Are we talikng about freediving or spearfishing? As far as freediving, the ladies are right up there. Do the names Tanya Streeter or the late Audrey Mastre ring any bells? These ladies are/were diving deeper than most men ever will. Men's physical strength is not as much a factor in freediving as it is in other sports. Remaining calm, knowing how to conserve energy/oxygen, having good kicking technique count for more than having huge legs that can bend a really stiff fin.
For spearfishing, yes the men are still dominating. But, think about the ratio of male to female spearos. What is it; 50:1, 100:1, more? The ladies are stepping up though. Brandi Easter, Jules Lum, Julie Riffe. They can spear with the guys and in a lot of instances out fish the guys. I'm not saying that they could compete against guys like Marco Bardi and Pedro Carbonell, but they can definitely hold their own. Who knows? I would love to see a woman who can successfully spearfish at 100 feet or more. Just my thoughts on the subject.
Brad
