It all began a long time ago in the mystical land of Kernow. My family, and my parents friends' family used to go to the beach most days during the summer and early autumn. I was probably about 11-12 years old, and having watched Pete (my dads mate) swim off with a speargun and come back an hour later with a few bass, I wanted to give it a go.
So next day, kitted up with a 1970's mask and flippers (no wetsuit, as we were tough back then) we headed out to Whitsand bay. Being extremely short sighted, I had to take my glasses off, so vizibility was in effect, zero. So there Pete was, pointing out these wonderful fish, and I couldn't see anything. I just nodded my head when he pointed at something and agreed with him. Funnily enough though, I was hooked.
The next year I got a leaky second hand Trago Mills surf suit, an ancient Nemrod gun, and a pair of cut down specs for my mask that I fixed in with silicone. Now, this was a time when fish were plentiful. Big bass, flounder, plaice, with the occasional turbot (10-15lber) and you didn't have to dive for most of them, just shot from the surface. My best memory from the early days was Pete being a bit tired from a dive, so he strapped his weightbelt onto his dog to carry up the cliff for him. The dog made it, surprisingly.
So I've been spearing and freediving ever since. For me, Its always been about catching ultra fresh, and expensive food, and having a day diving with some brilliant mates. There is nothing better than tucking into a nice, hard earned lobster and crusty bread on a summers evening with a cold beer, yapping on about the good ole days.