The team arrived on 24 August 2019
approximately two weeks before the
competition to prepare scouting.
As usual the professional teams had
already been in Denmark scouting
the area months before our arrival.
Spearfishing is a massive sport in
Europe primarily Spain, Italy, Croatia,
Turkey, Greece and Portugal. The
sponsors, resources and general
professionalism of these outfits is
second to none. Unfortunately, as
self-funded South African athletes,
it’s extremely difficult to compete
against 30-man strong teams with
the financial means to scout the area
up to a year in advance.
We arrived in poor conditions with
extremely strong currents. The team
decided to swim the Langeland
About the Competition:
Unfortunately, no boats or fishfinders
were allowed at this year’s competition.
Divers were expected to self-propel
these inflatables for five hours each
day in below par conditions and strong
current.
We came across the below fish the
most during the first day of competing:
Area (Area 1) without a boat and
to hire in the second area where
it’s only accessible by sea. Before
the competition we were told the
visibility would be 10m and fish
plentiful……..!
Conditions
were
particularly poor with visibility
ranging from 2 - 4m with fish scarce
and very spread out. Current was
extremely strong in some places
impossible to swim against.
We stuck to the job and swam the
9km stretch of Langeland area twice
daily, covering serious mileage on
our own. Unfortunately, we only
managed two days with the boat in
the second area. The second area was
always going to be more difficult as
there was less fish with even stronger
current.