Looking for old dive friend ?

[Don Paul]

Any freedive historians here?
One my early freedive mentors lived on Manihi Atoll and I've lost his contact
info. His name was William Taketa (sp ?) he worked with Sam Watermen
on some filming projects.His dad Taketa Williams set a freediving record off
a battle ship or aircraft carrier with out fins, just goggles, by bringing up a hand full of sand. William Taketa moved to Papeete Tahit in the mid 80's,
doe's any one know him or what became of him, or have a reference of his dad's record?
Thanks in advance.
Don Paul

 

[trux]

His name is Tetake Williams, but I do not know a lot about him. You will find his records on diverse freediving websites (such as for example Apnea Mania), but I did not even manage to get hold of his photo anywhere. If you have one, please post it here.

The record of Tetake Williams of 65m variable weight from 1965 is listed at Apnea Mania here:

http://apneamania.com/code/worldrec_sel.asp?recordID=255

 

[Don Paul]

His name is Tetake Williams, but I do not know a lot about him. You will find his records on diverse freediving websites (such as for example Apnea Mania), but I did not even manage to get hold of his photo anywhere. If you have one, please post it here.

The record of Tetake Williams of 65m variable weight from 1965 is listed at Apnea Mania here:

http://apneamania.com/code/worldrec_sel.asp?recordID=255

Thank you very much, for the life of me I could not remember how to spell
his name. I only have a image of William Tetake, his son who I dove with.
I will post his image tonight after work. Tetake Williams is also talked about in a a old Skin Diver mag I do not have close at hand.
Thanks again.

Picture of William Tetake (left) on Mahini Atoll, in the early eight's.
Like his dad Tetake Williams, he was a deep diver.
William was the first spearfisherman to teach me advanced deep spearfishing.
In his outrigger he kept 3 to 5 kilo stones. We would paddle the canoe over
the ''secret spot''. Cock the gun, pick a stone that matched the needed rate of decent, slip on the nose clip, breath up for 1 min, close our eyes and slide into the blue while equalizing. When you hit the reef, start making a croaking sound in the throat to attract big Ulua fish.

On one such dive I watched William shoot a pan sized fish. Slide it down the shooting line,re-cock the gun, croak some more, shoot another fish before giving me the thumbs up and a big smile.

Later that day I asked him why we close our eyes on the drop?
'' This way Raira (gray reef shark) less worries.''
Later William Tetake would introduce me to JJ or Jungle Juice, but I'll save
that story for the Beach Bar.

Cheers, Don Paul