Free Divers hating on Scuba Divers

    Lately i've been noticing a trend while watching spearfishing videos where people(some who i assume are free divers, others are probably ur average Joe who just likes to hate on everyone when it comes to killing animals), are very critical in their comments to Scuba divers that spearfish. I wont get into the pros and cons of each method here but long story short... Why is there this animousity toward someone who is after the same goal?

    Yeah, it's pretty crazy. Free divers not liking scuba. Short board surfers complaining about longboards. Free divers dissing free divers who take free diving courses....(heh....heh....heh)

    it's actually a very hot topic, in all the forums there's at least one thread about it. i give 2 shits what method other people use. but i personally don't like bubbles. that's why i take my snorkle off when i dive.

    Main reason is because it is illegal in most places. When you are told that something is wrong so many times, in your mind IT IS wrong.


    I partecipate in some Spanish and Italian forums, every once in a while there's someone who posts a scuba spearfishing video and drama begins...


    I think that if it is legal in the place where is done, is ok for me.

    Marco Melis

    A bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work.

    Doing any type of fishing in a place where it is illegal should not be condoned but i was referring to the fact that some freedive spearfishermen are very critical of scuba spearfishing whether it be legal or not. Its the whole idea of the breathhold vs the breathing apparatus which they think is too easy and doesnt give fish a chance.

    There arent too many and most that do are those that have a strong free diving background from starting at a young age like myself, so we have experience and know what it is to hunt selectively, conservatively and sustainably, not like those "Johnny come lately" that think buying a gun and "shooting fish" anyway and anyhow is cool. I think most of the pressure comes from those that dont know about(or choose to ignore) ways to hunt selectively, conservatively and sustainably, whether they be Scuba divers or free divers.

    Edited once, last by khalel ().

    Freedive spearfishermen hating on scuba spearfishermen. Or rod and reel fishermen hating on spearfishermen. It's all the same.


    Ethics and perception is the cause of the hatred.


    Ethically one group believes the standard for killing certain fish should be set at a difficult level. Animosity between the groups begins when that first group perceives another group as being able to kill those certain fish with a set difficulty of easy.


    in other words freedivers perceive scuba divers as being able to shoot fish with far too much ease. And this bothers them. Not so much in a jealous way, but more in an unethical way. Jealousy is one thing, but breaking someone's ethical code now that is what really brings out the hate in people.




    at least that's my opinion

    Ok I going to come clean... I used a pair of SCUBA fins and shot a White Sea Bass, but I do much better with long blades.
    Joking aside I have never spearfished on SCUBA and never will.
    I do SCUBA dive sometimes and I enjoy it as well.
    Freediving is like religion to me, a personal choice.
    Cheers, Don Paul


    P.S. if Bubble Butt spearing is so bitchen why is it banned in most parts of civilized world ?


    Yeah, breathing mixed gas and bounce diving to 250 FSW is manly, but shafting a holed Mero on the hose should be banned. The US is behind the curve on sensible conservation.


    This Scuba Vs Freediver debate goes back to the early 1950 and was a hot topic in Skin Diver Mag every 5 or so years when the new subscribers rolled over. I don't hate the Bubble Butt Speros it is legal in the US. :crazy:

    i personaly say about this that even we both go under water scuba is for diferent thing , is for relaxing view and explore thr bottom and take pictures , no fro hunting , is like going hunting duck with ak47 or a machine gun . :cool2:

    Que viva la pesca :cuba:

    To me the whole point of SCUBA was so that man can stay underwater longer...which ultimately is what every freediver tries to do. Would u hate on a fellow freediver who has a 4 minute breathhold when u only have 1 minute?...and as for a relaxing view, exploring the bottom and taking pictures...dont we as freedivers enjoy and do the same? Oh yeah, as for them having an advantage....ive freedive a few times alongside SCUBA hunters and shot more fish than them, even though we were on the same boat and dropped on the same spots...ITS ONE THING TO HAVE POWER BUT THE ADVANTAGE LIES IN WHAT U CAN DO WITH IT.

    Edited once, last by khalel ().

    I like to walk through the forest and see the deer and fox's:devil1: and maybe take a bird home for dinner.
    Spearing on the hose is like riding around the woods with the muffler cut off the Jeep and shooting from the front seat as they bow down for the salt lick.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    ''Hate/ anger destroys peace of mind...Anger never destroys the person it is aimed at''. Dalai Lama.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

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