When you do the kind of extreme free diving we do, you better have dive partners you can trust with your life.  I’ve known Kimo Gasper since he was a teenager.  We surfed contests together back in the late 1980’s.  We went to Japan for the World Contest in 1990, and since then, we’ve been friends.  Getting barreled at Big Rights to spearing fish, we’re doing what we love.  So I you asked me if I trust Kimo with my life, I’d say “100% yes.”  Thank you Nick too for taking turns watching out for each other.    

That is Oahu which is over 20 miles away so you’re basically in the middle of the ocean.  You will encounter the most wildest things you can ever imagine out here.  If you’re scared of sharks, this is the last place you want to jump in.  

One guy on the boat watching the two others.  And the two others watching each other diving down into the deep unknown.  It’s teamwork and at the end of the day, you’re better friends then you were the day before.  

Thank you Kimo for capturing this special moment.  Every fish I take from the sea is a special moment as I’m very grateful for the food it provides me and my family.

After you shoot your fish, you better bring it up as fast as possible.  If you don’t, the sharks will try to take it.  And once the sharks takes a bite out of it, there will be a frenzy in the water and your fish will disappear in seconds.  And after your fish is gone, you better hope the sharks don’t think you’re a fish too.

If you want to have a better experience free diving, you have to have the proper weights.  Too much weight will take you down too fast and you will have a hard time coming back up.  Too light of weights will use up more of your energy trying to going down.  Just like the Amasan, I prefer lots of weight because I want to go down fast.  I worry about coming up later.

This is perfect weights for this Amasan because she’s right at neutral buoyancy.  Thank you to the other Amasan for taking these beautiful photos of us.

Diving for tako is fun.  You’re looking on the ocean floor observing fish, shells, and all sorts of sea life.  Then when you see a tako in the hole, you take your time trying to trick him to come out.  And when he does, all you’re thinking about is takoyaki for dinner.

Took an afternoon off and headed to one of my favorite places in Hawaii.  On top of the highest mountain looking for avocados.

From being in the blue ocean all day, it’s very peaceful to explore the green mountains.

Nature is so beautiful.

And since the ginger is in full bloom now, each breath is filled with sweetness.

I have a project that needs bamboo so we went to get some free bamboo.  Expensive in the stores, but free in the mountains if you know where to find it.

Explore Hawaii!

Hunting season.

Tako poke.  Photos by Mighty Mouse

Good morning 3:40am.
Ala Moana waist high and good.
Diamond Head chest high and bumpy.
Trade winds at 20mph.
Sunny and warm.
Going to the sea.
Have a wonderful day!