Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

One of the main stereotypes about spearfishing is that it is like shooting fish in a barrel. But that's because they never had to hold their breath for several minutes and pick off a mullet hiding on a rock ledge in several meters of water.

Some believe spearfishing is a way of life, while others see it only as an extreme sport, full of adrenaline, and mystical life. Given all these beauties, there is no doubt that spearfishing has been attracting more and more people recently.

The underwater sport emerged in Azerbaijan in the early 20^th , when after the invention of the underwater fins and masks, spearfishing and diving breath-hold began to actively develop in the country.

However, political processes and the collapse of the Soviet Union greatly affected this sport, which was practically ceased to exist.

Spearfishing become to revive since the beginning of the 21^st century, after Caspian Hunters Club of underwater hunters has been registered at the Youth and Sports Ministry. Now the club has more than 200 members, who constantly conduct training in the city’s basins and hunt fish such as kutum, mullet, carp and catfish.

The underwater hunters surveyed the country's almost all major basins from the canals to the Caspian Sea. The national guys also often go abroad to gain experience and take part in international competitions.

But, Caspian Hunters Club is not the only place where the underwater hunters meet, clubs such as “Baku” and “Khazar” are also engaged in this sport and bring together both professionals and amateurs of the underwater hunting in the country.

To experience spearfishing is a challenge like no other. Knife, speargun, mask, snorkel and fins are the essentials here. But, safety is an important topic in spearfishing, as without necessary training and caution, there are a number of dangers.

President of Caspian Hunters Club Adil Jalilov said the weight belt is the must have. “Each athlete must carry quick release belt. The belt must have an effective quick release buckle that can be operated with one hand. The belt should be worn comfortably tight to allow for the compression of the suit at depth. In case of unforeseen circumstances, the belt is easily removed and a diver quickly rises to the surface of the water.”

A knife is an important stuff and must always be carried, Jalilov further added. In an emergency it can be used to free the diver from ropes or old fish nettings.

There are some more tips: before diving make a complete dive plan with your dive buddy and estimate sea conditions, never dive when tired or cold, always be well hydrated and have eaten food, know yourself and your limits, do not consume alcohol before freediving or spearfishing, always seek local knowledge when diving somewhere new, never load a speargun out of the water.

Club’s member Dmitriy Zverev emphasized that submariners sometimes just forget about the fish, once under water. “When you are alone among such beauty all the thoughts disappear, giving place to peace only. This is the best unloading mean I have ever known,” he believes.

Alongside hunting, the club offers fans other underwater sports including diving, free diving, finswimming and underwater navigation.

Besides adults, juniors are also allowed to participate in the competitions, but under strict supervision of the trainers and supervisors of the coastal zone. Previously, of course, the children are trained in swimming pools, and informed about swimming technique, diving and breath-hold, etc.

Zverev believes that this kind of sport makes people physically fit. “We swim all year round, our body is tempering and adapting to all kinds of weather and sea conditions. We often bring children with us. They get accustomed to the sea, water and learn to swim from an early age. There is no fear afterwards, and in addition, we teach kids to love nature and not to pollute the environment.”

Many documentary films were shot about this sport at the Caspian Sea. Famous Russian operator and director of the “Hunting and fishing” TV program Aleksander Kochubey shot two films in the country in 2011, reflecting the beauty of Baku and the underwater life of the Caspian Sea.

In 2015 he came to Azerbaijan again, where he together with members of the Caspian Hunters Club filmed four more movies, which are now broadcast on the Stream TV channel.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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