Bluewater Fathers of Spearfishing
Jack Prodanovich has been instrumental in guidance and assistance. Acquiring the right components for big gamespearguns is not easy. Many of the production "diveshop" spearguns are relatively frail or poorly made. They are designed for production, not experimentation. The San Diego Divers were not afraid to build their own equipment. There was no other way to go. There were no diveshops, eveything was hand-made.
Bob Johnson has been kind enough to hold a party at the beginning of yellowtail season annually. Many of the San Diego divers are invited. Gatherings like these "pow-wows" help the divers to meet and share knowledge. Information is handed down word of mouth from the older wise ones to the young bucks. This is how information has traditionally been transmitted in a hunting society. Stories are told about the hunt and it's success or failure. It is a ritual that needs to be perpetuated. HTML is a great way to shareknowledge, but knowing an old master personally and listening to their stories cannot be replaced.
I would urge you spearfishermen to all get together for a seafood cookout around an open fire. The tribal elders will help pass the essential information to the eager youngsters.
These are some of the seasoned bluewater spearfishermen of San Diego. From left to right, our host, Bob Johnston, Wally Potts, Marty Pasos, Bill Hammel, and Jack Prodanovich.
Right there are hundreds of years of valuable personal experience and expertise. It is an honor to be able to know these guys who are known as the "Bluewater Fathers". Each of these guys has manufactured his own equipment, all share and relate their knowledge. Hand-built prototypes are compared and critiqued among the tribe. This is a small sample of the talented divers from San Diego. I hesitate to name others for fear I will overlook someone due to my own ignorance of the history of spearfishing in California.
About 'The Fathers of Spearfishing' in memory of the passing of Wally Potts, February 2002.
In the tradition of the Bottomscratchers, I think what makes these guys, in particular, stand out from the rest of the diving community is that they have been selfless in their enthusiasm. They had so much joy for the activity itself that making a living off of it was secondary to helping the youth develop competency. I believe that this is exactly why these particular guys were loved so much. They 'gave' from their excellence rather than charged for it. These guys were accessible with a real humility.
With the gradual passing of the 'old timers' (the Fathers of Spearfishing) we realize the generosity and kindness of these true great sports gentlemen. It's more than a loss of a friend, it's the sad end of an era of grace.