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(808) 900-3331 | 75-5737 Kuakini Hwy, Suite 202 | Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
info@freedivesafe.org | 501(c)(3) Registered Nonprofit

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freedivesafehawaii

🔶 501(c)(3) providing FREE community freediving/spearfishing safety programs in Hawai'i.
🔷 Follow us for upcoming events statewide!

Most of us don’t like to see sharks show up whil

Most of us don’t like to see sharks show up while spearfishing, but they are a natural part of the ocean ecosystem, and we must learn to navigate them in a safe manner.

One of the most important skills for ocean users is to remain calm in stressful situations, whether it’s encountering surface currents, sharks, buddy blackouts, or injuries. Controlling your mind and fear emotions, allows us to think clearly during potentially dangerous situations, and handle them in the most effective manner.

So what should you do if you see a shark? 🦈 Remain calm, never take your eyes off it, and generally, the best plan is to exit the water and hit a new dive spot. Sharks are constantly assessing our energy. They get excited when someone is nervous, splashing, running away, and distressed -- this behavior signals to them its prey. Whereas if you remain calm, dominant, and confident, they will be mostly disinterested in you so you can safely navigate and exit from the situation.

Have you ever had an encounter with a shark while spearfishing? We want to hear about it! Tell us in the comments!👇

Pictured: FreediveSafe! founder Niki Stepanek @nikistepanek with an oceanic white tip.

📸 by Deron Verbeck @Iamaquatic

#freedivinghawaii #freediving #spearfishing #spearfishinghawaii #fishinghawaii #holoholo #spearo #freediverblackout #freedivesafehawaii #ocean #fishing #fish #worldwide #hunting #deep #diving #underwater #saltlife #fishinglife #underwaterphotography #snorkeling #dive #communityfirst #teamsport #sharks #sharkencounter

Mahalo @konafreedivers for getting behind our effo

Mahalo @konafreedivers for getting behind our efforts to increase freediver blackout awareness! FREE warning labels and freediver blackout brochures are available by emailing info@freedivesafe.org.

Pole spear by @evolvediving

www.freedivesafe.org

#freediverblackoutawareness #freedivesafehawaii #konafreedivers #kailuakona #hawaiispearfishing

2023 Freediver Blackout Awareness packages are goi

2023 Freediver Blackout Awareness packages are going out! For more info or to request a package, please email info@freedivesafe.org.

A huge mahalo to our 2023 supporters! www.freedivesafe.org

#freediver #spearfishing #freediverblackout #spearfishinghawaii #fishinghawaii #hawaiifishing #spearfishingsafety #freedivesafehawaii

The 2023 Justin Lee Diver Scholarship Program A n

The 2023 Justin Lee Diver Scholarship Program

A new and exciting opportunity is upon us. It is a new avenue of sports and athletic development for the island of Hawaii, targeting spearfishing youth.

In 2023, FreediveSafe Hawaii is launching its first-ever diver scholarship program to nurture and advance youth spearfishers on the Big Island of Hawai'i. This program will train divers to freedive/spearfish safely and more effectively to depth with longer bottom times. They will advance their ocean safety skills with CPR, First Aid, O2 provider and ocean rescue training. The program connects divers with spearfishing industry leaders to inspire and cultivate future leaders of the sport. Graduates of the FREE program will be safe, well-rounded, ethical spearfishing representatives who put sustainability and community first.

Requirements:

Between 12-20 years old

Hawaii Island resident for a minimum of 2 years

Strong interest in spearfishing and advancing opportunities in the freediving or spearfishing industry

Able to attend in-person practical training sessions Kona/Kohala and access ZOOM for industry talk story sessions with Justin Lee and friends.

Application Process (Open until 01/15/23)

Cover page with your full name, address, phone number, age, school name, years freediving/spearfishing, and social media account

Share your story! Tell us about your passion for spearfishing, how this program will help you get closer to your goals, and share your favorite hunting story (land or sea). Maximum 1,000 words.

Optional: share your favorite hunting story on Instagram video and tag @bigisleboy24 and @freedivesafehawaii. (You may add diving videos, but they must not portray any safety violations such as spearfishing alone or illegal or undersize fish. Not sure, feel free to ask.)

* Submit applications to info@freedivesafe.org by Jan 15th 2023 *

In-Person Training Duration:

3 days of freediving depth training for certification

2 days of ocean rescue training

Optional zoom meetings throughout the year

Award Process

USA National Spearfishing Champion, Justin Lee @bigisleboy24 will review the applications and announce our 2023 cohort on 01/31/2023.

In 2022, FreediveSafe! Hawai'i trained Hawaii resi

In 2022, FreediveSafe! Hawai'i trained Hawaii residents on all five main islands, Hawaii Island, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai. In addition to our large free community events, we hosted the first-ever freediving course at a Hawaii Public School and look forward to expanding our program availability in 2023!

Mahalo to our supporters and the many volunteers who shared their time and expertise to further our mission in 2022!!!

🎥 by Reel Word Filmmakers featuring Kimi Werner, Mike Lima & the Lima ‘ohana.

@reelworldfilmmakers
@xmikelimax @kimi_swimmy @maka_laka_shaka_braddah
@lukeassenmacher

#reelworldfilmmakers
#freedivinghawaii #freediving #spearfishing #spearfishinghawaii #fishinghawaii #holoholo #spearo #freediverblackout #freedivesafehawaii #ocean #fishing #fish #worldwide #hunting #deep #diving #underwater #saltlife #fishinglife #underwaterphotography #snorkeling #dive #teamsport #communityfirst

USA National Spearfishing Champion, Justin Lee tal

USA National Spearfishing Champion, Justin Lee talking about sustainability, spearfishing ethics & his passion for the sport of spearfishing at West Hawaii Explorations Academy. #classroom #jleestories

#learningthroughstories #sustainable #spearfishing #bigisland #hawaiispearfishing

We are so proud of our WHEA high school students f

We are so proud of our WHEA high school students for their dedication and commitment to learning new skills during the FII Junior Freediver course with FreediveSafe! Hawai'i.

Many of these high school students decided to step outside their personal comfort zone, and into the safe ocean learning space created by our freediving instructor team, led by Junior Freediving Instructor, Dylan Currier . It was fun to watch the students bring high energy to the water’s edge, only to be washed with a wave of calm as they stepped into the ocean and showed up for their learning experience, embracing important safety and rescue training that may save their life or the life of their buddy one day. Observing their increased self-confidence from excelling in our programs is exciting. We are helping students realize their personal strengths and inspiring them to embrace ocean conservation values and could lead them toward marine related career opportunities in the future.

We are extremely proud of these young students for putting safety first, supporting each other, and demonstrating care and respect for the ocean environment! We look forward to continuing to support their journey into the beautiful and rewarding world of freediving and spearfishing! Make sure to swipe to see some pretty amazing pictures.

📷 kindly provided by Bo Pardau.
👉Check out our website for more: freedivesafe.org
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#freedivinghawaii #freediving #spearfishing #spearfishinghawaii #fishinghawaii #holoholo #spearo #freediverblackout #freedivesafehawaii #ocean #fishing #fish #worldwide #hunting #deep #diving #underwater #saltlife #fishinglife #underwaterphotography #snorkeling #dive #teamsport #communityfirst

Super stoked to see FreediveSafe! Hawai'i Spokespe

Super stoked to see FreediveSafe! Hawai'i Spokesperson & Youth Mentor JUSTIN LEE @bigisleboy24 in Hawaiian Airlines magazine @hanahoumag with friends @kimi_swimmy @healeywaterops and @perrinjames1 💯

"Whether hunting or fishing Justin attributes his success to "understanding animal nature," he says. To get close with short-range weapons like bows and even closer with speargun, you have to think like your quarry. "You can't make aggressive movements towards ulua," or giant trevally, a prized game fish. Instead of stalking, Justin wedges himself into the reef, watching other fish like a predator while almost blindly aiming his speargun to where the ulua will be. He can wait a long time; both his breath hold and patience are preternatural. So is his endurance: Most spearfishing competitions last six hours, involving dives deeper than you can safely go on recreational scuba, all while battling powerful, wounded fish. But for Justin, that's a typical Saturday dive on the Hamakua Coast."

Hana Hou magazines are free and located in the seat back pocket of all flights on Hawaiian Airlines!

#honokaa #hamakua #hawaiianairlines #hanahou #hawaiispearfishing #hawaiifishing #jleestories #freedivesafehawaii #hawaii #hig #spearfishinginternational #freediving #kimiwerner #divetosurvive

Part 2 – if you didn’t read Part 1, make sure

Part 2 – if you didn’t read Part 1, make sure to check that out so you can continue on with us from this amazing event!

The Lima ohana embraced the organization’s efforts and were proud to see their son's life influencing the direction of ocean safety in Hawaii. Noeau's idol, Kimi Werner, led Michael Lima into the classroom clutching Noeau's ashes and spoke to more than 30 local divers, inspiring them to embrace the safety training and put their community first. Kimi shared a moving story tearing up as she reflected on a recent "close call" event reminding us that freediver blackouts can happen to the best of the best and to never become complacent in the ocean.

It was a deeply moving event that established lifelong bonds among a family reeling from loss and the organization that emerged from it. They reminded us that life is precious, and we must transform our pain to create a better future for our beloved ocean community. Aloha Waianae, the very special Lima 'Ohana, and Kimi Werner for bringing so much inspiration into our work. There was not a dry eye in the room that day and we'll be forever moved by your presence in our organization’s work. Ku Like - Stand Together.

Head over to our website to learn more about freediving & spearfishing safety ➡️ freedivesafe.org & make sure to follow us @freedivesafehawaii to keep up with our statewide events!

📸 Alyssa Rodrigues @_allysssa

Thank you to Waianae Library & @nakamakai
for hosting us.

@kimi_swimmy @xmikelimax @deepfreediving @nikistepanek @hi_tydiver @thesaltyskipper @kristinkuba

#freedivinghawaii #freediving #spearfishing #spearfishinghawaii #fishinghawaii #holoholo #spearo #freediverblackout #freedivesafehawaii #ocean #fishing #fish #worldwide #hunting #deep #diving #underwater #saltlife #fishinglife #underwaterphotography #snorkeling #dive #communityfirst #teamsport #spearfishingsafety #freedivingsafety

Two years and seven months ago, the State of Hawai

Two years and seven months ago, the State of Hawaii was shaken by the news of a 15-year-old missing diver in Waianae. The young spearfisherman, Noeau Lima, was spearfishing off Kaena Point when he disappeared around 9:00am on May 12th, 2020. That evening the news channels were flooded by the emotional pleas of a desperate father calling upon the dive community to come and help him find his son.

The story had a far-reaching effect on the spearfishing community. Many of us in the professional community felt a level of responsibility, as we watched another young diver lose their life because they did not have access to modern freediving safety training. On May 13th, his young body was recovered from the bottom of the ocean between Kaena Point and Yokahama Bay, and we watched on as a father and mother screamed in pain for the loss of their child. The community called for action, someone had to do something to prevent further losses, and Niki Stepanek responded to that call and immediately began work on creating FreediveSafe! Hawaii, a 501c3 organization to share freediving and spearfishing safety training with the Hawaii Ocean Community at no cost.

Fast forward to October 22, 2022, and Niki finally met the Lima Ohana at an event hosted to remember Noeau and serve as full circle in the creation of a hugely successful movement to improve spearfishing safety training and blackout awareness in Hawaii.

But wait, there’s more we want to share with you from this event! Make sure to stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon. In the meantime, swipe to see some pictures from this amazing event.

📸 Alyssa Rodrigues @_allysssa

Mahalo to the Waianae Library and Na Kama Kai @nakamakai for hosting us.

@kimi_swimmy @xmikelimax @deepfreediving @nikistepanek @hi_tydiver @thesaltyskipper @kristinkuba

www.freedivesafe.org

#freedivinghawaii #freediving #spearfishing #spearfishinghawaii #fishinghawaii #holoholo #spearo #freediverblackout #freedivesafehawaii #ocean #fishing #fish #worldwide #hunting #deep #diving #underwater #saltlife #fishinglife #underwaterphotography #snorkeling #dive #communityfirst #teamsport #spearfishingsafety

Calm before the storm as we have about 30 people c

Calm before the storm as we have about 30 people coming down to do the confined water session of the training.

Beautiful day here at Pokai Bay.

It's been an emotional morning hearing Mike Lima a

It's been an emotional morning hearing Mike Lima and the Lima 'ohana talk about the passing of their son No'eau Lima on May 12, 2020. And the importance of education. Then hearing Kimi recount a very recent story of her dive buddy who had a shallow water blackout (he's ok) and the lessons learned.

"It happens to the best of the best"

If you are not a trained freediver, we highly encourage to look into an upcoming event. Our training is free to Hawai'i residents.

Learn more at www.freedivesafe.org

Instagram post 17894390444638503

Instagram post 17894390444638503

Dylan Currier @thesaltyskipper spreading the word

Dylan Currier @thesaltyskipper spreading the word the importance of the safety diver when practicing freediving and spearfishing activities.

Mahalo to our instructor team @deepfreediving @thesaltyskipper @hi_tydiver @kristinkuba

www.freedivesafe.org

#freediving #freedivesafehawaii #spearfishingsafety #communityfirst

Instagram post 18149357275278616

Instagram post 18149357275278616

“Dance with the waves Move with the sea Let the

“Dance with the waves
Move with the sea
Let the rhythm of the water
Set your soul free.”
-- Christy Ann Martine

There's just something so beautiful, peaceful, about the movement of the waves, the light on the sand. The ocean can bring us such a sense of calm.💙

Follow us @freedivesafehawaii
📷: @deronverbeck

#freedivinghawaii #freediving #spearfishing #spearfishinghawaii #fishinghawaii #holoholo #spearo #freedivesafehawaii #ocean #fishing #fish #worldwide #hunting #deep #diving #underwater #saltlife #fishinglife #underwaterphotography #snorkeling #dive #oceanlife #oceanphotography

Practice makes perfect. Freediving and spearfishin

Practice makes perfect. Freediving and spearfishing safety skills need to be practiced on a regular basis, so when an incident does happen, you can handle the stressful situation calmly and confidently.

📷: @perrinjames1
Instructor: @deepfreediving
Location: Molokai

See more on our website 👉freedivesafe.org
Follow @freedivesafehawaii to keep up with upcoming events statewide!
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#freedivinghawaii #freediving #spearfishing #spearfishinghawaii #fishinghawaii #holoholo #spearo #freediverblackout #freedivesafehawaii #ocean #fishing #fish #worldwide #hunting #deep #diving #underwater #saltlife #fishinglife #underwaterphotography #snorkeling #dive #teamsport #communityfirst

FreediveSafe! Hawaii Community Presentation at Wes

FreediveSafe! Hawaii Community Presentation at West Hawaii Explorations Academy (Hawaii public school) in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Modern freediving safety education saves lives and we're honored to have the oppourtunity to share this lifesaving education with Hawai'i youth.

www.freedivesafe.org #freedivesafehawaii

As FreediveSafe! Hawai’i travels around the isla

As FreediveSafe! Hawai’i travels around the islands imparting modern freediving safety training with the dive community, we too are learning from the community.

How many “close calls” have happened to our divers, and what are the circumstances surrounding these incidents? Did they have any exposure to Freediving safety? We are listening as the community, which in turn, helps us to be shaped by the community that we serve.

We are immensely grateful to Dakota, for sharing his story on video, for joining us, and for walking away as a shining representative of the sport who puts safety of himself and fellow divers first. We’re all in this together!

Listen to Dakota’s incident with freediver blackout before he learned about FreediveSafe!. Mahalo Dakota, Jon Barretto, Dylan Currier and Neal Tyagi for being a part of this important discussion.

🎥 Watch the full video on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gqShJhTLOE
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#freedivinghawaii #freediving #spearfishing #spearfishinghawaii #fishinghawaii #holoholo #spearo #freediverblackout #freedivesafehawaii #ocean #fishing #fish #worldwide #hunting #deep #diving #underwater #saltlife #fishinglife #underwaterphotography #snorkeling #dive #communityfirst #teamsport

Have you seen our article yet in the current editi

Have you seen our article yet in the current edition of Spearing Magazine? Sneak peek below ⬇️

“Between January and July 2020, freediving and spearfishing accounted for 50 percent of all ocean-related fatalities involving Hawai’i residents (State of Hawai’i, Department of Health). The Hawai’i community cried out for someone to do something, and I answered that call, says FreediveSafe! Hawai’i founder and world-class freediver Niki Stepanek. @nikistepanek

Since the start of the program in August 2020, her contagious passion for ocean safety has rippled across the community, inspiring not only Hawai’i’s youth, but also accomplished spearfishermen like Justin Lee. @bigisleboy24 . FreediveSafe! Hawai’i’s goal is prevention through preparation and proper training, making critical safety skills accessible to the island community. The overall purpose, as Lee describes, is to educate the community, the ohana, so that we can support each other.

The reality is, FreediveSafe! Hawai’i is already saving lives. Learning the skills taught in these safety classes saves lives and strengthens our community. As Lee reiterates, The message we’re trying to push through here is, Get home safe. Come home. No fish is worth your life. While many divers don’t feel they need to take a class, Lee emphasizes the importance of constant learning.”

The article is on our 2022 Big Island Youth Spearfishing Safety Events supported by local donors.

Mahalo!

Article written by @jules_of_the_sea
Photos by @alyssakr.homes

Read the full article in the current edition of Spearing Magazine. You can buy the online magazine in their store for $5 or get the print copy for $10. You can also subscribe for $40 per year. Check out their website for more: https://spearingmagazine.com/collections/back-issues

@spearingmagazine

#freedivinghawaii #freediving #spearfishing #spearfishinghawaii #fishinghawaii #holoholo #spearo #freediverblackout #freedivesafehawaii #ocean #fishing #fish #worldwide #hunting #deep #diving #underwater #saltlife #fishinglife #underwaterphotography #snorkeling #dive #teamsport #communityfirst

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