| Spearfishing has turned into a popular sport | | | | Freedive spearfishing is very common in many |
| around the world. It has enthusiasts from the | | | | places, and in some countries, it is the only way |
| United States to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, | | | | to spearfish legally. The greatest risk associated |
| Africa, and many other destinations including | | | | with freediving is a phenomenon referred to as |
| colder climates. The act of spearfishing requires | | | | "shallow water blackout." Shallow water blackout |
| that a diver be submerged underwater, either on | | | | occurs when a diver has stayed submerged for |
| a breath of air (commonly called "freediving") or | | | | too long, and upon returning to the surface, their |
| using scuba equipment. While underwater, the | | | | body tissues expand (primarily the lungs) pulling |
| diver uses one of a variety of spearing devices | | | | oxygen from the blood. It is important for |
| to capture their prey. | | | | freedivers to be knowledgeable about the |
| Some common spearfishing devices are | | | | dangers associated with shallow water blackout |
| spearguns, polespears, and Hawaiian slings. The | | | | and the safe practices that can help prevent it. |
| spearguns are shaped like a traditional "gun," but | | | | Scuba diving is also a popular means of |
| shoot a long metal shaft, usually powered by thick | | | | underwater diving while spearfishing. Scuba divers |
| rubber bands (aka "band guns") or compressed air | | | | breath compressed air from a tank while |
| (aka "pneumatic guns"). On a speargun, there is | | | | underwater. While scuba diving gives the |
| usually a tether connecting the shaft to the gun, | | | | advantage of allowing the diver to stay |
| and there are different types of devices on the | | | | submerged longer, it has disadvantages as well. |
| end of the spearshaft that prevent the fish from | | | | The bubbles from the escaping air that scuba |
| coming off. Those same devices can usually be | | | | divers breathe can scare fish off, and scuba |
| found on polespears and Hawaiian slings as well, | | | | divers must obey scuba safety requirements |
| the most simple being a single "flopper" that | | | | strictly in order to not be susceptible to "bends" |
| opens up once the shaft has passed through the | | | | or decompression sickness caused by |
| fish. | | | | compressed gasses escaping bodily tissues. It is |
| A polespear consists of a long, stiff pole (usually | | | | important that scuba divers go through proper |
| 5-8ft.), with a thick rubber band protruding from | | | | training and certification before using scuba |
| one end and a short spearing device on the other | | | | equipment. |
| end. The diver shoots the polespear by grasping | | | | The underwater world is vastly different from |
| the rubber band between the thumb and | | | | the world we experience daily, and spearfishing |
| forefinger, stretching it down the shaft, and | | | | can be a great escape that combines the |
| grasping the shaft with the same hand that holds | | | | excitement of "fishing" with the excitement of |
| the rubber band. When the target is in sight, the | | | | being in the underwater environment. Whether |
| diver aims the spear and releases it, hopefully | | | | freediving or scuba diving, spearfishing is a popular |
| hitting the fish. In some places, like parts of the | | | | sport and a great way to get fresh fish for the |
| Bahamas, spearguns are illegal and divers must | | | | dinner table. There are many spearfishing |
| use devices like polespears or Hawaiian slings for | | | | websites on the internet where more information |
| shooting fish. | | | | can be found, World Spearfishing Guide is a good |
| The Hawaiian sling is almost a cross between a | | | | place to start because it has categorized links to |
| speargun and a polespear. It shoots a shaft similar | | | | nearly all of the spearfishing sites on the web. |
| in appearance to a speargun shaft, but it has no | | | | Another good way to learn about spearfishing is |
| "trigger" mechanism. the Hawaiian sling is usually a | | | | to talk to others in your area by posting on |
| small handle, that allows a spearshaft to pass | | | | spearfishing forums. Spearfishing forums provide a |
| through, and there is a rubber band attached that | | | | place where people from around the globe can |
| the shaft is pulled back on. The concept is similar | | | | talk about their common interest in the sport. |
| to how a bow and arrow work, but the | | | | If you are interested in the sport, do a Google |
| mechanics are different due to the fact that it | | | | search for "spearfishing" to find additional |
| needs to work efficiently underwater. Overall, the | | | | information. There are also many spearfishing |
| Hawaiian sling and polespears are simple devices. | | | | clubs around the world. Just like there are "fishing |
| The different techniques used to dive underwater | | | | tournaments," in many places there are popular |
| vary from region to region. Breath-hold divers are | | | | "spearfishing tournaments" where people gather |
| commonly referred to as "freedivers." Freediving | | | | to compete in the sport. The most important |
| is a sport in and of itself and there are many | | | | thing to do is to learn safe practices, and dive |
| competitive freedivers around the globe. | | | | with people more experienced than yourself when |
| Competitive freedivers compete for diving to | | | | getting started. |
| great depths underwater on a single breath of air. | | | | |