Article by Sara Stover for Ke Ola Magazine – Hawai’i Island’s Community Magazine (September – October 2022 Edition)
_____
On a breezy Saturday morning at the beginning
of the summer, 25 of Hawai‘i Island’s youth willingly gather in a classroom at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA). Dylan Currier and Sandy Hammel of Freediving Instructors International are demonstrating how to address loss of motor control when freediving.
As Sandy puts her hand under Dylan’s arm and leaves her other hand free, forming a T, she jokes, “Please tell me you wore deodorant today!” which sets off bursts of laughter across the room. Ranging in age from 12 to 25 years old, the young free divers are smiling, learning, and eager to get in the water and apply what the instructors are teaching them about safety, and ultimately, prevention of freediving and spearfishing-related deaths. For many of these divers, the highlight of the spearfishing safety training event is meeting their hero, Justin Lee, the 2022 USA Spearfishing National Champion. Born and raised on Hawai‘i Island, Justin grew up in Honoka‘a and graduated from HPA.
“Justin is a local boy who has traveled the globe and become the spearfishing world record holder. His success story is an inspiration to Hawai‘i’s young divers,” says Niki Stepanek, founder of FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i, of how Justin volunteers as an instructor, ensuring that these divers come to the training events.
“We live on an island, surrounded by a deep, beautiful ocean filled with yummy creatures that we like to bring home to our ‘ohana. But it can also be dangerous. How many times have we read ‘Spearfisherman Goes Missing’ or ‘Search Continues for Missing Diver’ in the headlines? Too many!” says Justin, who goes on to explain that such tragedies can be prevented by freediving and spearfishing with a partner who has safety training.
As many local families rely on the ocean for subsistence, parents and community members alike find it reassuring to know that FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i is working hard to improve the safety of spearfishing and freediving communities through training across the islands of Hawai‘i.
“My daughter, Kirah, and I had just started freediving when I heard about a diver who went missing,” says Angie, whose 13-year-old is learning about the buddy mentality and ‘one up, one down’ through FreediveSafe! “When I heard about this program, I signed her up right away!”
Combating the Headlines and Reversing the Statistics
“From May to July 2020, we lost five members of the freediving and spearfishing community in Hawai‘i. Two of the divers were freediving on the Big Island,” says FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i’s Niki, a Hawai‘i resident originally from New Zealand, where she remains the National Freediving Record holder. “The blow to our community was insufferable and something had to be done!”
Spearfishing National Champion and FreediveSafe! volunteer Justin Lee is passionate about ensuring every diver comes home safe.
Determined to put a halt to these tragedies, Niki teamed up with freediving and spearfishing professionals, subsistence spearfishermen, and national champion Justin to found FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i in August 2020, and create sustainable, long-term change. By dramatically increasing the availability of lifesaving training, the Kona-based nonprofit is committed to combating the “missing diver” headlines and reversing the current, alarming statistics: according to the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health, 50% of all fatal ocean incidents involving Hawai‘i residents are spearfishing and freedivingrelated.
As the sport’s popularity continues to grow, so does the need to make safety training more accessible and sport-specific. FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i’s sole goal is to ensure that critical, modern training is available to everyone who needs it.
“Safety training is not about being a strong swimmer. It is very specific to low oxygen events,” Niki points out. “Training divers in protocols proven to mitigate this sport’s risks can be the difference between life and death.”
Prior to 2020, freediving and spearfishing training was only available to those who could afford to spend $300 or more on a class. Currently operating under a local grant, FreediveSafe! Hawai’i is removing any obstacles preventing young free divers from accessing this training by offering free programs across the state.
Justin shares, “Our hope is that these kids who participate in the program will tell their buddy, ‘My life is in your hands if we’re diving together. Before we go, you’ve got to take a class, man!’ and in turn, that kid will tell his other buddies the same thing. Then the next generation of spearfishermen will know the precautions to take, and how to identify and address any sign of danger.”
“No fish is worth your life!” The FreediveSafe! program teaches young free divers that having a trained partner is vital to diving safely.
Taking Precautions and Recognizing Symptoms
For Justin Lee, water is life. When he was around 10 years old, he followed his father into the ocean. While he has been spearfishing for the past 28 years, it wasn’t until 2014 that Justin began spearfishing competitively. Just eight short years later, he has won the USA National Spearfishing Championship on Lake Powell with an astounding count of 82 invasive fish.
As one of the top spearfishermen in the world, Justin has formed a special connection with the ocean and shares his experiences beneath the waves on social media, inspiring a massive following. He’s also acutely aware of the risks associated with spearfishing.
“FreediveSafe! is a safety initiative that’s been a long time coming. Spearfishing is a way of life for us in Hawai‘i. I want parents to feel confident knowing their kids are doing it safely,” says the father of two, who is just as passionate about ensuring every diver comes home safe as he is about catching his favorite fish, the mū (bigeye emperor).
“There was this one mū with a scar on his cheek. It took me three months to spear that fish!” Justin exclaims as the young divers crowd around him, soaking up every fishing tale and tip he offers during a FreediveSafe! class break. “You need to be part of the rhythm of the ocean and learn to read the fish. And stay calm. It gets you fish and keeps you safe!”
“Bubbles mean trouble.” At FreediveSafe! training, students learn to protect their diving buddy’s airway if they see bubbles.
The students follow Justin back inside, where instructor Dylan teaches them about more precautions and symptoms to be aware of when diving. They learn how to protect their eyes and ears, and that they should never dive when they have a cold. Since freediving is taxing on the nervous system, they review how to rest and hydrate before and after a dive.
Through the program, the young free divers learn what to do when someone experiences a blackout, which commonly happens due to hypoxia (low oxygen). Since the first signs of hypoxia are poor judgment, emotional instability, and disorientation, divers can’t ever be 100% sure that they are within their limits while freediving or spearfishing. This makes having a properly trained partner vital to diving safely and responsibly.
“Bubbles mean trouble. If you see bubbles, protect the airway by putting your buddy in the blackout recovery position,” Dylan asserts as the classroom portion of the program wraps up. “Even if you forget everything you hear today, remember that your number one job is to protect the airway!”
Focusing on the Fish, Staying Safe, and Having Fun
As they head across campus to the pool and suit up, Justin reminds the students how wearing their wetsuit will keep them warm and make them buoyant. Once in the pool, Dylan shows the young divers that they don’t need as much weight as they might assume, while Justin swims around demonstrating how to clear a snorkel.
The pool session is the perfect opportunity to practice what they’ve learned in the classroom, including equalizing the air pressure, so everyone can focus on the fish, stay safe, and have fun.
“The training provided is proven to save lives, allowing everyone to enjoy the freediving and spearfishing lifestyle,” Niki affirms. For young divers like Ka‘ohinani and Dominic The pool session is the perfect opportunity for students to practice what they learned in class, including equalizing air pressure. Christensen, that means sharing the experience with family and friends. “Dominic got me into this!” says Ka‘ohinani, nodding toward her brother, Dominic. “Now the ocean is my second home. I even caught a tako [octopus]!”
“The best part about diving is being out there with my friends,” Dominic adds. “It’s really good to know the things that could save my friends in the water!”
By the end of the day, the class has amassed a wealth of knowledge and they understand the importance of spearfishing with a partner who has their back. “Take the time to discuss your diving plans with your buddy before each dive. Don’t let anyone make you feel rushed,” Justin reminds them. “Don’t dive with a person who disappears. And bring them to this class!”
The most important lesson the national champion hopes to instill in young divers is to get home safe. “No fish is worth your life!” Justin insists. “Take the preventative measures so we can all get home for dinner tonight, enjoy the fish that we caught together, share it with our ‘ohana, and support our community through fishing.”
From kids who have been freediving since they were old enough to walk to those who just picked up a three-prong last week, the students who participate in FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i are certain to leave with the confidence to stay calm in the water, knowing that they are part of a new generation of spearfishers who can prevent freediving deaths, and make the ocean safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
KE OLA MAGAZINE ARTICLE – FREEDIVESAFE! HAWAI’I: LIFESAVING TRAINING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF SPEARFISHERS
/in Events /by Joseph BayogoArticle by Sara Stover for Ke Ola Magazine – Hawai’i Island’s Community Magazine (September – October 2022 Edition)
_____
On a breezy Saturday morning at the beginning
of the summer, 25 of Hawai‘i Island’s youth willingly gather in a classroom at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA). Dylan Currier and Sandy Hammel of Freediving Instructors International are demonstrating how to address loss of motor control when freediving.
As Sandy puts her hand under Dylan’s arm and leaves her other hand free, forming a T, she jokes, “Please tell me you wore deodorant today!” which sets off bursts of laughter across the room. Ranging in age from 12 to 25 years old, the young free divers are smiling, learning, and eager to get in the water and apply what the instructors are teaching them about safety, and ultimately, prevention of freediving and spearfishing-related deaths. For many of these divers, the highlight of the spearfishing safety training event is meeting their hero, Justin Lee, the 2022 USA Spearfishing National Champion. Born and raised on Hawai‘i Island, Justin grew up in Honoka‘a and graduated from HPA.
“Justin is a local boy who has traveled the globe and become the spearfishing world record holder. His success story is an inspiration to Hawai‘i’s young divers,” says Niki Stepanek, founder of FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i, of how Justin volunteers as an instructor, ensuring that these divers come to the training events.
“We live on an island, surrounded by a deep, beautiful ocean filled with yummy creatures that we like to bring home to our ‘ohana. But it can also be dangerous. How many times have we read ‘Spearfisherman Goes Missing’ or ‘Search Continues for Missing Diver’ in the headlines? Too many!” says Justin, who goes on to explain that such tragedies can be prevented by freediving and spearfishing with a partner who has safety training.
As many local families rely on the ocean for subsistence, parents and community members alike find it reassuring to know that FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i is working hard to improve the safety of spearfishing and freediving communities through training across the islands of Hawai‘i.
“My daughter, Kirah, and I had just started freediving when I heard about a diver who went missing,” says Angie, whose 13-year-old is learning about the buddy mentality and ‘one up, one down’ through FreediveSafe! “When I heard about this program, I signed her up right away!”
Combating the Headlines and Reversing the Statistics
“From May to July 2020, we lost five members of the freediving and spearfishing community in Hawai‘i. Two of the divers were freediving on the Big Island,” says FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i’s Niki, a Hawai‘i resident originally from New Zealand, where she remains the National Freediving Record holder. “The blow to our community was insufferable and something had to be done!”
Spearfishing National Champion and FreediveSafe! volunteer Justin Lee is passionate about ensuring every diver comes home safe.
Determined to put a halt to these tragedies, Niki teamed up with freediving and spearfishing professionals, subsistence spearfishermen, and national champion Justin to found FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i in August 2020, and create sustainable, long-term change. By dramatically increasing the availability of lifesaving training, the Kona-based nonprofit is committed to combating the “missing diver” headlines and reversing the current, alarming statistics: according to the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health, 50% of all fatal ocean incidents involving Hawai‘i residents are spearfishing and freedivingrelated.
As the sport’s popularity continues to grow, so does the need to make safety training more accessible and sport-specific. FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i’s sole goal is to ensure that critical, modern training is available to everyone who needs it.
“Safety training is not about being a strong swimmer. It is very specific to low oxygen events,” Niki points out. “Training divers in protocols proven to mitigate this sport’s risks can be the difference between life and death.”
Prior to 2020, freediving and spearfishing training was only available to those who could afford to spend $300 or more on a class. Currently operating under a local grant, FreediveSafe! Hawai’i is removing any obstacles preventing young free divers from accessing this training by offering free programs across the state.
Justin shares, “Our hope is that these kids who participate in the program will tell their buddy, ‘My life is in your hands if we’re diving together. Before we go, you’ve got to take a class, man!’ and in turn, that kid will tell his other buddies the same thing. Then the next generation of spearfishermen will know the precautions to take, and how to identify and address any sign of danger.”
“No fish is worth your life!” The FreediveSafe! program teaches young free divers that having a trained partner is vital to diving safely.
Taking Precautions and Recognizing Symptoms
For Justin Lee, water is life. When he was around 10 years old, he followed his father into the ocean. While he has been spearfishing for the past 28 years, it wasn’t until 2014 that Justin began spearfishing competitively. Just eight short years later, he has won the USA National Spearfishing Championship on Lake Powell with an astounding count of 82 invasive fish.
As one of the top spearfishermen in the world, Justin has formed a special connection with the ocean and shares his experiences beneath the waves on social media, inspiring a massive following. He’s also acutely aware of the risks associated with spearfishing.
“FreediveSafe! is a safety initiative that’s been a long time coming. Spearfishing is a way of life for us in Hawai‘i. I want parents to feel confident knowing their kids are doing it safely,” says the father of two, who is just as passionate about ensuring every diver comes home safe as he is about catching his favorite fish, the mū (bigeye emperor).
“There was this one mū with a scar on his cheek. It took me three months to spear that fish!” Justin exclaims as the young divers crowd around him, soaking up every fishing tale and tip he offers during a FreediveSafe! class break. “You need to be part of the rhythm of the ocean and learn to read the fish. And stay calm. It gets you fish and keeps you safe!”
“Bubbles mean trouble.” At FreediveSafe! training, students learn to protect their diving buddy’s airway if they see bubbles.
The students follow Justin back inside, where instructor Dylan teaches them about more precautions and symptoms to be aware of when diving. They learn how to protect their eyes and ears, and that they should never dive when they have a cold. Since freediving is taxing on the nervous system, they review how to rest and hydrate before and after a dive.
Through the program, the young free divers learn what to do when someone experiences a blackout, which commonly happens due to hypoxia (low oxygen). Since the first signs of hypoxia are poor judgment, emotional instability, and disorientation, divers can’t ever be 100% sure that they are within their limits while freediving or spearfishing. This makes having a properly trained partner vital to diving safely and responsibly.
“Bubbles mean trouble. If you see bubbles, protect the airway by putting your buddy in the blackout recovery position,” Dylan asserts as the classroom portion of the program wraps up. “Even if you forget everything you hear today, remember that your number one job is to protect the airway!”
Focusing on the Fish, Staying Safe, and Having Fun
As they head across campus to the pool and suit up, Justin reminds the students how wearing their wetsuit will keep them warm and make them buoyant. Once in the pool, Dylan shows the young divers that they don’t need as much weight as they might assume, while Justin swims around demonstrating how to clear a snorkel.
The pool session is the perfect opportunity to practice what they’ve learned in the classroom, including equalizing the air pressure, so everyone can focus on the fish, stay safe, and have fun.
“The training provided is proven to save lives, allowing everyone to enjoy the freediving and spearfishing lifestyle,” Niki affirms. For young divers like Ka‘ohinani and Dominic The pool session is the perfect opportunity for students to practice what they learned in class, including equalizing air pressure. Christensen, that means sharing the experience with family and friends. “Dominic got me into this!” says Ka‘ohinani, nodding toward her brother, Dominic. “Now the ocean is my second home. I even caught a tako [octopus]!”
“The best part about diving is being out there with my friends,” Dominic adds. “It’s really good to know the things that could save my friends in the water!”
By the end of the day, the class has amassed a wealth of knowledge and they understand the importance of spearfishing with a partner who has their back. “Take the time to discuss your diving plans with your buddy before each dive. Don’t let anyone make you feel rushed,” Justin reminds them. “Don’t dive with a person who disappears. And bring them to this class!”
The most important lesson the national champion hopes to instill in young divers is to get home safe. “No fish is worth your life!” Justin insists. “Take the preventative measures so we can all get home for dinner tonight, enjoy the fish that we caught together, share it with our ‘ohana, and support our community through fishing.”
From kids who have been freediving since they were old enough to walk to those who just picked up a three-prong last week, the students who participate in FreediveSafe! Hawai‘i are certain to leave with the confidence to stay calm in the water, knowing that they are part of a new generation of spearfishers who can prevent freediving deaths, and make the ocean safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
SPEARING MAGAZINE ARTICLE – FREEDIVESAFE! HAWAI’I: INTO THE DEPTHS OF COMMUNITY CHANGE WITH JUSTIN LEE
/in Events /by Joseph BayogoArticle by Julia Donoth for Spearing Magazine – National Spearfishing Magazine (October 2022, Volume 15.3 – Buy hard copy $10.00, e-magazine $5.00 at https://spearingmagazine.com/collections/back-issues)
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Poised, perceptive, preparing his next move; he eyes his target with encyclopedic knowledge of Hawaii’s elaborate reefs. But contrary to his well-disguised, aloof demeanor underwater, today, National Spearfishing Champion and revered Honoka‘a native Justin Lee finds himself vividly seen, He’s not underwater, and he’s not hunting fish. Standing inside a classroom in Waimea, Hawaii before an audience of twenty-five wide-eyed, awestruck children, Lee employs his decades of wisdom towards pursuing a new target: the safety and empowerment of Hawai’i’s youth.
Bursting with the excited whispers of youth spearos and freedivers from across Hawai’i island, the classroom reflects the determination of 501(C)(3) nonprofit FreediveSatfe! Hawai’i. Providing free spearfishing and freedive safety training to community youth ‘ages twelve to twenty-five, their program focuses outside the classroom, in the expansive underwater galaxy of dynamic scenery, unique geography, and ecological billance Surrounding the students’ isolated island home. Active volcanoes, luminous reefs, and plummeting drop-offs, 2.000 miles away from the nearest continental landmass; the
convergence of biological and geological extremes in Hawai’ creates an extraordinary place of discovery for community youth. But when the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic locked down the isolated island community and community interest in spearfishing and freediving grew, so did freedtving fatalities. Between January and July 2020, freediving and spearfishing accounted for 50 percent of all ocean-elated fatalities involving Hawaii residents (State of Hawa, Department of Health). There was a fatality in Hawaii’s waters every month for five months, most of them youth.
Read the full article here.
Free Range American Article – Freedive Safe Hawaii: Saving Kids and Changing Lives
/in News /by Nicola StepanekIn Hawaii and many other ocean-centered cultures, freediving is a way of life. Learning to become one with the water and rely on it for sustenance — both physical and spiritual — is very much a rite of passage. But it’s also dangerous to the inexperienced or overzealous and many young lives have been lost as a result.
Freedive Safe Hawaii (FSH), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of freediving and spearfishing-related deaths in the Aloha State, is working to turn that tide and is changing lives in the process. Read the full article here.
Written by Matt Smythe. Photos by Alyssa Rodrigues.
Waimea, Big Island Safety Training Event – May 28, 2022
/in News /by Nicola StepanekUSA National Spearfishing Champion Justin Lee returns from his outdoor adventure travels to lead another youth event at Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA) on May 28, 2022. This safety training is free and open to the public for 12- to 25-year-old Hawaii island residents. It will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the HPA campus.
We encourage our Big Island community members to spread the word about this upcoming safety event to help ensure our young divers are trained in important freediving safety protocols as we enter the key summer season for diving. This free training has been proven to save lives—watch here.
Register on our Events page!
Big Island Youth Spearfishing Safety Training Hilo
/in News /by Nicola StepanekA huge thank you to our students for joining us in Hilo! We were impressed with your dedication to learning, and even though it was a long day, you worked hard, and everyone passed the course! Twenty-one safer spearfishers on the Big Island of Hawai’i!
Now you need to promise us and your ‘ohana that you’ll use these safety protocols on every dive.
Mahalo to our FII certified instructor team Justin Lee, Mike Jutt, Chris Funada, Heidi Hoover, and event organizer Niki Stepanek.
Lastly, thank you to our supporters, County of Hawai’i, and training facilities for ensuring this lifesaving training is available to the community.
Freedivesafe.org is a Hawai’i-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing spearfishing and freediving safety training with Hawaii’s communities.
Does Your Spearfishing Buddy Have Your Back?
/in News, Public Service Announcements /by Nicola StepanekOnce or twice a year, we hear of an elite level diver who died while spearfishing alone. Sadly, most of those experienced divers have been in the sport long enough to have had some exposure to or formal training in safety protocols. In other words, they fully understand the risks that come with ignoring freediving safety protocols. Just as if they were driving without wearing a seat belt or driving under the influence, those divers made the fatal decision to spearfish without a buddy. Whether they believed their experience, amassed from hundreds of dives to much greater depths, would allow them to safely dive “within their limits” and handle any dangerous situations that might arise, or whether they believed shallow water blackout fatalities only happen to other people, we’ll never know. They are no longer with us.
So what happens when you’re spearfishing with an experienced diver you (prior to the session) admire, but the diver is not diving safely? How do you handle those awkward situations? Given that such divers are more experienced and older than we are, shouldn’t we follow their lead? In a word, no.
Every spearfishing session should start with a few safety drills, such as LMC rescue on the surface or blackout underwater. This is a great time to warm up and refresh some of the important safety techniques learned in your formal training. Also, this first five to ten minutes of diving sets the tone for the rest of the session. You know you’re both on the same page, and your dive buddy is putting safety (i.e., your life) first.
By asking new dive buddies beforehand if they are formally trained in freediving safety procedures and asking to practice a few safety drills at the start of the session, you’re addressing any safety concerns before entering the water with them. Never assume an older, more experienced spearo will always follow the safety rules or is formally trained in safety procedures.During the session, if you notice your partner is distracted by the environment, a friendly reminder before you start your dive like, “Hey, safety, are you watching me?” should bring your partner’s focus back to the number one job. If your partner remains distracted, then it’s time to pull the plug. If you value your life and your buddy won’t follow the safety procedures, then you must finish the dive session. There is a real and present risk that one of you may not come home that night. It’s not only the unsafe diver who’s at risk; you are too because your partner doesn’t have your back. A few minutes of uncomfortable conversation with your dive buddy to end the session is a million times easier than explaining to a hysterical, grieving mother, father, spouse, or child how a loved one died under your watch.
While unsafe and unethical spearos commonly are blacklisted from spearfishing trips, safe spearos become highly sought-after dive buddies, not because they pass the vibe check or are killer spearos but because they have proven an unwavering commitment to following safety protocols. You know that person has your back. Those are the people you should admire.
FreediveSafe! offers formal freediving and spearfishing training to the local community at no cost. To register your interest in an upcoming event, please preregister at www.freedivesafe.org.
Key freediving and spearfishing safety rules everyone must follow to FreediveSafe!
FREEDIVESAFE! HOSTS SUCCESSFUL YOUTH EVENT IN KONA
/in News, Public Service Announcements /by Nicola StepanekSPEARFISHING SAFETY TRAINING EVENT TO TARGET LOCAL HAWAI’I ISLAND YOUTH
/in News, Public Service Announcements /by Nicola StepanekFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
FreediveSafe! Hawai’i
73-5737 Kuakini Hwy, Suite 202
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
Phone 808-900-3331
www.freedivesafe.org
info@freedivesafe.org
FREEDIVESAFE! ANNOUNCES CRITICAL SAFETY TRAINING FOR DIVERS
SPEARFISHING SAFETY TRAINING EVENT TO TARGET LOCAL YOUTH
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, July 21, 2021: FreediveSafe, a nonprofit that works to provide lifesaving freediving and spearfishing safety training to all of Hawaii’s local communities, announced today it has launched an essential free community program to ensure everyone has access to critical freediving/spearfishing safety training.
With more than 50 percent of all Hawaii resident ocean fatalities related to spearfishing and freediving, FreediveSafe’s comprehensive initiative is the first to prevent freediving and spearfishing related deaths in Hawaii.
“Our sole goal is to ensure important modern safety training – proven to mitigate the dangers of this sport – is available to everyone who needs it,” said Niki Stepanek, Founder. “ We provide freediving/spearfishing safety training and presentations throughout the Hawaiian Island chain to ensure everyone’s safety and security. This safety training is critically important to all those — especially youth — who freedive or spearfish as it could be lifesaving in a difficult situation.”
In fact, FreediveSafe’s training is the minimum level of training required to safely participate in the sport of spearfishing. That is why FreediveSafe will be hosting its next event for local spearfisherman between the age of 12 and 22. The event will be hosted in Kailua-Kona on July 31 and August 1, 2021, with a maximum of 20 students led by local Freediving Instructors International (F.I.I.) certified freediving instructors Heidi Hoover and Sandra Hammel with gear support provided by Kona Freedivers.
Most freedivers and spearfisherman often underestimate the safety risks of the respective sports. Depth is only one of the many variables that defines how taxing a freedive can be on a diver’s oxygen. While most people strive to dive within their limits, one of the first symptoms of mild hypoxia (low oxygen) is confusion and faulty judgment. In other words, divers never really know for sure if they are within their limits while freediving/spearfishing — proving that a formally trained buddy is key to staying safe. The FreediveSafe! safety program ensures everyone can enjoy freediving and spearfishing responsibly and help ensure every diver comes home safe.
For more information, please contact Niki Stepanek info@freedivesafe.org or call 808-900-331.
Interested students can register for the event at www.freedivesafe.org.
About FreediveSafe!
FreediveSafe! Hawaii, 501(c)3 registered nonprofit was born from the desperate need to stop the rise of freediving and spearfishing related deaths in Hawai’i. We are a team of freediving professionals, from national record holders to subsistence spearfishermen, who care about our community. FreediveSafe! is the only freediving and spearfishing safety nonprofit organization in Hawai’i.
FreediveSafe! Awarded 501(c)3 Status
/in News, Public Service Announcements /by Nicola StepanekWe are proud to announce FreediveSafe! is now a public charity with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The granting of nonprofit status is a major milestone for our organization, and we are excited to provide freediving and spearfishing safety training to our communities.
Thank you all for your participation and support of our freediving and spearfishing safety initiative.
December Newsletter
/in News, Public Service Announcements /by Nicola StepanekAs we enter the Christmas holidays, we’d like to take moment to thank you all for your participation and support of our freediving and spearfishing safety initiative.
Since launching FreediveSafe! Hawai’i in August 2020, we have trained over 43 people in lifesaving freediving and spearfishing safety protocols. This is nearly double our initial four month goal! Of those 43 students, 70% were between 12-21 years old, 99% were spearfishing or freediving without proper training, and over 50% knew someone who had died spearfishing. In addition to the young diver enrolment, we’ve also had many parents join the class interested in learning about the dangers of the sport to better educate their young children, and other parents. This is an essential step towards ensuring this training reaches those just starting out in the sport hopefully leading to “safety training before three-prong” approach.
As our students are learning, freediving and spearfishing safely isn’t difficult, but it does require a commitment from both divers to follow key safety protocols. For breathhold diving, this means both divers attending the formal safety training and both divers swearing to adhere to these safety protocols for the rest of their life. For Every. Single. Dive.
As anticipated, the pandemic has greatly impacted our ability to travel between islands, take larger class sizes and County pools remain closed to group reservations, but we are forging ahead determind to get this lifesaving spearfishing training out there. To adapt, we’ve been hosting classroom sessions in heavily ventilated classrooms, outdoors under gazebos, over Zoom and running the practical training in protected coastal bays on the Big Island and Oahu. Our precautions and your kokua have made these sessions a great success and we’ve had such a great time meeting everyone.
Many community members have been asking how they can help us. Firstly, by registering your kids or attending the training with your dive buddy, you’ve made a significant impact. Beyond this, we ask that you can continue to help us by spreading the word in the community. If you know a spearfisher or freediver that hasn’t taken any formal safety training, tell them to join our FREE program. Our next course is January 10th, 2021 in Kona, and we look forward to releasing more dates soon.
A huge mahalo to our volunteer instructor team, Heidi Hoover, Chris Funada, Dan Koval, Kristin Kuba, Mike Jutt, Martin Stepanek, Dylan Currier, and Cory Fults. Our support facility, Kona Freedivers/Kona Honu Divers and business owner Byron Kay, Freediving Instructors International (F.I.I.), our generous donors, Board of Directors, and to all of you helping our mission towards a safer ocean community!
Mele Kalikimaka, Happy New Year and as always, FreediveSafe! Hawaii.