Interview with Anthony Hafoka
Benefits of CO2 training for spearfishing | underwater hockey
- Fitness – better than altitude training
- Lose Weight
- Swimming and Movement in the water
- The Relaxation > Self Control Reflex
- Recovery Breathing
- Finning Exercise
- Increases Red Blood cell count and volume
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Anthony joins us from New Zealand to chat about his experiences spearfishing and playing underwater hockey. This chat has some great insights about breathing, specifically surface intervals and recovery breathing. I enjoyed the stories and tips about blackout, training and thinking more seriously about buying a dive watch to help you keep a longer surface interval. If you would like to learn about CO2 training benefits then this is a good listen.

Karikari Peninsula. Pic taken by Phil Clayton
Time Stamps
5:00 Anthony Hafoka introduction and background
8:00 Obstacles spearfishing and some of the benefits/strengths he had going into it
9:00 Early mentors and opportunities
11:00 Can you share a story about a memorable spearfishing catch? 2 for 1
13:00 Snapper hunting?
- How did you start successfully targeting them?
- How do you hunt snapper effectively?
- What techniques work consistently?
- How do you burley or chum effectively?
21:00 What is the toughest situation in the ocean you’ve been in?
24:00 Veterans Vault: Benefits of CO2 training for spearfishing
- Greater tolerance to higher levels of CO2 from playing Underwater Hockey and Rugby
- What are physiological benefits of underwater hockey and rugby?
- How do you recovery breathe?
- What are some of the other benefits to playing underwater hockey and rugby?
- What are your insights around surface intervals?
45:00 What is one of the funniest things you’ve seen out spearfishing?
48:00 What is in your spearfishing divebag?
51:00 Spearo Q&A
Mentioned
- Find Anthony on Facebook or Twitter
- Axemen Spearfishing Club
- Auckland University Underwater Club
- Sean Hartley Underwater Hockey – rules, players, equipment and more.
- Divewatch – Suunto D4F mentioned – use the code: NOOBSPEARO to save $20
Noob Spearo Partners + some spearfishing discounts
- Adreno Spearfishing – Buy your spearfishing equipment here. Use the code NOOBSPEARO save $20 on every purchase over $200 at checkout.
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- Penetrator Fins. Use the code noobspearo to save $20 on the full Penetrator Spearfishing Fin Range here
- HowToFreedive.com Use the code noobspearo to save 20%
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