Outdoors

Free divers chasing down titles in Hawaii

By TERRY TOMALIN
Published July 25, 2004

ST. PETERSBURG - Four years ago doctors told Gary Sanchez he would never dive again.

"I had a couple of close calls with DCS (decompression sickness)," he said. "They said that if I kept scuba diving I would end up in the (hyperbaric) chamber."

So Sanchez did the sensible thing. He got rid of his scuba tanks.

"Now I only free dive," the 42-year-old jewelry salesman said. "It is quiet, relaxing and a great way to relieve stress."

This week Sanchez and a small group of friends from the St. Pete Underwater Club compete in the National Freediving Championships in Hawaii.

"They say you haven't done it until you have competed against the best on their home turf," Sanchez said. "That is what we are going to do."

Armed with just a mask, fins, spear gun and the air in their lungs, breath-hold divers descend into the ocean to track and shoot fish that are sometimes twice the divers' size.

In recent years free diving has become one of the nation's fastest growing water sports, following in the footsteps of the popularity growth for scuba diving.

In some areas of the world, free diving is huge. In countries such as Italy and Greece the top free divers are treated like sports heros.

In the United States the sport has a smaller but dedicated following.

Traditionally the top free divers in the United States have come from California, Hawaii and Florida. Miami has produced many world-class free divers. In 1955 two legendary divers from South Florida, Fred and Art Pinder, earned a spot in history when they became the first (and only) free divers on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Free diving can be more difficult on the Gulf Coast.

"We don't have the same quality water," Sanchez said. "If you can free dive here, you can free dive anywhere."

Free divers on the Gulf Coast typically hunt in 50 to 80 feet.

"Most divers are able to hold their breath for two minutes or more," Sanchez said. "On a typical day you might make anywhere from 80 to 120 dives."

At the Nationals in Hawaii the Floridians must paddle sea kayaks to the hunting grounds offshore.

"We are not used to kayaks," Sanchez said. "They have deep water close to shore in Hawaii. The locals are used to paddling out and shooting fish."

The Tampa Bay area has sent two teams to the nationals. The Longshots team is comprised of Rich Taylor of St. Petersburg, Jason DeLaCruz of Seminole and Sasa Bratic of Clearwater.

The Red Tide team has Sanchez, Chris Gardinal and Ritchie Zacker, all of St. Petersburg.

The St. Pete Open, the world's largest spearfishing tournament, is scheduled Aug. 20-22. Based out of Tierra Verde, this year's event features a new free-diving division.

For more information go to www.spearfishingspuc.org For another good Web site, go to www.fsda-wcc.com MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The Tampa Bay Spear Fishing Club offers a free seminar by G.R. Tarr, an original member of the Red Tide team, at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at Aquatic Obsessions at 6193 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Call 727-344-3483 for reservations. Tarr, a former national champion, will talk about spear guns and tactics.

[Last modified July 24, 2004, 23:57:22]