The Early Days Of Free Diving

[ricki]

No fins, mask, arbaletes or slings, just kick and thrust.

Just put up a post about Guy Gilpatric, his times free diving off Antibes on the Côte d'Azue in the 1930's and his book, "The Complete Goggler" along with some photo excerpts at: [ame=http://fksa.org/showthread.php?p=35497#post35497]Photo Of The Day!!! - Page 14 - FKA Kiteboarding Forums[/ame]

 

[billieball]

Super cool, Rick! Funny I've never heard of Guy Gilpatric.
Take care,
Billie

 

[cdavis]

I don't remember where, but I've seen that illustration.

Connor

 

[ricki]

Hey Billie,

He was a bit before our time in most cases, still he made an important contribution. Do you like Bogart flicks? Guy wrote "Action in the North Atlantic" which was later made into a movie. He is apparently best known for his "Saturday Evening Post" series and subsequent books on Mr. Glencannon, an engineer on a merchantman. He was a pilot in WWI, reportedly crashed planes on demand for early silent movies, interesting stuff. I know him for his work in "The Complete Goggler" though. Neat concepts, except for the goggle part! Still, for how many centuries were goggles the only game in town assuming you had any eye cover at all? Didn't some polynesians make goggle lenses out of worked down turtle shell carapaces a coons age back? When we're down, we do like to see!

Good to see you again at FIT III, hope it was a fun four days overall. It was an intriguing course. Best to Todd as well.

Rick

 

[ricki]

Hey Connor,

I thought it might have been reused in some old dive books from the 50's or early 60's. Checked a few but didn't come across it. It does seem familiar though from another source. Anyone ever try spearfishing like this? That is without external shaft propulsion other than what you put into it?