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We have 8 guests online| Spearfishing students find that life is the bubbles under the sea |
| Written by Suzanne Tuttle ~ Staff Writer | |
| Saturday, 06 March 2010 | |
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Spearfishing is a popular pastime at BYU–Hawaii, with several great fishing spots in close proximity of campus.
Those that are attracted to the sport find it requires a lot of patience, agility and skill. Those who are avid spearfishers spend a lot of time training by holding their breath to expand their lungs so they can dive deeper and stay down longer.
Shaun Alkema, a senior investment finance major from California, has enjoyed spearfishing since he was a young child. He first began spearfishing when he was on vacation in the Bahamas, but his favorite place to spear fish is off Laie Point and at Sunset Beach. Alkema said, “I have always loved fishing and I thought it’d be an exciting new experience. I felt comfortable going snorkeling when I was a kid because I had something to fight sharks off with.” Most people believe that the most dangerous aspect of spearfishing is sharks, but Alkema said that he has seen sharks while he has been spear fishing but they have been docile. The most dangerous experience that Alkema has had was with a six-foot eel. He shot a fish that swam into a deep and narrow cave and followed it. Once he was by the fish a large eel came out of the cave to try to take the fish that was shot. The large eel was face to face with Shaun but luckily his friend tried to help him to get the eel away from the fish. This is one of the reasons why it is important to never spearfish alone. Shaun gives three pieces of advice to those who are beginning to spearfish for the first time: 1. Go online and research the places that you are allowed to spearfish on the island. 2. Never go out alone. Shallow water blackouts are the most common danger in spear fishing because you are holding your breath for so long. 3. Keep your fish on a tag line at least 30 feet away because it will keep big predators from hurting you for your fish. Chase Johnson, a sophomore business management major from Lahaina, Maui has been spear fishing for over nine years but has been going more frequently since returning from his mission. He usually spear fishes locally and around the North Shore and has even been featured with his friend Darvel McBride in Skin Diver Magazine. He enjoys spearfishing because “it is nice to get out in the water. I like to surf a lot and when there’s no surf I go crazy. Spearfishing is a great way to spend time when the surf is flat. It also helps keep you in shape for surfing.” Johnson has trained himself to hold his breath for over four minutes and the longest he has held his breath was four minutes and 58 seconds. Johnson gives this advice to those who are learning to spearfish: 1. It is important to go with someone who knows what they are doing. 2. There are a lot of ocean currents that can be dangerous. Only go when there is light wind and no surf. 3. Don’t be wasteful. It is always a good idea to eat what you catch and if you cannot eat it all give it to other people so it doesn’t go to waste. 4. Never go out alone. The main reason people die is from shallow water blackouts. David Powell, a junior ICS anthropology major from Huntington Beach, California said, “I grew up spear fishing in Laguna Beach and Catalina Island. I do free diving and got into spearfishing with some friends when I was a teenager.” He really enjoys spearfishing and wishes that he could do it everyday. “I don’t have very much time right now. School takes up most of my time,” he said. He gives the following tips to people who are just starting out: 1. Don’t kill the small fish 2. Dive with a partner 3. Be safe and don’t spear your friend Powell is also going to have a great opportunity to move to a small island off of Tonga, Niuatoputapu. Starting in April he will be living there for eight months doing ethnographic research on the fishing culture and techniques of the island. There is no running water and no telecommunication where he will be living but he will be able to spend a great deal of time learning different techniques and living off of the land. Spearfishing is a passion that many students at BYUH students share. Johnson said of spearfishing, “It’s awesome and one of my favorite things to do. I love it as much as I love surfing.”
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