Is Spearfishing Dangerous? My POV from experience in the water.

Spearfishing has a reputation for being dangerous and it's not wrong. You're in the ocean and the risks are real. But the right knowledge, the right behaviours and the right people around you can make a difference.

Spearfishing, Queensland

Sharks when Spearfishing

Sharks are the first thing people mention and honestly in my experience they aren't usually the problem people imagine them to be. That said, it's the ocean,  sharks are there, and it's an inherent risk worth understanding.

In my experience, understanding body language can make a difference. A relaxed shark tends to move slowly and cruise along while an agitated one will change its pattern, keep coming back or make tighter passes.

Out here in Queensland we generally see two types, these include reef sharks like whitetips and blacktips, which are generally considered less aggressive, than the bigger ones like bull sharks and bronze whalers. However, I've found reef sharks to be pretty persistent and a bit pesky when there's fish around, so I wouldn't dismiss them just because they're smaller. As for the bigger ones, if they are hanging around or one starts getting a little too curious, I'm more than happy to move to the next spot or sit in the boat until they move on.

One practical thing that matters to me is keeping my catch on a float line away from my body or even better putting it back in the boat. On a recent trip to the reef, one of our mates tied a fish to his belt and while searching under a bombie,  a bronze whaler buzzed him. He got a decent scratch on his leg (but it could have been much worse).

As for deterrents, I have stick on eyes on the back of my mask and lots of people use the bands. Not sure if any of them work, but it's peace of mind. Like I said, in my experience they are less of a problem than you would think, but the risk is real and the consequences can be big.

As a girl who didn't grow up in the ocean I've had to learn a lot. What I can tell you is don't dive at dawn or dusk, have first aid supplies on board including a tourniquet if the worst happens, dive with a buddy, stay calm, and be cautious. It's their world we're just visiting. Respect that and act safely.

Shallow Water Blackout

Shallow water blackout occurs when your oxygen levels drop too low to maintain consciousness before your CO2 levels rise high enough to trigger the urge to surface.

Your body's warning system relies on CO2 building up, when that balance is disrupted you can lose consciousness underwater with absolutely no warning. It happens fast, and without a buddy present the consequences are dire.

Always dive with a buddy. One up, one down, watching each other the entire time. It is not optional and it is not negotiable. If you're diving alone, this is where it becomes genuinely dangerous.

One more thing, I never dive with my snorkel in my mouth, and watching spearfishers on YouTube doing it genuinely baffles me. If you blackout underwater your body will naturally resist taking on water, but a snorkel in your mouth acts as a funnel straight to your airway. Take it out before every single dive. It's a simple habit and it matters more than people realise.

Speargun safety

Speargun

The safety on your gun is there for a reason. Yes, I missed a few fish early on forgetting to switch it off, but that's a small price to pay. And even then, never fully rely on it. I always treat my gun as if it's loaded, safety on or not. That mindset is what keeps people safe.

Every time we get close to the boat, our boatie will ask the divers if they've disengaged their spearguns before getting on board. When I was learning, habits like that made it second nature fast. Everyone on the boat is responsible for looking after each other, we call each other out without making it a thing. We are all captain safety and we are completely fine with that.

And since we're all captains here....... We will allow Captain Obvious to take the wheel for a moment: never point a loaded gun at anyone, never bring a loaded gun back into the boat, use the safety, stay accountable, and treat it with the same respect you'd give anything capable of causing serious harm. Build the habit from day one and it'll stay with you for life.

Gear, visibility and boat traffic

Float, flag, knife,  every single time, no exceptions. Your flag tells other boats you're in the water and is a legal requirement in many areas.

And here's the thing: in all honesty, other boats and watercraft are probably the biggest real risk in the ocean from my perspective. I was out on an isolated reef 80km offshore one day (genuinely middle of nowhere ) and there was one other boat out there. It headed straight for our divers. People on the water are not always paying attention. Personally, I'd take sharks over careless boat traffic any day.

Be visible, stay close to your float / flag, and be vigilant about boat traffic at all times.

Remote locations

The best fishing spots are often the most remote ones that's just the reality. Remote doesn't have to mean unsafe, but it does mean being more prepared.

Go with other people, make sure someone knows where you are, and consider going out with a charter if you're heading somewhere unfamiliar. The more remote the location, the more important your safety gear and communication become.

And look after your boat. Random things happen out there all the time  if you're going wide, make sure your maintenance is done. Even that doesn't always stop things, but it reduces the risk. Be prepared for things to not go to plan, because sometimes they won't.

Currents when Spearfishing can be Dangerous

Current can be tough, stronger than you expect, and they move fast. One minute you're on your spot and the next you've drifted a long way from the boat, especially when you're out wide.

From what I've found, going in at the top or bottom of the tide tends to be better.

When we're out on the reef, our boatie drifts with us so we're never too far from the boat. That for me is the most important thing out wide; staying together and making sure whoever is on the boat is moving with the divers the whole time, and the positive is you get to cover some more ground.

I don't do a lot of shore dives personally, but if you're doing one just be mindful of what the current is doing, it's worth checking before you get in rather than figuring it out once you're already moving.

Currents don't care how experienced you are. I stay aware of where the boat is from the moment I get in to the moment I get out.

Everything in this post is based on my own personal experience, and is intended as that. The risks are real, do your own research, seek qualified instruction, and make informed decisions. People spearfish all over the world every single day. Be smart about it, go with good people and respect the ocean.