Since I can remember, I have felt great in the water. My diving even overtook my swimming skills, as my parents could tell. By the time I grew up, my diving only “got deeper”.
Despite the period of “Jaws”, years and years of tireless diving followed (where a high heart rate and shortness of breath were not significant), which brought me to adulthood.
In 1984, following CMAS rules, I passed the exam for scuba diver and I became familiar even with deeper parts of the sea. However, I soon discovered that all that fuss of having to fill and transfer the oxygen cylinders did not correspond with my idea of a quiet and free movement below sea level.
With years of experience there were also adrenalin moments such as when catching a trophy, a memorable meeting with a 250 kilo tuna, watching enormous schools of dentexes, sea basses and more and more. The peaceful nature of Aquarius and a well-judged self-rescue from a critical situation under the water have saved my life.
The moment of sobering at recollection of the accident, has not left me with discomfort, nor has it negatively affected my spearfishing, but it has activated thoughts about safety in spearfishing.
The constant pursuit for answers to questions about the capability of the body has led me to yoga and breathing techniques. I chose a snorkelling school http://www.apnea2000-ar.si/,that answered all my questions with the doctrine of the famous Umberto Pelizzari.
The knowledge of meditation and even breathing techniques have demonstrated to me (in the controlled environment of the pool) that the extent of my capacities to hold my breath under water can be moved surprisingly far.
For a few years the competitors’ apnoea moved me away from spear fishing, as I was enjoying the timeless state of my body in a static apnoea and in 2005 I set the national record, with the time well over six minutes. I recognized the extreme limit of my body’s capacity to hold the breath, tested “black out”, went to the World Cup, recorded a few TV shows and left.
I got back to spear fishing because I truly find myself only in this quiet world of the blue. This is my answer to the eternal debate about whether spear fishing is a sport. It all depends on the point of view and philosophy of each individual.
My experiences show that it is wise to take seriously the warning: “Never dive alone!” This warning should also apply to spearfishing, where I’m now always accompanied at least by common sense!
