FISHIN' CHICKS | SHERI DAYE
Q: What kind of gear do you use?
A: The things I'm picky about are my wetsuit and spearguns. Being cold or uncomfortable is not good for performance, so I use Yazbeck wetsuits made with Yamamoto material. I am also partial to Wong spearguns, because they give me a sense of confidence that I am going to hit whatever I aim at. They are custom made in Hawaii by Daryl Wong (wongspearguns.com).
Q: Ever had any close calls in the water?
A: Sure... I've almost been hit by boats despite being clearly marked by a dive flag. I've had sharks that got aggressive, but only one where I felt it was a close call. I have never blacked out while freediving, but there were times where I felt I pushed it too far. I've rescued two people that blacked out. That's the biggest threat we face as freedivers. If anyone wants to learn freediving, I highly recommend they take a class and dive with a buddy.
Q: What's it feel like when you make that perfect shot?
A: Hard to describe, but it's what keeps us coming back — the quest for the perfect dive and the perfect shot on the perfect fish. It's probably similar to what a golfer, tennis player, basketball player, or any other athlete feels when they make a "perfect shot." It might look easy, but it's the culmination of a lot of hard work and practice. The difference with spearfishing is that you have something great to eat afterward, so you get to enjoy it twice.
Q: What would be your advice to other ladies that want to give spearfishing a go?
A: I always advice people to just try it. If they enjoy the experience, they will stick with it, because it's an addictive sport. My advice to anyone, man or woman, is if you do like it, join a club, get a mentor, and learn from others. The sport's fun, healthy, and you don't have to be super athletic to enjoy it. We have great instructors and products on the market now. But please know that we also abide by a strict code of ethics. As underwater hunters, we love and respect nature, and we like the fact that spearfishing is an honorable, selective and challenging sport.
Q: Got any big trips planned for 2012?
A: For the Speargun Hunter series, we'll probably go to California and hunt for white sea bass again and then we'll go to the Texas oil rigs, and we've been invited to the Red Sea.
Q: Sounds cool, any other projects you're working on?
A: I've been working on “The Blue Wild” Dive Expo, a diving/spearfishing expo that I started running five years ago. It was so successful that I've been running it every year since. It takes place in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and we have a great time with marine artists, exhibitors, speakers, and a giant raffle. We're planning the next one, so stay tuned! (For more info visit thebluewild.com)
