Noob Spearo Podcast

Twelve beginners. Two days on the reefs of Agnes Water. One bloke who was mentally drafting his Marketplace listing for his speargun on Saturday afternoon — then shot a red throat emperor at 20m and became a fully committed spearo on the spot. This is the 1770 Beginner Retreat debrief, Mark Two, and it's everything the Noob Spearo ethos stands for: full froth, no ego, and a group of total strangers backing each other so hard it makes your abs sore from laughing. Shrek gathers the whole crew — students and instructors — on the last night for an unfiltered roundtable covering their biggest wins, worst moments, frothiest memories, and the universal lesson that keeps coming up no matter who you ask: slow down, persevere, and trust the process. If you've been thinking about doing a beginner retreat — or you just need a reminder of why you fell in love with spearfishing — strap in. KEY TOPICS COVERED: Luke's redemption arc: from "listing my speargun on Marketplace" to stoning a red throat at 20m Mackenzie's first-ever ocean experience — four bull sharks on Day 1, unfazed by Sunday The Cobia Chronicles: Lachlan and Patrick's multiply-missed, eventually-landed fish Maddie's Mu: stoned cold with a borrowed gun and the boat bearing down The universal lesson: slowing down, settle on the bottom, let fish come to you Equalisation tips: the pool exercise for divers who EQ flat but struggle vertical Flash's biggest instructor takeaway: spear more fish yourself to teach better "It's not what you think" — Scotty on how mental limits disguise as physical ones Christian on spearfishing as a team sport, not an individual one Why beginner retreats create formative dive buddy bonds that last CONNECT WITH THE CREW: Dive Spear and Sport (Yemala): Agnes Water https://www.instagram.com/dive_spear_sport_1770/ Underwater Culture (Bri): https://www.instagram.com/breeesea/ No Viz Adventures (Flash/Reese): https://www.youtube.com/@novizadventures NOOB SPEARO: Spearfishing Courses and Retreats: spearfishingcourses.com.au Instagram: @noobspearo Website: noobspearo.com Newsletter: noob-spearo.kit.com/floater PARTNER DEALS: Adreno Spearfishing: spearfishing.com.au — use code NOOBSPEARO to save $20 on orders over $200 Neptonics: neptonics.com — use code NOOB10 to save 10% storewide Old Man Blue: oldmanblue.com.au — use code NOOBSPEARO for a free vinyl filleting apron on orders over $300 Aqualyte Hydration: aqualyte.com.au — use code NOOBSPEARO to save 10% Dog & Gun Coffee: dogandguncoffee.com — use code NOOB10 to save 10% HohnkeOutdoors: hohnkeoutdoors.com — use code NOOBSPEARO to save 20%

NSP:314 — KillShot, Deep Apnea & the Real Shark Shield Story | Ed Martin Ed Martin is one of those blokes who genuinely can't help himself — after years running a dive shop, guiding charters, and building timber spearguns under the KillShot brand in the Florida Keys, he bought carbon fibre fin company Deep Apnea, got involved in bringing Shark Shield back to market, and watched it all peak and crash at the same time. He's since closed the shop, sold the boat, moved 400 miles north to an 80-acre former turtle farm near Ocala, and is now running two manufacturing businesses out of separate buildings he's literally wiring himself. This episode covers the real Shark Shield story, hard-won business wisdom for anyone thinking about turning their spearfishing passion into a paycheck, and an in-depth breakdown of carbon fibre fin construction — including why "soft, medium, hard" is a terrible way to choose your fins, and what actually matters. If you're a spearo who thinks about gear and business, this one's worth a full listen. KEY TOPICS COVERED: Why Ed closed his Florida Keys dive shop and what the real cost of chasing too many opportunities looks like The Shark Shield saga — why the Freedom 8 never made it back to shelves, and where to get one now (Sentinel Ocean Systems) How Deep Apnea carbon fibre fins are made: hand layup process, resin management, and why less resin means better performance Fin stiffness selection explained properly — body weight, dive frequency, depth, and the static deflection test Ed uses to compare flex The flip flop chest loading pad hack: how to rig a full thong with dyneema for an adjustable, depth-stable chest pad Business advice for aspiring spearo entrepreneurs: exit strategies, profit margins, and why you need to know when to walk What's next for Deep Apnea and KillShot — CNC automation, doubling accounts, and the dream of destination spearfishing CONNECT WITH ED: Deep Apnea Freediving Fins: deepapnea.com — use code NOOB10 for 10% off blades KillShot Spear Guns: killshotspearguns.com Sentinel Ocean Systems (new Freedom 8 / Shark Shield stockist): sentineloceansystems.com NOOB SPEARO: Spearfishing Courses and Retreats: spearfishingcourses.com.au Instagram: @noobspearo Website: noobspearo.com Newsletter: noob-spearo.kit.com/floater PARTNER DEALS: Adreno Spearfishing: spearfishing.com.au — use code NOOBSPEARO to save $20 on orders over $200 Neptonics: neptonics.com — use code NOOB10 to save 10% storewide Old Man Blue: oldmanblue.com.au — use code NOOBSPEARO for a free vinyl filleting apron on orders over $300 Aqualyte Hydration: aqualyte.com.au — use code NOOBSPEARO to save 10% Dog & Gun Coffee: dogandguncoffee.com — use code NOOB10 to save 10% HohnkeOutdoors: hohnkeoutdoors.com — use code NOOBSPEARO to save 20%