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2008 CMAS World Freedive Spearfishing Competition - Oct 23-26 at Isla Margarita, Venezuela

2008-05-20T13:42:52-06:00

World Spearfishing Championships

C.M.A.S. (Confederation Mondiale des Activities Subaquatiques) sponsors a World Spearfishing Championship every two years and usually limits participation to the top 20 of its member countries. CMAS is a worldwide organization for underwater sports and currently has approximately 35 countries as members. Each World Spearfishing Championship is typically held at a different dive location around the World. In 2004 it was held in Iquique, Chile. In September 2006 (the 25th CMAS World Spearfishing Championship) it was held in Sines, Portugal. This year it will be held on October 23-26th at Isla Margarita in Venezuela.

What happens at a World Spearfishing Championship?

The Worlds are a 2-day championship where divers shoot fish for about 7 hours per day. Each day, the diving is done at a different location. Typically, 20-25 teams qualify to compete at the World Championships. And because too many teams want to participate at the Worlds, sometimes there are regional qualifiers for the World Championships per Continent. In 2006, the U.S. team dove in Peru to qualify for the Portugal Worlds via the Americas qualifier. The World Championships are boat-based meets and each team is allowed to have three divers hunting. The Championships are run somewhat like a mini-Olympics where there are opening ceremonies and a big closing banquet. It is not uncommon for thousands of people to attend the opening ceremony where each team has there own national uniform. Imagine, thousands of people applauding for spearfishermen? What a concept. At the opening event there is a parade of Nations where each country carries their nations’ flag.

What does it take to do well?

These Championships are not about just having great freediving talent as all the divers have a high degree of talent. It is about preparation and having enough resources (time and money). The top teams in these Championships will spend months training at the site, finding fishy locations (scouting) and understanding everything about the tournament area. Let’s say, the Italian team, always one of the top teams brings 10 divers to the World site and spends 60 days diving there in preparation. That’s 600 full diver days in the water. You can have all the 100 foot freedive capable divers you want, but without scouting time to hunt miles and miles of coastline, you will not break the top 5 teams. America has never hosted a Worlds, but our top divers have won individual honors (Terry Lentz) and finished 2nd a couple of times (John Ernst).

How can you get involved with the U.S World team?

There are many ways. You could qualify for one of the top spots on the men’s or women’s team by participating in U.S. National Championships. You could also come to the Worlds as a “scout” for the team. It’s a great way to help the team and prepare yourself for future Worlds. A scout typically spends 2-3 weeks prior to the Worlds and dives everyday with the team finding fishy locations. Then on tournament day you support a specific U.S. team member helping them with gear and advice.

Before the 2008 Worlds, the U.S. team must dive the Americas Qualifier at Higuerote, Venezuela from roughly October 5-9, 2007 as CMAS is limiting the Worlds to the top roughly 20 countries. So this means, that after this years U.S. Spearfishing Nationals are over, there will be less than 2 months before the U.S. men’s team must try to qualify for Worlds. We are going to be busy!

NOTE: Originally posted by past US Team Member - Dave Edlund

2008 Rocky Mountain Spearfishing Series - Fish Lake UTAH - October 4th

2008-09-15T11:56:28-06:00

October 4th at Fish Lake in Utah at Fish Lake Lodge boat ramp and parking area. ( information on cabins and lodging http://www.fishlake.com) We will be awarding the Grand Champion and other donated prizes at this tournament. This tournament is at High elevation with cooler air and water temps. SO COME PREPARED FOR COLD WEATHER.

Those of you in FLORIDA!

2008-07-29T20:22:25-06:00

Dive safe for mini-season enjoy and spear some grouper too!

2008 SBO: Keys Blue Storm Open - September 6-7, 2008

2008-07-17T10:44:35-06:00

Thursday, September 4 - Captains’ Meeting
Saturday, September 6 - Shooting Day
Sunday, September 7 - Weigh-in, BBQ and Expo

Rain Dates: October 4-5

Marina del Mar Resort
Coconuts Restaurant & Lounge
528 Caribbean Dr
Key Largo, FL 33037
305-453-9794
Registration begins July 27

View full details here: Spearwars - Keys Blue Storm Open

2008 JLB Open - Key West - September 19-21

2008-07-17T11:12:56-06:00

When : Friday, September 19 7:00 pm MANDATORY Safety Meeting
Saturday, September 20 Sunrise to Sunset Hunting in the KEYS
Sunday, September 21 Weigh-in line opens at 9:00a.m. closes @ 11
With awards ceremony to follow.

*Sunday will also be a contingency date if we have bad weather

Where: Dante’s – Key West

Who: There will be a Open Division (Men and Women 18 yrs old +)
And a Juniors Division (Ages 16 & 17 with parental consent)
*Freedivers will also be awarded - see Awards below

See Attached document for more details.

Any good competitions?

2007-12-19T19:24:31-06:00

Please post some competitions if you know of any.

2008 USOA Freedive Spearfishing Nationals - August 7, 2008

2008-07-17T10:57:25-06:00

2008 United States National Freediving Spearfishing Championships

We, the Freedivers of the Massachusetts Freediving Club take great pride hosting the 2008 US National Freediving Spearfishing Championships.

It is our intention to host this event on Thursday, August 7, 2008. The competition will be 6 hours long.

The chosen site of the 2008 Nationals will be at King’s Beach, Newport, Rhode Island.

For more details: 2008 Nationals

2008 Rocky Mountain Spearfishing Series: Lake McConaughy in Nebraska - August 23, 2008

2008-07-17T10:37:22-06:00

more info coming soon…

2008 Palm Beach Blue Storm Open - July 26 & 27

2008-06-05T20:10:45-06:00

2008 Palm Beach Blue Storm Open - July 26 & 27

Palm Beach Blue Storm Open
Thursday, July 24 - Captains’ Meeting
Saturday, July 26 - Shooting Day
Sunday, July 27 - Weigh-in, BBQ and Expo
Rain Dates: August 9-10
Riviera Beach Marina
Tiki Waterfront Sea Grill
and Newcomb Hall
200 E 13th St
Riviera Beach, FL 33404
561-845-5532
Registration begins May 18

2008 OMER Hatteras Blue Water Open - July 18-20, 2008

2008-06-05T20:10:25-06:00

2008 OMER Hatteras Blue Water Open - July 18-20, 2008