Freediving vs. Scuba Spearfishing: Which Style Fits You?
Spearfishing is one of the most exciting and primal ways to connect with the ocean. Whether you’re cruising over the reefs on a single breath or diving deep with a tank on your back, it’s as much about skills and ethics as it is about the catch. But when it comes to spearfishing on scuba vs. freediving, how do you know which one is right for you? In this guide, we’ll dive into the key differences, the pros and cons, and what every underwater hunter should know.
What’s the Difference?
Freedive spearfishing is exactly what it sounds like: you hold your breath, dive down, hunt, and then resurface - all on a single breath. This style of spearfishing is the traditional style that has been used for generations around the world. The gear needed for this style of spearfishing is freediving fins, mask and snorkel, wetsuit, gloves, weight belt, dive knife, and the hunting weapon of your choice - speargun, hawaiian sling, or polespear.
Scuba spearfishing on the other hand, adds compressed air into the mix. With this style of spearfishing you gear up with all of your essential dive equipment, descend down to the depths at which you are hunting, hunt, and then resurface all while adhering to the standard safe diving practices, and scuba diving rules you learned when getting your scuba certification. The list of gear needed for this style of spearfishing is much more extensive as you are adding on all of the required gear for scuba diving. You will need a BCD, regulator and octopus, dive computer and gauges, tank, dive weights, fins, mask and snorkel, wetsuit, gloves, dive knife, and the hunting weapon of your choice - speargun, hawaiian sling, or polespear.
Pros and Cons: Freedive Spearfishing
Pros
- Stealth: Fish are much less spooked when you are not blowing bubbles, and wearing tons of diving gear. This makes getting near the fish for the perfect shot much easier.
- Less gear needed: No bulky dive gear is needed for freediving meaning you have less to carry and put on. This means you can be on and off the boat very quickly, and hit a lot more spots in one day.
- No decompression limitation: When freediving there is no need for decompression stops, and limiting your number of dives in one day. This means you can dive a lot more sites in one day without worrying about surface intervals or decompression sickness.
- Peacefulness: With no bubbles or gear noise, the underwater experience is almost meditative. It is just you and the ocean.
- Legality: Freedive spearfishing is allowed in nearly all areas where spearfishing is permitted.
Cons
- Limited bottom time: When freedive spearfishing your biggest constraint is your breath-hold. The less time you can hold your breath, the less time you are going to have at the bottom, limiting how long you have to line up your shot.
- Physically demanding: Freediving requires strong cardiovascular fitness, relaxation, and efficient technique. The physical toll may be a lot on a beginner's body, limiting how deep they can go, and how long they are able to stay out on the water.
- Depth limits: It can be much more difficult to reach fish in deeper waters as you are limited to the depths you can go based on how long you can hold your breath.
- Risk of shallow water blackout: As with scuba diving, freediving also comes with risks. If you try to push yourself past your limits, you can end up losing consciousness before you resurface. This can become a deadly situation, so always know your limits, and always freedive with a buddy in case of an emergency.
Pros and Cons: Scuba Spearfishing
Pros
- Longer hunt time: When on scuba, you can spend more time on the bottom. This allows you to watch fish for longer, and move in on them slower. Giving you plenty of time to set up the perfect shot.
- Deeper hunting ability: When on scuba, you are not limited to one breath, this gives you the ability to hunt at depths that you typically would not be able to reach while freediving.
- Less physical strain: Most people are not trained to hold their breath for long periods of time making scuba diving a perfect alternative for those who find it difficult and physically straining to have to hold their breath and resurface constantly.
Cons
- Spooking your prey: The bubbles and noises that your scuba gear creates can often scare fish away. This makes approaching fish stealthily much more difficult.
- More gear: Scuba diving requires you to have a lot more gear than freediving: BCD, regulator and octopus, gauges and computers, and tank. This gear can be a burden underwater, and reduce your mobility making it slightly harder to hunt.
- Legality and Ethics: Many view spearfishing on scuba as an unfair advantage by taking the skill of breath holding out of the equation. Some regions, such as the Bahamas prohibit spearfishing on scuba.
- Safety Concerns: As with scuba diving even when you are not spearfishing, there are always safety concerns, such as decompression sickness. Always adhere to standard safe diving practices and scuba diving rules you learned when getting your scuba certification, and dive with a buddy to mitigate any potential safety risks.
Legality
Before heading out on the water with your spear, always make sure to check the rules and regulations of the local governing regulator as laws vary by location. Just because spearfishing is allowed in a state or country does not mean it's legal everywhere within its waters. Marine Protected Areas, no-take zones, and special permits may limit or prohibit spearfishing, what gear you can use, species you can shoot, or what style of diving you use.
Let’s take a look at how regulation differs between two popular spearfishing destinations: Florida and The Bahamas.
Florida
Scuba legality:
- Spearfishing on scuba is legal in Florida in most saltwater zones.
- The use of a rebreather is prohibited while spearfishing in Florida.
Weapon legality:
- Spearguns, pole spears, and Hawaiian slings are all legal in saltwater areas where spearfishing is allowed.
- Powerheads and bangsticks are prohibited from use in Florida.
Areas you can not spearfish:
- State Parks, Coral Reef Protected Area, and Marine Sanctuaries
- Spearfishing is prohibited in freshwater areas.
- Within 100 yards of public beaches, piers, or bridges.
- Within 100 feet of any part of a jetty that is above the surface of the sea - except the last 500 yards of a jetty that extends over 1500 yards from the shoreline.
Protected species:
- You can not hunt sharks, billfish, snook, tarpon, goliath grouper, spotted seatrout, pompano, permit, tripletail, lobster, and many others.
- For more information on protected species see the link below attached to FWCs spearfishing recreational regulations.
Other important things to know:
- Be aware of Florida’s size and bag limits on the species you are harvesting.
- Be aware of Florida’s seasons for each species as they may differ.
- You must have a Florida saltwater fishing license to spearfish saltwater species in Florida regardless of where they are caught (state or federal waters). The only exception to this is when hunting lionfish with a pole spear, Hawaiian Sling, handheld net, or any spearing device specifically designed for lionfish.
For more information visit FWCs website
Bahamas
Scuba legality:
- Spearfishing on any type of underwater air supply is illegal in all of The Bahamas - this includes scuba gear and air compressors.
- Only freediving or snorkeling is allowed when using any type of spear.
Weapon legality:
- The use of spearguns, powerheads, or bangsticks is illegal in The Bahamas.
- Hawaiian slings or pole spears are legal for use.
Areas you can not spearfish:
- In marine reserves such as Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
- Within 200 yards of any inhabited island
Protected Species:
- You can not hunt sharks, turtles, billfish, coral fish, tropical fish, and grouper under 3 pounds.
- Always do research to be sure you are hunting non protected species.
- See the Bahamian fishing regulations in the link below.
Other important information to know:
- Any non Bahamian citizen needs a permit if they wish to engage in any type of fishing activity from a vessel that is not Bahamian owned.
- If you want to spearfish in The Bahamas it should be put onto your fishing permit application form and granted for use endorsed in writing by the officer issuing your permit.
- Be aware of bag limits for the fish you are hunting.
For more information see the Fishing Regulations for The Bahamas.
Which Style of Spearfishing Should You Choose?
The decision between freedive and scuba spearfishing comes down to your experience level, goals, and where you plan to dive. Freediving offers a quieter, more connected hunting experience. Often done in shallower waters, with minimal gear, and maximum mobility, freedive spearfishing is the traditional “sport” style of spearfishing. It is also more widely accepted legally and ethically in many areas. On the other hand, scuba spearfishing opens up the ability to reach deeper waters and longer bottom times. This makes it ideal for harvesting fish with ease, especially those at greater depths, or when targeting invasive species like lionfish.
If you are just getting into spearfishing, do not have any scuba experience or certifications, or travelling somewhere with strict gear laws, freediving may be the better option for you. But if you are certified, have trouble holding your breath, and are ready to explore more challenging depths, then scuba spearfishing may be the right choice for you, as long as you are diving somewhere that it is legal.
Ultimately, both methods of spearfishing have their place, come with pros and cons, and can be equally as rewarding. If you are certified, then try both, but always stay safe and respect local regulations and marine life.
Gear Recommendations
Whether you are team freediving or team scuba, choosing the right gear for your style of spearfishing makes a difference. At Divers Direct we have gear for both scuba divers, and free divers. See some of our recommendations for spearfishing gear below.
FAQs
Is spearfishing on scuba legal everywhere?
While it is legal to spearfish on scuba in most parts of Florida, it is illegal in several parts around the world, such as The Bahamas. Always check local laws before spearfishing.
Why do some people consider spearfishing on scuba unethical?
Some in the spearfishing community believe that using scuba gives divers an unfair advantage, allowing them to chase after fish deeper and longer. They see the sport aspect of spearfishing as the ability to push your limits with breath holds, and taking this aspect out of spearfishing detaches it from the traditional sport.
What gear do I need to spearfish?
If you are freedive spearfishing, you need a simpler setup with long blade fins, mask and snorkel, weight belt, dive knife, wetsuit, gloves, and the spear weapon of your choice. If you are spearfishing while scuba diving on the other hand, you add all of the components of scuba to the equation - BCD, regulator and octopus, dive computer and gauges, and a tank. On top of these items you will still need a mask, snorkel, dive fins, weights, dive knife, wetsuit, gloves, and the weapon of your choice.
Is spearfishing safe?
With proper training, and knowing your limits, spearfishing is safe for beginners and experts. If you're new to the world of spearfishing, take a freediving or scuba certification course before heading out to give yourself the knowledge you need to hunt safely and successfully. A scuba certification is required before you can scuba dive, and although a freediving course is not legally required before you go, it is highly recommended to stay safe. Remember to follow a proper safety check list before you get in the water, and to always dive with a buddy.
What fish am I allowed to spearfish?
The fish that you are legally allowed to spearfish varies by location and season. Some popular targets for many spearfishermen are snapper, hogfish, grouper, and lionfish. Always check what the local rules and regulations are for size and bag limits, and seasons before you head out.