. He is also the
in the car. You should leave your hunt
tool. Seeing someone do something
author of the book An In-depth Guideline
happy, satisfied and peaceful; not
and understanding what is going on in
to Breath Hold Spearfishing ? 7 Volumes,
stressed. This should be your single
their head while doing it are two
which covers everything from basic
most important goal. Most of all
greatly separated phenomenon. In
spearfishing for specific fish to spearfish
remember the catch per unit effort in
order to become a master
hunting strategy and how it shifts when
freedive spearfishing is among the
spearfisherman it is necessary to
using a polespear to large blue water
lowest methods of fishing. This is not
master the mental side of the sport
speargun. The book can be purchased
true for the ?enjoyment per unit effort?
first.
from Mitch?s Surf Shop LaJolla by calling
however. The enjoyment factor is
About the Author- in brief
the store and ordering it over the phone
directly proportional to the attitude factor. Right attitude equals high enjoyment. Sometimes there is just no one home; be determined to enjoy yourself anyway; just learn everything you can each time you go. Finally, it
ONLY. It is not available online. John Wilson began spearfishing at age 8 in 1953. His father, an Underwater
Contact information:
Demolition Team member started him
John Wilson, Ph.D. 619-994-2621
hunting in LaJolla California. One of
Mitch?s Surf Shop, LaJolla, CA ?
John?s degrees is a Ph.D. in marine
858-459-5933
ecology. He applies his knowledge of
26 Location: Saint Pete, FL Diver Charlie Slattery from Good Time Charlie Charters
Photo by Austin Powell
A Travel Diary
Li f e
photo: Anthony Dooley Photo by Joakin Hjelm Photography
in
Fi ns
By Ian Almasi,
into it. A solid stint in Chile and being willing to harass the
Ian is a 23 year old PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and an aspiring beginner freediver taking off around the world to follow his passions to better himself. He's venturing around Latin America to learn Spanish to help him teach SCUBA and to find freediving buddies.
Solo Apnea freediving team led me coincidentally to turn a page in my life. Oh what am I talking about!! It?s a whole new chapter! My enthusiasm to freedive was born of my thirst to spearfish. But that has evolved slightly. Like anything, change is inevitable. How you choose to react to
There is nothing wrong with renewing your enthusiasm for
it is entirely on you. We change slightly day by day, with a
something you love to do... be it cooking, reading, a heavy
few defining moments sprinkled in there when we can
workout, or even knitting? At some point a new look at
never expect them.
things could bring your interests into a new light, therefore
Even as I write this, it?s a big change from scratching out random
bringing your approach to something ordinary and normal
stories and events into the Office Depot specials I call my
for you. In my case my interests include just about anything
journals. I think embracing the unknown is what can really lead
that allows me to submerged.. Safely of course.
to you becoming a person you wondered would ever exist.
I never thought I would build an enthusiasm for the competitive side of freediving. But I just kind of landed
27
Progress is progress. However the pace can be a little frustrating at times. Continued Page 30
28
OneBreat hMagazine.com
Streamlining For
Sp earf ishin g Becoming an efficient freediver has a lot to do with how we use our body to move through the water. Water is 800 times denser than air so it would make sense that we would do everything within our power to make ourselves glide easily through the water column. This is something I preach to my students during a class to help their diving. If you have ever had the chance to go spearfishing with me you may have noticed I usually have one or both arms over my head. This isn?t only when traveling vertically through the water column but any time I am swimming. I like to stream line my body when fighting currents or moving spots to keep my heart rate as low as possible. Again it just makes sense.
Contined on page 35 Text and Photos by Sam Blount, PFI freediving instructor and owner of Frontline Freediving. He coaches in Wilmington, North Carolina, Jaco, Costa Rica and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 29
Lif e in Fins Cont inued But one of my
My mom told me recently that when you
Seeing the future and knowing you can
favorite quotes that always keeps me
are doing the right thing for yourself
make a difference separates something
rolling goes a little something like this?
you?re halfway between excited and a
ineffable from just an idea. I?ve been
?If you shoot for the
dreaming a lot lately.
moon and miss, you
However it seems
will still end up
things are falling into
somewhere in the
place slowly. I?m
stars.? One of my
headed off to compete
favorite motivational
again soon. Training
speakers was the
for freediving is
person I heard that
probably the most
from. A prolific man by
miserable thing on the
the name of Les
planet. But to those
Brown. A fountain of
that are hooked. There
inspiration if you ask
is an indescribable joy
me.? You must be
that?s born from a
patient and engage in
sport that challenges
consistent action.? was
your instincts and
another one that shook
forces you to learn
me to break new
more about yourself. When I came up from
bounds for myself personally. I?ve never
scared type of nervous. As I write this i?m
been particularly talented or gifted in
preparing day by day for what I don?t
my Dynamic With Fins dive for the
anything. But if
know will happen, just knowing I?m
competition in Chile?I didn?t feel like I
going in the right direction. Whatever
did something all that amazing, or reach
makes you feel like that, should be made
my potential for that matter. But there
a priority in your life. Along the way to
was a sense of meaning behind a strange
chasing waterfalls is usually where you
coincidence that changed my life
find something you love to. We wouldn?t
forever. Meeting a Chilean a Chilean
believe the Earth was round until
freedive instructor by the name of
someone sailed around it. But the man
Daniel Arias Cordova. I would not be the
that did got in a whole heap of trouble
diver I am without his guidance. A solid
for trying to convince everyone it was.
week of training, in the right
Having a vision won?t always attract the
circumstances and with good
most positive attention. But I am most
supervision of course, can teach you a
certainly guessing the Wright Brothers
lot about yourself mentally and blast
were terrified running towards the end
your technique to a whole new level.
of a cliff on what is now monumental,
Continued...
you don?t quit, and continue to learn and progress upon your mistakes. You?ll end up somewhere worthwhile. Be it the moon or the stars. Your biggest obstacle truly is yourself. I was so nervous about buying a one ticket to Chile to try and expand my Spanish and travel as a SCUBA instructor. But you need to be willing to bet on yourself. And I?m sure glad I did! I made good friends, did 2 freedving competitions (holy moly never thought that would happen!), and taught my first dive class. Among other things.. But some stories don?t belong on paper..
but horribly outdated. 31
But remember?never train alone or with people that put your life in danger through bad practices in regards to safety. I remember when I started to do my divemaster in Mexico. My course director barraged us with story after story of malpractice in the SCUBA world that will make your head turn. I felt some of the things that happen out there should be horror stories but they are common practice. The same rings true with freediving. Safety procedures must be in place for good reason. Fortunately, my mentors and instructors through the years of my subaquatic life have held people to a higher standard. Which I do as well for my SCUBA students. ?A good diver is always learning? One of my favorite quotes. Don?t let smooth sailing bring complacency in your diving. After a few months fishing for cod this past summer around Kodiak, AK. The saying?Smooth seas make poor sailors, has a new meaning for me now. I remember the boat rocking around on crossings thinking that this is the same ocean where I took my first breath underwater, learned how to swim, and got introduced to my favorite sport. Guess what that is?.. Reflecting on the warm sun of the tropics while cozied up in my Grunden?s raingear really kept me going. It?s a catch 22 when I?m having some of the most memorable times of my life. No matter what. I am daydreaming. Never hurt to dream, Just remember to to stay alert my friends. Things can change in an instant. I think to think life is just a series of reactions to circumstances we create. I hope you enjoyed another read. Ian Almasi
Inspiring Recipes for Freedivers Lion f ish Sau sage Captain Andy Lowe is an expert on Lionfish hunting. He's thoroughly versed in science and technique for managing the dangerous invasion. He not only spears them under water, he spears them with a fork at the dinner table as well. Andy's Lionfish Sausage article kicks off our series "Spear to Fork" where we will feature inspiring ways to enjoy the fish you spear. In gr edien t s 2 lbs lionfish fillets (make certain no bones remain) chopped into small pieces 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter chopped into small pieces ½ cup coconut milk 2 tablespoons lemon juice 3 tablespoons lemongrass paste 3 tablespoons cilantro paste Salt and pepper
Li onf i sh are an i nv asi v e and h i gh l y destructi v e predator w i th poi sonous spi nes. Wi th caref ul cl eani ng th e f i sh mak es a great meal . Read more about th e speci es i n th e Spri ng 2016 edi ti on of OneBreath M agazi ne on our w eb si te.
Small sausage casing In st r u ct ion s Mix all ingredients except casings in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Using a funnel or small sausage tube, fill the casing with the lionfish mixture. May be grilled, pan fried, sautĂŠed or poached. 33
Kevin's Haw aiian Tu n a or Blu ef ish Pok e On just about any day you will find Kevin McCabe in the salt water, either immersed in the ocean or fishing from the sandy seashore. Kevin's a dream chasing, adventuring waterman who's resided in Cape Hatteras, a thin barrier island of North Carolina, since before it was a popular destination. He's traveled around the world soaking up waves and bountiful feasts . Kevin is a talented year round fisherman who shares his travel and local recipes in a cookbook. 25 Secrets Revealed: A Culinary Tour. Call (252) 995-4788 to buy a copy. In gr edien t s 1 lb of super fresh tuna or bluefish fillets with no red line, skin, or bones 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce plus one shake 1 tablespoon of sesame oil 1 small sweet white onion 1 level teaspoon of good quality sea salt Pinch of red pepper flakes Pinch of light brown sugar
In st r u ct ion s Cut the fish into 1/2 inch chunks. Slice the onion into 1/4 inch diagonal slices. Mix all the ingredients together, except for the salt, into a chilled glass bowl and refrigerate 2 hours. Take out and sprinkle with the sea salt, one shake of soy, and stir well before serving. Sometimes I dress it up by added a sprinkle of sesame seeds and serve it next to seaweed salad. (P.S. Kim & Sam added rice and avocado on the side when they tested out the recipe.)
34
Ocean Art - Art ist Prof il e Unlike many ocean artists, Ryan Sobel did not start his career by the sea. Once the beauty of the ocean existed only in books and video to him. Ryan created ocean art even though he was a Midwestern United States youth. Soon he was focused on the subject. He has turned his artistic talent toward inspiring, educating, and preserving the treasure he loves. Ryan?s artwork and passion are now used for a variety of ocean causes including saving sharks. Ryan now lives in Florida where he sees the importance of the ocean?s wellbeing more than ever. His work continues to expand, ?I?ve started to use my work to assist extraordinary conservationists and environmental organizations, reaching from the landlocked mountains of Colorado, to the sandy shores of The Bahamas. I hope to continue this work and do all that I can to spread the message of marine conservation through the power of art.? To learn more about Ryan's work and to see his art visit Sobeldesigns.com
34
Custom Painted Freedive fins by Ryan
St r eam lin in g Con t in u ed We want to make out bodies as small and smooth as possible. If you notice in the picture here the diver has one hand over her head holding the tip of the speargun. This allows the speargun to lay right down the arm and against her body. It is exactly the same position we use for efficient freediving. Her arm is back by her ear and her head is in a neutral position. The water is breaking along her arm instead of over her head and shoulders. This not only makes her movement through the water column easier it helps her to dive vertically. She isn?t being led by the speargun one way or another like if it was held extended by the handle. Her other arm is used to equalize her ears and the elbow is tucked in nicely against he body creating as little drag as possible. This is something I recommend every spearo try, especially the guys and gals diving a bit deeper. Students and spearing buddies of mine are always surprised how much less energy they use when they try this. As spearfishermen we want to have the most bottom time possible while still staying safely within outrlimits. This is a great and simple way to increase your bottom time and become a better freediver. Cheers, Sam Blount 35
OneBreat hMagazine.com
Learn More at OneBreathMagazine.com/Yoga