About me? geez, where do I start?:martial
I was the main mover and driving force in opening up the Zululand and Mocambique coasts to diving, and was the 1st beyond the surf at the then remote Sodwana Bay, back in 1959. And for this honour almost had my legs taken off by a big Bull shark that took two bites at me for trespassing and on the 3rd time I pulled my foot out of its mouth. It came back at me three more times, these times head on, before it was chased off.:martial
I am the founder or or 'Father’of the Dive Shop industry in Africa, starting S Africa’s 1st Dive Shop (George Askew Underwater) in 1965. It started by selling only Spearfishing equipment (Thus also making it the country`s 1st Spearfishing shop).
I was the 1st in S Africa to custom build spearguns and underwater hunting gear accessories. My guns and gear carried a 200lb fish guarantee and were used by all the top divers in Southern & East Africa and landed many huge and record fish. My stuff never broke. One of my custom reel guns was the first to land a fish over 227kg (500lbs).
I had two dive shops “George Askew Underwater” and “The Divers Den” plus two Commercial Diving contracting businesses “Diving Enterprises” and “Diving Marine Inc” in Durban, and wasa North Sea sat Diver.
I also had “Skindiving Promotions SA” for promotions and my Import/Export business, plus Carter/Askew accessories that morphed into Impax then Manta when I started making wetsuits and guns.
I was for many years S Africa`s top Shark Hunter – having shot more sharks underwater than any other diver in Africa - which made me one of the worlds top too, – before it became unfashionable to shoot them, as we learned more about their vital role in the sea.
I have nearly been eaten by these beasties on a few occasions.
With my good friends Diving Icons Ron & Valerie Taylor I was 2nd unit underwater cameraman on the Great White Sharks sequence, whilst making the movie “Blue Wilderness” for National Geographic in 1992, when we did the ground-breaking worlds first dive without a cage or any other protection amongst these – at that time feared monsters - [who were feeding too] - an Underwater Everest conquest in underwater exploration.
I was the 1st to be awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Wahoo Diving Club due to landing the first (Rare at that time) Wahoo.
I have landed many big fish over 50lbs including two over 300lbs [330 & 336] and lost 2 monsters +- 750 & 1000lb.
Due to unforseen circumstances I have not been very physically active in spearing for too long, :crutch, but follow whats happenning.
I intend getting back into it in 2013.
I am a King CRAB of the secret spearing group the CRABS.:naughty
Please check some of my catches here: http://profile.to/georgeaskew go to U/W Hunting album.
Please contact me if you wish.
I was the main mover and driving force in opening up the Zululand and Mocambique coasts to diving, and was the 1st beyond the surf at the then remote Sodwana Bay, back in 1959. And for this honour almost had my legs taken off by a big Bull shark that took two bites at me for trespassing and on the 3rd time I pulled my foot out of its mouth. It came back at me three more times, these times head on, before it was chased off.:martial
I am the founder or or 'Father’of the Dive Shop industry in Africa, starting S Africa’s 1st Dive Shop (George Askew Underwater) in 1965. It started by selling only Spearfishing equipment (Thus also making it the country`s 1st Spearfishing shop).
I was the 1st in S Africa to custom build spearguns and underwater hunting gear accessories. My guns and gear carried a 200lb fish guarantee and were used by all the top divers in Southern & East Africa and landed many huge and record fish. My stuff never broke. One of my custom reel guns was the first to land a fish over 227kg (500lbs).
I had two dive shops “George Askew Underwater” and “The Divers Den” plus two Commercial Diving contracting businesses “Diving Enterprises” and “Diving Marine Inc” in Durban, and wasa North Sea sat Diver.
I also had “Skindiving Promotions SA” for promotions and my Import/Export business, plus Carter/Askew accessories that morphed into Impax then Manta when I started making wetsuits and guns.
I was for many years S Africa`s top Shark Hunter – having shot more sharks underwater than any other diver in Africa - which made me one of the worlds top too, – before it became unfashionable to shoot them, as we learned more about their vital role in the sea.
I have nearly been eaten by these beasties on a few occasions.
With my good friends Diving Icons Ron & Valerie Taylor I was 2nd unit underwater cameraman on the Great White Sharks sequence, whilst making the movie “Blue Wilderness” for National Geographic in 1992, when we did the ground-breaking worlds first dive without a cage or any other protection amongst these – at that time feared monsters - [who were feeding too] - an Underwater Everest conquest in underwater exploration.
I was the 1st to be awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Wahoo Diving Club due to landing the first (Rare at that time) Wahoo.
I have landed many big fish over 50lbs including two over 300lbs [330 & 336] and lost 2 monsters +- 750 & 1000lb.
Due to unforseen circumstances I have not been very physically active in spearing for too long, :crutch, but follow whats happenning.
I intend getting back into it in 2013.
I am a King CRAB of the secret spearing group the CRABS.:naughty
Please check some of my catches here: http://profile.to/georgeaskew go to U/W Hunting album.
Please contact me if you wish.
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