Interview with Nico Bleeker
Todays interview is with Nico Bleeker! A South African running a freedive school in Thailand and well accomplished spearfishing guide, Nico specializes in spearfishing that many of us dream of. Having dived and spearfished all over the world, he talks about his favourite locations, like Zanzibar, spending time at the International Spearfishing Academy in Qatar and missing a world record fish by 2 weeks! Bonus tips on how to hunt Lutjanus, or Snapper species with specific tips on Bohar and Mangrove Jack hunting. Check out his freediving school in Koh Tao, Thailand at ApexFreediving.com
Important times
- 00:13 Intro
- 07:50 Welcome Nico Bleeker!
- 10:00 Hunting Lutjanus species
- 11:35 How to hunt Mangrove Jack and Bohar Snapper
- 15:20 Missing a world record fish by 2 weeks
- 18:25 Tell us about your freediving school Apex Freediving!
- 21:45 When spearfishing becomes dangerous – fatigue and bullsharks chasing clients
- 35:40 How deep is too deep?
- 39:20 How to relax in difficult conditions – research is your friend
- 42:10 Systems check before a dive and upgrading your snorkel
- 47:25 How do you help divers relax
- 57:20 How to prepare for a spearfishing trip
- 01:05:00 The time you couldn’t reach your knife is when you needed it most
- 01:13:00 Growing up on the West Coast in South Africa, thick kelp kreef/crayfish, Yellowtail and Hotties
- 01:22:05 ISA Qatar, Extreme Blue Water Spearfishing and Apex Freediving
- 01:26:10 How did you start freediving?
- 01:34:00 Spearfishing vs Freediving
- 01:43:30 One piece of advice from freediving for spearfishing
- 01:45:50 Spearo Q&A
- 01:48:15 Outro
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