Women in Diving: Diving and spearfishing Diva, Jean Hattingh

CREDIT | Text by Nicolene Olckers
If you type the name Jean Hattingh'' and "spearfishing" into the Google search box you will find countless references to a phenomenal woman in diving or spearfishing circles. On the website, www.spearfishingza.co.za Jean is described as “A woman spearo who regularly out-shoots the men, one of SA's leading modern era spearo's with an incredible record of spearing three or more of the bigger fish species, including a large marlin, half a dozen sailfish, a huge dog-tooth tuna and now a big tuna off the Cape, well done Jean Hattingh.” We tracked her down to ask her about her passion for the sport and her involvement in spearfishing and diving in South Africa.
SPEARFISHING OR SCUBA
She started her spearfishing in 1987. “I did a scuba course while I was studying at the University of Cape Town. My instructors were very keen on spearfishing. Instead of taking me scuba diving, they took me spearfishing and I got hooked. I never actually qualified as a scuba diver in the end,” she said
By 1988 she moved to Port Elizabeth. Where she soon earned the nickname of ‘Parrot Queen’ because she was very good at shooting Natal Knifejaw. "That was about all I could manage to shoot at the time,' she laughingly said. A year later she moved to Johannesburg. “It shows that even living in a landlocked town you can still pursue your sport if you are that keen, she jokes.
It is here that she met friends and joined several clubs to play underwater hockey and scuba diving. Practising underwater hockey is very good training for spearfishing. This activity improves breath-holding and stamina, that is essential for spearfishing and freediving.
DIVE DIVE DIVE
“I tried to go down to Natal as often as I could. I would hitch a ride with my scuba diving friends to Sodwana Bay. While at Sodwana Bay I would go out on the scuba diving boats to Two Mile reef and then swim back to shore as I was not allowed on the dive boats with a speargun.”
I have lived on the wild coast – at that time it was known as the Transkei – for 8 years, then in KwaZulu-Natal and from there move to Western Australia for ten years. I currently live in Sierra Leone in West Africa. All this time I’ve been fanatical about diving. I shot some amazing fish and been very lucky.” We also went to Mozambique as often as we could.
A RECORD SHOT
During one of these trips to Mozambique Jean was very lucky. At the time she was a member of the underwater hockey club and accompanied her scuba diving friends on a yacht trip to Bassas da India.
“I jumped in the water with my 1,1 meter Cape gun, which was rather feeble for that area. This huge fish swam up to me. Turned sideways and just sat there. I just gave it a shot. The fish took off at absolutely the highest speed you can imagine and dragged me along. I managed to hang on to my float and was fortunate that the water was only 14 meters deep and the fish couldn’t go deeper than my 30-meter float line. I definitely would have lost it. I was dragged along for about 30 minutes and there was this huge Potato Bass following us. Weaving in and out, trying to interfere. I finally managed to get the fish onto the yacht. We couldn’t hang it up and I lay down next to it to get a picture. We had to cut up the fish in four pieces to weigh it. It turned out to be a 52 kg Dogtooth Tuna and it was a men's world record at the time. This world record was broken a week later by an Australian spearfishing man and many times after that. "We ate well that night and gave the remainder of the fish to passing local fishermen.”
When Jean started with spearfishing, almost 32 years ago, it was a very male-dominated sport. The sport still is male-dominated. In fact, there were very few ladies that did do spearfishing. The few that were doing spearfishing, did it for fun now and then. “I was very competitive.” There were no women’s records and no women’s teams. She always had to compete with the men. Jean also achieved National and provincial colours for spearfishing. She was a member of the Gauteng and Eastern Province teams in the National competitions and went to every competition that she could get to. Travelling to Mozambique as often as she could and spent as much time as she could at the coast. “It is a fabulous sport for women and I highly recommend it to anyone that is vaguely Waterwise, to go try it out. It adds a whole new dimension to life and there is a whole wonderful new world waiting to be explored down there. It is very meditative as well.”
She currently lives in Sierra Leone in West Africa. The village has many dhows and local fishermen mainly catch small fish. There are many big fish around making spearfishing exciting and rewarding. The very first fish she shot in Sierra Leone was a 26 kg West coast Barracuda. The fish was given to a local orphanage that she supports. “A few days later I said to Rob: We should check on what the local records are. The fish I shot would have been a men world record, which I can’t claim because we had already cut it up and given it away. We are having a wonderful time here, doing a lot of fishing and spearfishing.”
NOTE: For more info and to connect on Facebook: @divingdivasSouthAfrica
If you type the name Jean Hattingh'' and "spearfishing" into the Google search box you will find countless references to a phenomenal woman in diving or spearfishing circles. On the website, www.spearfishingza.co.za Jean is described as “A woman spearo who regularly out-shoots the men, one of SA's leading modern era spearo's with an incredible record of spearing three or more of the bigger fish species, including a large marlin, half a dozen sailfish, a huge dog-tooth tuna and now a big tuna off the Cape, well done Jean Hattingh.” We tracked her down to ask her about her passion for the sport and her involvement in spearfishing and diving in South Africa.
SPEARFISHING OR SCUBA
She started her spearfishing in 1987. “I did a scuba course while I was studying at the University of Cape Town. My instructors were very keen on spearfishing. Instead of taking me scuba diving, they took me spearfishing and I got hooked. I never actually qualified as a scuba diver in the end,” she said
By 1988 she moved to Port Elizabeth. Where she soon earned the nickname of ‘Parrot Queen’ because she was very good at shooting Natal Knifejaw. "That was about all I could manage to shoot at the time,' she laughingly said. A year later she moved to Johannesburg. “It shows that even living in a landlocked town you can still pursue your sport if you are that keen, she jokes.
It is here that she met friends and joined several clubs to play underwater hockey and scuba diving. Practising underwater hockey is very good training for spearfishing. This activity improves breath-holding and stamina, that is essential for spearfishing and freediving.
DIVE DIVE DIVE
“I tried to go down to Natal as often as I could. I would hitch a ride with my scuba diving friends to Sodwana Bay. While at Sodwana Bay I would go out on the scuba diving boats to Two Mile reef and then swim back to shore as I was not allowed on the dive boats with a speargun.”
I have lived on the wild coast – at that time it was known as the Transkei – for 8 years, then in KwaZulu-Natal and from there move to Western Australia for ten years. I currently live in Sierra Leone in West Africa. All this time I’ve been fanatical about diving. I shot some amazing fish and been very lucky.” We also went to Mozambique as often as we could.
A RECORD SHOT
During one of these trips to Mozambique Jean was very lucky. At the time she was a member of the underwater hockey club and accompanied her scuba diving friends on a yacht trip to Bassas da India.
“I jumped in the water with my 1,1 meter Cape gun, which was rather feeble for that area. This huge fish swam up to me. Turned sideways and just sat there. I just gave it a shot. The fish took off at absolutely the highest speed you can imagine and dragged me along. I managed to hang on to my float and was fortunate that the water was only 14 meters deep and the fish couldn’t go deeper than my 30-meter float line. I definitely would have lost it. I was dragged along for about 30 minutes and there was this huge Potato Bass following us. Weaving in and out, trying to interfere. I finally managed to get the fish onto the yacht. We couldn’t hang it up and I lay down next to it to get a picture. We had to cut up the fish in four pieces to weigh it. It turned out to be a 52 kg Dogtooth Tuna and it was a men's world record at the time. This world record was broken a week later by an Australian spearfishing man and many times after that. "We ate well that night and gave the remainder of the fish to passing local fishermen.”
When Jean started with spearfishing, almost 32 years ago, it was a very male-dominated sport. The sport still is male-dominated. In fact, there were very few ladies that did do spearfishing. The few that were doing spearfishing, did it for fun now and then. “I was very competitive.” There were no women’s records and no women’s teams. She always had to compete with the men. Jean also achieved National and provincial colours for spearfishing. She was a member of the Gauteng and Eastern Province teams in the National competitions and went to every competition that she could get to. Travelling to Mozambique as often as she could and spent as much time as she could at the coast. “It is a fabulous sport for women and I highly recommend it to anyone that is vaguely Waterwise, to go try it out. It adds a whole new dimension to life and there is a whole wonderful new world waiting to be explored down there. It is very meditative as well.”
She currently lives in Sierra Leone in West Africa. The village has many dhows and local fishermen mainly catch small fish. There are many big fish around making spearfishing exciting and rewarding. The very first fish she shot in Sierra Leone was a 26 kg West coast Barracuda. The fish was given to a local orphanage that she supports. “A few days later I said to Rob: We should check on what the local records are. The fish I shot would have been a men world record, which I can’t claim because we had already cut it up and given it away. We are having a wonderful time here, doing a lot of fishing and spearfishing.”
NOTE: For more info and to connect on Facebook: @divingdivasSouthAfrica
Posted in Women In Diving South Africa
Tagged with spearfishing, Freediving, Apnea, Underwater hockey, Mozambique, CapeTown, Diving Divas
Tagged with spearfishing, Freediving, Apnea, Underwater hockey, Mozambique, CapeTown, Diving Divas
Categories
2020
January
February
Group Fitness at the PoolHow to Rescue a Distressed diver at the SurfaceHow to manage Near-DrowningNo Sit-ups no problem How to manage MalariaHow to manage Oxygen Deficiency (Hypoxia)What to do when confronted by a sharkHow to manage Scombroid PoisoningHow to perform a Deep Diver RescueHow to perform One-rescuer CPRHow to perform a Neurological Assessment
March
DAN’s Quick Guide to Properly Disinfecting Dive GearCOVID-19 : Prevention Recommendations for our Diving CommunityGermophobia? - Just give it a reasonable thoughtScuba Equipment care – Rinsing and cleaning diving equipmentCOVID-19 and DAN MembershipFurther limitations imposed on travels and considerations on diving activitiesDAN Membership COVID-19 FAQsLancet COVID-19 South African Testing SitesCOVID-19 No Panic Help GuideGetting Decompression Sickness while FreedivingDown in the DumpsCardiovascular Disease and DivingDelayed Off-GassingDiving after Dental surgeryDiving with Multiple MedicationsPygmy Seahorses: Life AquaticAfrica DustCOVID-19 Myth BustersScuba Units Are Not Suitable Substitutes for VentilatorsDisinfection of Scuba Equipment and COVID-19Physioball Stability Exercises
April
COVID-19 AdvisoryScuba Equipment Care - Drying & Storing Your GearTransporting Diving Lights & BatteriesHow to Pivot Your Message During a CrisisTourism Relief FundCOVID-19 Business Support ReviewDiving After COVID-19: What We Know TodayEUBS-ECHM Position Statement on Diving ActivitiesPart 2: COVID-19 Business Support ReviewPress Release
May
Diving in the Era of COVID-19Dive Operations and COVID-19: Prepping for ReturnCOVID-19 & Diving Activities: 10 Safety RecommendationsCOVID-19: Surface Survival TimesThe Philippines at its FinestThe Logistics of ExplorationThe Art of the Underwater SelfieShooter: Douglas SeifertFAQs Answered: Disinfecting Scuba EquipmentStock your First-Aid KitResearch and OutreachCovid-19 ResearchOut of the BlueEffects of Aspirin on DivingThe New Pointy end of DivingDiving and Hepatitis CCaissons, Compressed-Air work and Deep TunnellingPreparing to Dive in the New NormalNew Health Declaration Form Sample Addressing C-19 IssuesDiving After COVID 19: What Divers Need to Know
June
Travel Smarter: PRE-TRIP VACCINATIONSAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and DivingCOVID-19: Updated First Aid Training Recommendations From DANDiving with a Purpose in National Marine SanctuariesStay Positive Through the PandemicFor the Dive Operator: How to Protect Your Staff & ClientsStudying Deep reefs and Deep diversAsking the Right QuestionsLung squeeze under cold diving conditions
July
Dive DeprivationVolunteer Fish Surveys: Engage DiversDAN Member Profile: Mehgan Heaney-GrierTravel Smarter: Don’t Cancel, Reschedule InsteadDive Boat Fire SafetyRay of HopePartner ExercisesDiving at AltitudeAluminium ExposureHip FracturesAcoustic NeuromaGuidelines for Lifelong Medical Fitness to DiveNew Dive Medical Forms
August
Women in Diving: Lauren Arthur, Conservationist & Natural History Story TellerWomen in Diving: Dr Sara Andreotti White Shark ResearcherTiming ExerciseWomen in Diving: The Salty Wanderer, Charlie WarlandWomen in Diving: Beth Neale, Aqua soul of freedivingWomen in Diving: Diving and spearfishing Diva, Jean HattinghWomen in Diving: Zandile Ndhlovu, The Black Mermaid
September
October
Freediving For ScienceStep Exercises with CardioFluorescence Imaging help Identify Coral BleachingChildren and DivingThe Watchman device and divingScuba Diving and Factor V Leiden gene mutationNitrogen Narcosis at shallow depthsOil and Particulates: Safe levels in Breathing Air at depthDive Principles for Coping with COVID-19The Importance of a Predive Safety CheckTalya Davidoff: the 'Plattelandse Meisie' Freediver
2019
February
April
May
DAN Press ReleaseYour Dive Computer: Tips and tricks - PART 1Your Dive Computer: Tips and tricks - PART 2Aural HygieneDCS AheadHow Divers Can Help with coral conservationRed Tide and shellfish poisoningDiving after Kidney DonationDiving with hypertrophic cardiomyopathyEmergency Underwater Oxygen Recompression
June
July
September
October
November
Exercise drills with DowelsHeart-rate TrainingCultivating ConservationTRavel Smarter : Evaluating an unfamiliar Dive operatorChallenging the Frontiers of Decompression ResearchTravel Smarter: Plan for Medical EmergenciesWhen should I call my Doctor?DAN Student Medical Expense CoverageAdvice, Support and a LifelineWetsuits and heat stressDiving after Chiropractic adjustments
2018
April
Flying after pool diving FAQLung squeeze while freediving FAQDiving after Bariatric surgery FAQMarine injuries FAQVasovagal Syncope unpredictable FAQIncident report procedure FAQDiving after knee surgery FAQDiving when in RemissionDive with orbital Implant FAQInert gas washout FAQOxygen ears FAQPost Decompression sicknessChildren and diving. The real concerns.Diving after SurgeryPhysiology of Decompresssion sickness FAQDiving and regular exerciseGordon Hiles - I am an Underwater Cameraman and Film MakerScuba Air QualityBreath-hold diving. Part 3: The Science Bit!Compensation Legislation and the Recreational DiverCape Town DivingFive pro tips for capturing better images in cold waterThe Boat Left Without You: Now What?
May
When things go wrongEmergency Planning: Why Do We Need It?Breath-hold diving: Running on reserve -Part 5 Learning to RebreatheSweet Dreams: When Can I Resume Diving Post Anaesthesia?Investing in the future of reefsTo lie or not to lie?THE STORY OF A RASH AFTER A DIVEFirst Aid KitsTaravana: Fact or Falacy?
June
Oxygen Unit MaintenanceKnow Your Oxygen-Delivery Masks 1Know Your Oxygen-Delivery Masks 2Emergency Oxygen unitsInjuries due to exposure - HypothermiaInjuries due to exposure - Altitude sicknessInjuries due to Exposure - Dehydration and other concernsHow to plan for your dive tripThe Future of Dive MedicinePlastic is Killing our ocean
September
Return to DivingDiagnoses: Pulmonary blebSide effects of Rectogesic ointmentDiving with ChemotherapyReplacing dive computers and BCDsCustomize Your First-Aid KitPlan for medical emergenciesHow the dive Reflex protects the brain and heartDry suits and skin BendsAltitude sickness and DCSScuba Diving and Life Expectancy
2017
March
April
Incident Insight: TriageA Field Guide to Minor MishapsSnorkels: Pros & ConsTime & RecoveryMedication & Drug UseDiving with CancerNitrox FAQCOPD FAQHyperbaric Chamber FAQJet Lag FAQHydration FAQAnticoagulant Medication FAQFluid in the Ear FAQEye Surgery FAQElderly Divers FAQNitrogen FAQHealth Concerns FAQMotion Sickness FAQMicronuclei FAQ
June
August
2016
February
March
Breath-Hold Diving & ScubaReturn to Diving After DCITiming Exercise & DivingHot Tubs After DivingSubcutaneous EmphysemaIn-Water RecompressionDiving at AltitudeFlying After DivingDiving After FlyingThe Risks of Diabetes & DivingFlu-like Symptoms Following a DiveHand & Foot EdemaFrontal HeadachesBladder DiscomfortLatex AllergiesRemember to BreatheProper Position for Emergency CareAches & PainsCell Phones While DrivingSurfers Ear Ear Ventilation TubesDealing with Ear ProblemsDiving with Existing Ear InjuriesPerforated Ear DrumENT SurgeryUnpluggedCochlear ImplantsPortuguese Man-of-WarJellyfish StingsLionfish, Scorpionfish & Stonefish EnvenomationsStingray Envenomation Coral Cuts, Scrapes and RashesSpeeding & Driving Behaviour
June
Newsflash! Low Pressure Hose DeteriorationItching & rash go away & come back!7 Things we did not know about the oceanMigraine HeadacheAttention Deficit Disorder Cerebral Vascular AccidentEpilepsyCerebral PalsyHistory of SeizuresMultiple Sclerosis Head TraumaBreast Cancer & Fitness to Dive IssuesLocal Allergic ReactionsSea LiceHow ocean pollution affects humans Dive Fatality & Lobster Mini-Season StatisticsPregnancy & DivingReturn to Diving After Giving BirthBreast Implants & DivingMenstruation During Diving ActivitiesOral Birth ControlBreast FeedingPremenstrual SyndromeOsteoporosisThe Aftermath of Diving IncidentsCompensation Legislation & the Recreational DiverNoise-Induced Hearing LossLegal MattersThe Nature of Liability & DivingDAN Legal NetworkWaivers, Children & Solo DivingHealthy, but overweight!Taking Medication while Scuba DivingGetting Fit for the Dive SeasonBone Considerations in Young DiversAsthma and Scuba DivingHepatitisDiving with HyperglycemiaShoulder PainDiving After Spinal Back Surgery
August
Hazard Identification & Risk AssessmentCaring For Your People Caring For Your FacilitiesCaring For Your BusinessScuba Air Quality Part 1Scuba Air Quality Part 2Chamber Maintenance Part 1Chamber Maintenance Part 2The Aging Diver Propeller SafetyRelease The PressureDon't Get LostMore Water, Less Bubbles13 Ways to Run Out of Air & How Not To7 Mistakes Divers Make & How To Avoid ThemSafety Is In The AirHow Good Is Your Emergency Plan
2015
January
March