Blue Water Hunting International prides itself on providing our guests with the best possible spearfishing guides available. Our guides are not only great spearfisherman but also have good people skills. The spearfishing guides have good local knowledge of most areas and will always endeavour to help fulfil the client’s dreams.
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PROFILES
ROBERT TORELLI
As principal of Blue Water Hunting International Pty Ltd, Robert Torelli plans all spearfishing expeditions conducted by Blue Water Hunting International. He attends most trips but on occasions trips will be led by other expert guides such as Dr. Adam Smith.Aged 44, Robert has been spearfishing for over 30 years and is the current Australian Open Spearfishing Champion. In fact, Robert has a record 7 Australian Open Spearfishing titles to his credit. He has a vast amount of blue water spearfishing experience through out Australia, Indonesia and the South Pacific region.
Robert hold various National and World Spearfishing Records and at present has two IUSA World Records for both Big Eye and Southern Blue Fin Tuna.
Robert is also a very competent underwater cameraman and often spends a lot of time filming clients on their spearfishing vacation
Robert is a PADI Divemaster and has recently completed his Coxswain Course (restricted boat Skipper). He has a St Johns Level 2 First Aid Certificate.
Robert is also Co-founder and editor of “International Freediving and Spearfishing News”, a quarterly publication by Mountain, Ocean and Travel Publications.
Robert also works as a commercial diver harvesting abalone.
IAN PUCKERIDGE
Ian Puckeridge is 44 years of age and has been spearfishing for 31 years. Ian has won the Australian Open Spearfishing Championships six times and is ranked in the top 20 in the world (after the last spearfishing world championships in Portugal and has stayed in the top 20 since 1996). Ian has also competed in the World Freediving Championships in Sadinia, Italy in 1998 and finished 18 th.During the past 15 years Ian has been involved in blue water hunting and has travelled to many countries in the pursuit of large game fish. His captures include Striped Marlin to 99kg, Black Marlin to 150kg , Sailfish to 55kg , Dogtooth Tuna to 83kg , Yellowtail kingfish to 40 kg, Mulloway to 39 kg along with Wahoo, Yellow fin Tuna, cobia, Spanish Mackerel and large Giant Trevally.
Many of these fish have been caught on film while in the water with Rob Torelli. (Ian is still keen to capture a Blue and White marlin).
During this time Ian has swam with most species of large shark including Great Whites, Tigers, Oceanic White Tips, Whale Sharks, Great hammerheads and Bull sharks.
Some of these experiences where on trips dedicated to photography with guys trying to get up close to take photos of big shark’s free swimming.
Ian has also helped several other less experienced divers capture fish of a life time like marlin and hopes to meet up with new divers from across the globe.
Ian loves sharing his spearfishing experience with others.
DR ADAM SMITH
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Dr Adam Smith and a Black Spot Tuskfish taken on the Great Barrier Reef |
Adam is the author of the book “Underwater fishing in Australia and New Zealand” (2000), numerous articles on fish and diving and publisher of annual Fantastic Fish Calendar and appearances on numerous DVDs and videos. Adam has been Awarded “Skindiver of the year”, “Sportsman of the year” and national “Beau Beere award”
Dr Adam Smith has been the leader of the Australian Underwater Federation National Spearfishing Commission in Australia since 2002 (www.auf-spearfishing.com.au). Adam strongly believes that recreational spearfishing is sustainable, selective, safe and provides fresh seafood- and is the most environmentally friendly method to harvest fish (no bait, no bycatch, no habitat damage, no impact on threatened species).
Adam has a BSc(Hons) and PhD in Marine Science and a Masters in Business Administration. Adam is also a certified Dive master, Commercial Diver and trained in First Aid.
ANDY RUDDOCK
Andy Ruddock is aged 56 and has been diving for over 45 years. Andy has 3 Australian Open Spearfishing Championships to his credit along with numerous Veteran Championships. He has represented his country on a number of occasions in areas such as New Zealand, Spain, Mexico and New Caledonia. He has dived extensively through out Australia in competition as well as commercially.
Andy now resides in Cairns, Queensland and works as in the Eco Tourism industry.
He has formally enjoyed a career of commercial diving for Sea Urchin, Pearls, Abalone, Trochus and fish.
Andy is equally at home reef fishing as he is in the blue water. He has previously speared a 240 kg Pacific Blue Fin Tuna along with other quality fish. Some of Andy’s best catches include large Dogtooth Tuna, Sailfish, Albacore Tuna, Wahoo, Spanish Mackerel, Yellowtail Kingfish, Samson fish and lots more.
Andy was Blue Water Hunting International first guide and has been a guide since 1995. He enjoys the social aspect of trips and is always keen to share his experience and knowledge. He is a very competent line fisherman and enjoys fishing but spearfishing is still his forte.
SHANE FITSMAURICE
Shane has been spearfishing for thirty years and won the New Zealand Open Spearfishing Champion 3 times. He has represented New Zealand in international competitions on 14 occasions, diving extensively in the United Kingdom, Tahiti, New Caledonia and Australia.
Shane has worked as a professional snorkel diver for twelve years harvesting Abalone on New Zealands rugged West coast and Stewart Island. He also spent several years diving for Sea Urchins on the Corromandel coast of New Zealand. During the off season Shane would spend the winter months spearfishing and filming surfing in Indonesia.
Shane has a real passion for underwater filming and video editing. If he does not have a speargun in his hand he has a camera. Shane has made numerous trips to the Coral Sea and often films the trips for clients.
DREW FENNEY
Drew Fenney at the tender age of 29 is the newest addition to the Blue Water Hunting International team, but don’t let his age deceive you. He has been diving for nearly 20 years, and has dived competitively for the last 15 years. In this time Drew has won two Australian Intermediate Championships, a Runner Up National Championship, the Victorian State Titles and the annual Eden 3-way state title. In Drew’s his first year of senior competition he was runner up in the Australian 2008 National Titles. He has also represented Australia in two world titles in Portugal and Venezuela, and been part of three Inter Pacific teams competing in Eden, New Zealand and Hawaii with Australia winning in Eden and Hawaii.
Drew works as a commercial diver and part time at Legendary Skindiving Equipment where he does work with two of Australia’s leading spearfishing companies, Picasso Australia and Torelli Spearfishing. Drew’s work entails manufacturing spear guns and other spearfishing equipment, recommending diving equipment and communicating with divers from all over the world. Drew has also worked with underwater film maker Rob Torelli accompanying him with stills and motion picture filming. Through Drew’s work with Rob, he has been able to participate in personal guiding in the Coral Sea.
Drew is a very competent diver in both tropical and temperate climates. This is reflected within the array of Drew’s finest caught fish. Some of Drew’s most memorable catches including Dogtooth Tuna, Cobia, Jewfish, Spanish Mackerel, Dolphin Fish, Large Snapper, Giant Trevally and many more.
When Drew isn’t spearing quality game, he enjoys diving with sharks, Whales, Dolphins and all other marine life.
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Drew thoroughly enjoys conversing with divers about gear, technique and all things diving related when he is not busy in the water. Drew would like to thank Legendary Skindiving Equipment |
ALISTAIR MACNEILl
MURRAY PETERSEN
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>> Ian Puckeridge in Focus |
* Articles courtesy of www.diving-action.com