David also contributes articles to diving magazines on a regular basis. Currently he is the Australian Underwater Federation Nthn. NSW representative to NSW Fisheries, the state governing body of fishing regulations.
His passion for catching large pelagic fish, and his desire to see the sport survive and be recognized into the next millennium, saw him eagerly involved in the formation of the IBSRC. His appointment as IBSRC Competition Chairman is a role he relishes, promotes, and pursues with a passion. He encourages those with a similar interest to pursue their dreams, with a vision for future generations, and with a desire for the development of the sport.
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Mark Barville:

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Stefano Cigada:

I was born in Milan the 30th April 1963, soon after my passion for spearfishing started to grow with my size. I have started to use the mask at the age of five, armed with arrows and bow made of the metal scheleton of an old umbrella. Around the age of 14, I started to get more serious. I have a good experience having spearfished in all the mediterranean: Italy, Greece, Turkey, Tunisia, Cyprus, Algeria, Spain, Albania, Croatia. I have also a discrete experience in tropical seas having fished in Red Sea Reefs around Port Sudan and in the Keys. My preferred hunt is "aspetto" at Dentice (dentex dentex, snapper), it is a tipically mediterranean fish that can also be hunted on the atlantic north african coasts and atlantic european coasts. Secondly I love fishing on offshore banks "ricciole" (seriola dumenili, amberjack): in Italy is possible to catch big samples in the Tuscany Islands, Sardenia and especially on offshore banks between Sicily and Tunisia.
I am starting to hunt big pelagics: In the mediterranean it is possible to encounter them especially in May on the African coasts and in the area 200km from Venice. Unfortunately in this period I'm usually very busy with work deadlines and I can't go fishing as much as I would like to. In Italy by the end of May it is necessary to pay taxes and I am fiscal consultant.... During summer 97 I went for the first time in the Azores and I have encountered Tunas. Unfortunately my equipment was only for big amberjacks and not for monster of 300 Kg. I went back the following summer but Tunas were gone ! I don't have a hystory as competitor since I am not interested in competitions. I love spearfishing as what it is and not as a competion, I believe that a hunt day is something between my self and the sea, not between my self and other competitors. I love to fish with a friend to share the emotions of a fishing day: most of my friends are athlets. I also believe that a competition can be a good occasion to allow the meeting of peoples from different countries.
I believe that I could be usefull to IBSRC since I write on several Spearfishing and Nautical Italian magazines. In the past spearfishing has always been defended on Fishing magazines. It would be very important to extend this defense also on general nautical magazines were instead hunters are often criticized. The IBSRC approach is optimum since for the first time hunters have tryied to modify their behaviour in order to have a neutral environmental impact. This approach has to be showed and extended. CMAS has instead a low profile politic, the strategy is " less we talk about spear fishing, better it is". I don't believe this is the right way to follow since it has produced in the last years always more restrictions and regulations and a worst reputaion in the general public. As a member of IBSRC, my future articles on bwh will have a much more authoritative impact on fishing magazines. I could also organize bwh competions with my club (one of the oldest in Italy) thanks to my relations with the press and Italian and foreign hunters. In conclusion I believe that my profile matches that of your needs: my twenty-year experience is enough to be considered a very good bwh and at the mean time I will be able to greatly contribute in the diffusion of IBSRC in Italy.

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Sheri Daye:

Sheri Daye lives in Boca Raton, Florida. She is a mechanical engineer, working as a manager in corporate America. She is a member of the Longfins Spearfishing Club. She holds some world records and participates in tournaments, but her favorite pastime is simply spending the day on the water with a couple good friends followed by a good meal. The more she spearfishes, the more she has grown to respect nature and hopes that it can be enjoyed for generations to come. Sheri hopes to give back to this sport which has given so much to her. Some of her goals include mentoring young people, increasing safety, and encouraging selectivity.

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Eric Clua:

Eric CLUA : 34 years old – France
Is a veterinary surgeon involved in biodiversity management projects around the world. Originally from the south west of France, Eric Started spearfishing at 10 years old with his father. He could benefit from the expertise of some spanish champions such as Jose Amengual and Pedro Carbonell, both his friends, by practising spearfihing during over twenty summers spent in Mallorca (Spanish mediterranean island). Eric spent 4 years in the carribean island of Dominica, where is was in charge of a coastal marine management project. He is the present Président of an association for promoting the ethic and developement of Blue Water Hunting, that he founded in 1997 with his fishing partner François GROSVALET. They are also both involved in a small enterprise based on the organization of spearfishing trips and events, named TIRS LOINTAINS (Oversea shots). Eric is member of the french scientific group for research on the black grouper (Epinephelus marginatus). He just started a phD on western coastal Atlantic fishes in Mauritania where he is presentlty.

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Jose de Sousa :(44 years) Portugal

I'm 43 years old and I start hunting when I was fourteen. I have
professional advertising activity and I was formed by Lisbon Catholic
University on Bargain and Leadership; after that I got a pós-graduation by
Coimbra University on Communication Law. I'm married and I have a daughter
with 18 years old.
Until now, I have wrote more than two hundred diving articles in several
Portuguese magazines and newspapers (Diário de Notícias, Diário Popular,
Portugal Hoje, Mundo Desportivo, A Bola, Notícias do Mar, Mundo Náutico,
Mundo Submerso...) and I won the first price for best 1981 European
Spearfishing Championship reportage, given by Portuguese Underwater
Federation. I have a book, my book "A Caça Submarina de Ontem e de Hoje"
(Spearfishing yesterday and today) who was published in 1988.
On sportif plan this is my principal performance:

1983
-Portuguese championship (team)........winner
1984
-Portuguese championship (team).........winner
-Palamós European championship........reserve
1986
-first Euro-African Dahkla Trophy.........5º
1987
-Portuguese championship......the most big fish
1989
-first Lagos Invest Trophy.......winner
-first Lagos Invest Trophy.......the most big fish
-IV Friendship Clube Naval Setúbal Trophy......winner
1991
-III Lagos Invest Trophy........winner
1992
-first Triple Portuguese Championship......winner
1994
-19º World Championship Ilo, Peru.........assistance
1995
-III Triple Portuguese Championship.....third

Where I was diving hunting:

All continental Portuguese coast; Azores Island; Madeira and Porto Santo
Island; south Spain; Morocco (Africa); Punta Cana (Rep. Dominicana); Cayo
Blanco (Cuba); Guatulco and Ixtapa (México); Ilo (Peru); Guarapari, Parati,
Ilhabela, Santa Catarina (Brasil); and I have just diving in Mali Losinj
(Croatia), Ischia (Italy) and Egina Island (Greece).

Every year I went to Azores for hunting, two or three times; this is my
best place in world for spearfishing! So, I know very well the Azores
water; probably, I'm the continental Portuguese spearfishing man with more
Azores experience; probably! I have more than three hundred spearfishing
sessions on Azores and I have caught several seriola; more than fifty, was
between twenty and forty five kg weight. But I have others important
catches in Azores and others places, like barracuda, pseudo caranx and
grouper (epinephelus marginatus): my best grouper was 34 kg weigt and
would be world record if I had asked certification; the same for my best
pseudo caranx, up 7 kg weight.

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Oleg Gavrilin

I was born on March, 16th 1969. I live in Moscow (Russia). My experience of spearfishing
has begun when I am 12 years old on Caspian sea. Then was having rummaged in hunting
because I studied in Moscow University. I love the sea and sea spearfishing since from the
my childhood. But in Russia is more popular freshwater spearfishing and some my friends
did not understand me. But now position varies also many Russian underwater hunters start
more and more and to hunt more on the sea. I have started to hunt in the tropical seas 8 years
ago and at once have understood, that the best part of spearfishing - searches of the big trophy.

I like to find the information about new perspective hunting places and to organize expeditions
behind big trophies. I have spearfishing on all oceans and many seas. I have spearfishing in
Atlantic ocean (Brazil, Panama, Dominican republic, Cuba, Cabo Verde Islands),
Indian ocean (Mauritius, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the western Indonesia),
Pacific ocean (Panama, east Indonesia). As I hunted in northern Atlantic ocean (La Manche channel),
Black sea, Mediterranean sea and Red sea.

My top best places for Blue Water Hunting - islands Nusa Penida (near to the Indonesian island Bali)
and reef Bassas da India (in the center of Mozambique channel).

I write and I publish many articles about spearfishing, for russian " Spearfishing World " magazine
and for many fishing and life-style magazines. Also I and my friends have made two popular in
Russia and other Russian-speaking countries of film about spearfishing "Spearfishing in
south Atlantic" (about our first trip to Brazil) and "Great Slavonic River" (about freshwater spearfishing in the Volga river).
My trophies for the present not so big (Giant Trevally - 38 kilo, Wahoo - 30 kilo and
dogtooth tuna a near 40 kilo), but I hope that I and my friends in due course we can
compete to hunters from other countries for world records.

I think we should think more about our Public Relations if we wish to continue to have pleasure from spearfishing.
    

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Francois Grosvalet

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Edward Hayman:

I began Freediving at the age of 10 years and started competing in competitions at the age of 19 years. I have been provincial champion six times since competing and have attained my national colours in the sport. I have also taken part in numerous international competitions with my best personal achievement at these competitions being, the 1997 Australian Bluewater Freediving Classic Champion.
During my spearfishing career, I have had about 20 encounters with Great White Sharks- unfortunately , in 1991 , one of these encounters was an attack.
At present - if not Freediving- I am busy in my freedive shop, Champion Divers, in Cape Town. I am also chairman of South African Freediving Association, which involves the running of competitive spearfishing in South Africa.
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Dimitris Kollias

Dimitris Kollias was born in Piraeus, Athens, Greece at 1963. He became fascinated with the aegean waters and fish early on. At 18 he shot his first “rofos” – grouper, a legendary fish among Mediterranean spearos. He wrote articles for Greek diving magazines and became editor-in-chief of two. In 2002, he published his first book, “Spearfishing, the Full Method”. In 2004, he and Nic Kouvaras started Deep magazine, dedicated to spearfishing and freediving. He is a former member of the Greek National Spearfishing Team, a CMAS freediving Instructor, and Judge for AIDA International. Foremost, he is a passionate spearo. From June2007 he belongs to the club of the “happiest spearos on Earth” as he landed his first two bluefins, up to 40 kgs.

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Gerald Lim:

Gerald Lim - (40 yr.),Club: Los Angeles Fathomiers,Occupation: Endodontist
Gerald started freediving and spearfishing in 1979 in Singapore, where he grew up diving the coral reefs of the surrounding South China Sea. Since 1989 he has been diving the seas around Southern California. Gerald has been competing since 1993, and is the current US Team and Individual National Champion with back to back wins in the 1997 and 1998 US Nationals. He placed 6th individually in the 1998 World Spearfishing Championships in Croatia, and landed the largest fish of the tournament. He was the Greater Los Angeles Council Champion for 4 consecutive years from 1993 - 1996, and in the US Pacific Coast Championships was the Team champion in 1996, 1997 & 1998, and Individual Runner-Up in 1995 & 1998.
He was the highest placing U.S. competitor in the 1995 and 1997 Australian Open Blue Water Freediving Classic, placing 11th and 14th respectively. He placed 2nd in the prestigious Long Beach Neptunes Bluewater Meet in 1997 & 1998.
Since 1993, Gerald has landed 14 yellowfin tuna over 100 lbs., 5 of which were over 200 lbs. His best fish to date is a 260 lb. plus tuna in 1995 with 2 back to back 255 lb.. fish in 1996.
Gerald Loves freediving because he loves the ocean, eating seafood, outwitting his quarry and the challenge of overcoming his human limitations in the ocean's fluid environment.
Gerald is married to Maureen, and they have 2 daughters - Elaine (8 yrs), and Lynette (6 yrs)

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Terry Maas: Holding consecutive spearfishing records for bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna, Maas has represented the United States in five world spearfishing championships. He has won the U.S. National Spearfishing Championships 4 times individually; his teams have placed first 12 times. He has won the Long Beach Neptunes Catalina Blue Water meet 4 times. His 1992 video, Bluewater Hunters, produced by Laszlo Pal and photographed by Rick Rosenthal, has been viewed by over 25 million people and has helped introduce the sport of bluewater spearfishing to the world. He has also been featured in the following national television productions: The Extremists, Dive Tech, Dive Today and the news magazine Extra.

In just two years, 10,000 copies of this book have been sold worldwide, making Bluewater Hunting and Freediving a "bestseller" in the diving industry. His newest book Freedive!, released in April 1998 is destined to be another best seller. His newest video productions: The Joy of Freediving and Freediving Made Easy combine the talents of two-time Emmy Award winner Laszlo Pal and Terry for two of the finest videos on the sport ever made.

His diving has been featured in such publications as: Sports Illustrated, American Airlines magazine, The Miami Herald and the Los Angeles Times. He lectures nationally using his slides and video presentations to educate those interested in the adventure of bluewater hunting. His articles and photographs have been featured in such US magazines as Sport Diver, Skin Diver, Scuba Times, Western Diver, Baja Life and California Diving News. Internationally, his articles appear in Sterne (Germany), Focus (Italy) and Australian Freediving and Spearfishing News. Maas resides in Ventura, California with his wife, two sons and his daughter. 

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Carlos Navarro:, 28, is a biochemical engineer specializing in marine biology. Originally from Mexico City, Carlos has been living on the shores of the Sea of Cortez for the past 10 years. In 1988 he moved to Guaymas, Sonora, to attend college. Soon, he found himself immersed in several research projects that provided the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the Gulf of California. As an observer on sardine fishing boats he estimated dolphin deaths. He also dissected whale carcasses, collected data on great white sharks in the Northern Gulf and monitored the incidental deaths of the endangered vaquitas in illegal gillnets. During those years as a student, a large part of Carlos’ food came from his frequent spearfishing forays and he was soon well known on campus for attending classes with a couple or more scaled companions.

Although a NAUI certified SCUBA diver, Carlos prefers freediving where his main targets have been yellow, barred and dog snappers, parrotfishes and leopard and Gulf groupers. The scarcity of prey and the challenge of capturing bigger, faster fish soon moved him into the bluewater realm. Fishing mostly from shore, the bluewater fish available to him were roosterfish, jacks, black skipjack and yellowtail. Most of Carlos’ spearfishing has been in the Sea of Cortez, except for a six-month period in Central America, where he co-developed a crocodile farm project in Guatemala.

After graduating, a new passion developed, wildlife photography. This game him the opportunity to document his frequent trips. Carlos had the luck of meeting and assisting several professional photographers including Flip Nicklin and Marty Snyderman. Carlos improved his skills and soon started selling both pictures and articles to Mexican magazines. His work has also been used in books, brochures and posters. Recently his photographs have appeared in the American market. Although most of his photography is topside, he is moving to underwater and hopes to use his freediving skills for photographing the elusive beaked whales, the subject of a master’s research project he is starting in late September 1998.

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Luiz Antonio Pereira

A native of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Luiz Antonio started freediving spearfishing at 14. As soon as reaching the local legal age he commenced competing. Meets and regular spearing trips took him to places like the Mediterranean, the Northeast Atlantic, Western and Southern Africa, Florida and the Caribbean, as well as most of diveable spots in his native country. Involved with the organizational aspect of spearfishing since the late 1970s, Luiz was member of Rio de Janeiro's spearfishing federation technical council and, later on, one of the founders and past secretary and vice-president of the Brazilian Spearfishing Confederation (CBCS). He was instrumental in the introduction of the selective catch rules in Brazilian spearfishing competitions. Although not longer holding any office, Luiz still acts as technical consultant and record list "curator" for CBCS and is a member of the Clube dos Marimbás, the most traditional spearfishing club in Brazil.

Luiz Antonio is a journalist by trade. Professional commitments have never kept him from his passion for researching all aspects of spearfishing world-wide. His international contacts eventually had him knowing about bluewater hunting—a love at first sight—, a concept of spearfishing he introduced in Brazil and led to his participation in the foundation of the IBSRC.

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Ian Puckeridge

Some of Ian's best catches include an 83kg Dogtooth Tuna, 99kg Stripe Marlin, 86kg Black Marlin 54kg Sailfish, 39kg Mulloway, 39kg Yellowtail Kingfish and a 32kg Cobia.

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Jay Riffe:  

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René Rojas:  

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Carol Rose:

As a USOA officer/representative, I have worked with, testified before and
consulted with DEMA, ORCA, CMAS, US House of Representatives, NOAA, NMFS, USOC

USOA concerns have focused on legislation, access, conservation, ship wrecks and national/world underwater sports
Issues of Concern: Closure Mexican Waters to USA divers, Abandoned Shipwreck Act, Red & White Divers Down Flag, Support of Responsible Diver Program,  status marine fisheries, National Marine Sanctuaries, world/national underwater,  sports: uw hockey, uw rugby, free diving, fin swimming, uw photography and uw orienteering, liability insurance in amateur,  underwater sports, Coast Guard regulations and paddle boards, Los Angeles County Diving Ordinance

650-583-8492/fax 650 583 0614/email croseusoa@aol.com
Born: Sacramento, California, Third Generation Californian, Degrees: A.S. Dental Hygiene, B.A. US History, M.A. Allied Health
Profession: Dental Hygienist, Member American Dental Hygienists Association
Certified Diver: NAUI 1973

Member:
AAUS, UHMS, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cal Academy Sciences, Underwater Photographic Society, Sierra Club, Audubon Society, Seaviews Advisory, Star Fishing Learning Group

Member
Amphibian Dive Club, Pacifica, CA, Charter member 1972, President, Treasurer, Editor, Activities Director,
Central California Council of Dive Clubs, Inc. (Cen Cal), Secretary 1976-1980; Editor (1976-1995); President 1980-1984
Executive Vice President 1984-1988; President 1988-1996, Secretary U/W Hockey 1980-current, Representative DFG Abalone Ad Hoc Committee, Designed/Developed Diving Information Flyers (3)

Underwater Society of America (USOA)
President 1998
Regional Vice President 1979-1983; Treasurer 1983 - 1997
Editor 1983-current; Secretary UW Hockey Committee 1981-current
Chief Time/Score Keeper UW Hockey 1984-current
Level 3 UW Hockey Referee 1996
USOA Representative to: USOC, CMAS
Editor/co Author: “How to Form a Dive Club,” “How To Start UW Hockey”
Designed/co author Underwater Sports Flyers (6)

World Underwater Federation (CMAS)
Co Chair 1985 General Assembly, Miami, Florida
USOA Representative Sports Committee 1985-current
Secretary UW Hockey Commission 1990-current
Member UW Hockey Commission
International UW Hockey Referee

As a Cen Cal officer and/or representative, I have worked with, testified before and consulted with the California Department of Fish & Game, the California Coastal Commission, the State Department of Parks &
Recreation, the California State Legislature. I sit on the Abalone Ad Hoc Committee for DFG. Cen Cal concerns have focused on access, legislation and conservation. The issues and concerns: closure of Lovers Point, Pacific Grove, access at Stillwater Cover, 17 Mile Drive inflatable boat regulations, divers flag & Coast Guard regulations, halibut trawling, lobster and abalone resources, Local coastal plans for Monterey County, Parking at Monastery (San Jose Beach), Monterey Bay, National Marine Sanctuary, Farallon Island Access, black abalone withering foot syndrome and pinniped approach; abalone stamp.

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  Sterling Kaya

I've actually been diving all my life. My father took me diving for tako when I was very young. However, I've only been diving with modern equipment (speargun, wetsuit, weights, etc) for about the last 8 years.

Sterling Kaya

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Darren Shields:

33 years old. Member of the Bluefin Underwater Club.
5 times New Zealand Spearfishing Champion.
Represented New Zealand 13 times internationally. Best 16th at Worlds Croatia
Largest fish 90 lbs Kingfish.
Owns Wild Blue Extreme Freediving Equipment. Produced a video on spearfishing in New Zealand

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Greg Pickering:

Currently live in Perth, Western Australia. With wife Anthea and daughters
Nikkola, Janessa, Karyn and Leeanne.
Am an active member of the Western Australian Undersea Club and also a
member of West Coast Divers.
Started Freediving/spearfishing at Marino Rocks, South Australia 1970.
Joined first club in 1975. Formed part of Triple 'S' club, Christies Beach
in 1978. Won South Australian Spearfishing Championship 1978.
Won S.A. Championships a further 3 times.Began Commercial Abalone Diving 1980.
Several runner-up finishes in the Australian Spearfishing Championships -
1983, 1987, 1991, 1994.
Won Australian Open Spearfishing Championship in 1990 at Kangaroo Island,
South Australia.
Australian Pairs Championships won 3 times. Paired with Peter Absenger in
1983, Ray Johnson in 1990, and Arnold Piccoli in 1994.
3rd in Australian Championships at Townsville in 1995.
I was part of the Australian Team that won the 1995 Tri-Partite Competition
in Sydney against New Caledonia and New Zealand, with team members Ian
Puckeridge, Arnold Piccoli and Glen Howlett.
First represented Australia in overseas competition in the Tri-Partite
Spearfishing event in New Zealand 1984.
Part of the First Australian Team to win a Tri-Partite competition outside
of Australia at Whitianga in 1990 with teammates David Hallam, Andrew
Ruddock and Robert Torelli.
Finished 2nd in Pairs Championships with Ray Johnson at New Caledonia
Tri-Partite competition 1991 off Noumea.
Winner of and highest point scorer in 1994 South African National
Championships.Represented Australia at the 1994 World Spearfishing Championships in Peru.
Finished 8th in the Teams event and 22nd in the individual competition.
Won selection for the Australian Team to attend World Competition in Spain
1996.
Entered first Australian Bluewater Classic in 1995 and finished 4th or 5th.
Met Terry Maas and Gerald Lim at the first Blue Water Classic. First Tuna
hunting expedition with Terry Maas, Gerald Lim and Ron Mullins in 1996.
Continue this on annual basis. Speared world record Southern Blue Fin Tuna of 28kg's
(61.5lbs) off Thevenard South Australia on 4/2/96.
Established numerous South Australian, Western Australian and Australian
Records for Blue Water Gamefish including Dogtooth Tuna, Wahoo, Dorado,
Southern Bluefin tuna, Rainbow Runner, Highfin Amberjack, Yellowtail
Kingfish, Samson Fish, Broad Bar Mackerel, Longtail Tuna and Bone Fish.
On May 22nd 1998 established World Record for Yellowfin Tuna at 307lbs. Off
Socorro Island Mexico while on an expedition with Terry Maas.
Represented Australia at the 2nd World Freediving Cup in Sardinia, Italy 1998.
I contribute to International Freediving and Spearfishing News on a regular
basis.I have an active interest in underwater photography and also video. I am in
the process of completing my first film about Spearfishing and Blue Water
Hunting.

Some of my personal bests not already mentioned included Dogtooth Tuna
140.5lbs, Wahoo 82lbs, Samson (Amberjack species) 96.5lbs, Spanish Mackerel
70lbs, Cobia 68lbs, Sailfish 87lbs and Yellowtail Kingfish 69lbs.

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   Adam Smith: 

I am 34 years old and live in Sydney, Australia. I am a marine
biologist with an interest in protected species, protected areas and
the effects of fishing. I am very lucky to work in a field that
interests me, and I also spend a lot of my leisure time exploring the
sea and its creatures. I am a keen spearfisher and freediver. I have
represented Australia in spearfishing competitions in New Caledonia,
New Zealand and Spain, and freediving in Italy. I have freedived to
38 metres and held my breath for 5 minutes.

My best fish captures include 28 kg spanish mackerel, 30 kg dogtooth tuna, 35 kg mulloway
and 40 kg maori wrasse. I hold an Australian spearfishing record for
a coral trout. I have sighted a few marlin and would love to land
one. I am a regular contributer to Australian Freediving and
spearfishing news and have also written several scientific papers and
book chapters. I am currently writing a PhD on the effects of sewage
outfalls on fish in NSW waters. I have made some great, long-term
friend through spearfishing and freediving.

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Mark Steele: 

Mark holds a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of
California at Santa Barbara. He currently works as a research biologist at
the University of California at Los Angeles, where he studies population
dynamics of reef fishes - which keeps him underwater in the Bahamas much of
the time.
    Although Mark began snorkeling when he was 8 years old, he didn't take up
freediving and spearfishing until he started college at UC San Diego. In
1990, at the age of 23, he landed the world record North American
yellowtail (68.3 lbs.), shore-diving off Boomer's Beach, La Jolla,
California. Mark is an active spearfisherman, focusing mainly on white
seabass at the Channel Islands, but sometimes also managing to find the
time to venture down to Baja for more exotic quarry.

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Gary Thompson:

Educated in the physical sciences, Gary has worked a number of years in academics and the aerospace industry. Presently, he is working as a commercial diver.
For thirty years, Gary has competed in breath-hold spearfishing competitions. He holds the record for most tournament wins in the greater Los Angeles area. Gary has participated in 15 US National Spearfishing Championships. He is a life member of the Los Angeles Fathomiers and holds seven all-time club records. He has also won the p;prestigious US National Spearfishing Athlete-of-the-Year Award. His present focus is on blue water diving in Baja California, Australia and other parts of the world.

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Robert Torelli: 

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  Dimitris Vassilakis:  

Born in Chania, Crete, Greece, in June 1968, I was always had a good relation with the sea. I started diving / spearfishing with my father for small fish and octopuses. Although living in Germany during high school, I got my first speargun at the age of 12 and started fishing during the summertime in Greece.
I was introduced to the world of underwater hunting by a magazine I contributed for, (which is actually maybe the oldest magazine special for spearfishing in Europe—it started in the beginning of the 70s). I became a certified scuba diver in 1988, which actually is the date I stared real underwater hunting all year round. I prefer to hunt with long range sling guns, and I like long-bottom hunting for dentex and jacks. I started this way of hunting in my early fishing years and I'm thought to be one of the best hunters in Greece especially for dentex - which I believe is the most difficult and unpredictable fish in reef hunting.
Although my free time is limited (I'm a pneumonology physician) I always finds time for a dive. Because of this I never had the time to prepare for a competition, (except of a local one which I won with a friend recently). I have been the responsible doctor for many Greek spearfishing competitions and the doctor of the Greek national team for free diving. I am currently a contributor for the Greek diving magazine KATADISI (=diving). I like to travel and hunt in different waters. I've been spearfishing almost every where in Greece and also in Normandy, France and Cabo Verde, Africa and I have plans for many more such trips.
I was introduced to blue water hunting by Terry Maas, during his last visit in Greece and subsequentlyjoined the IBSRC.
I believe that blue water hunting is the future of spearfishing, since I have witnessed a reduction in the numbers of fish that live near the coasts, in Greece, over my fishing career. On the other hand, since blue water fish represent the most difficult fish to catch in spearfishing, the joy of defeating a truly worthy opponent within his environment, is what makes this way of underwater hunting interesting and exciting.

Dimitris Vassilakis, 38 years old, was found dead on the afternoon of 8^th September 2007, while spearfishing. The cause of his death was shallow water blackout: he hit the surface and being alone he sunk again to the bottom. His suunto showed that the fatal dive was at 27m (89.1ft) and lasted 1.45’’, rather average for his skills. His gun was found nearby floating at 7m, reel open and the shaft engaged on a big red grouper (mycteroperca rubra), stuck in a hole at the same depth.

 Dimitris was a doctor specialized in pneumonology, with a deep knowledge about the physiology of freediving. He was a very talented and accomplished freediver, an AIDA International Judge and a member of the IBSRC board. But foremost a passionate spearo. His fiends worldwide describe him as a calm, enthusiastic, caring, considerate and extremely knowledgeable person. The global freediving and spearfishing community has lost a valuable member and a good friend. May he rest in peace.

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