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The Drifter Journals

(VIDEO) Adventure Junkies: Freediving Maui, Hawaii - Escape to the Blue World

4/19/2013

17 Comments

 
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Adventure Junkie: Jordan Costa
Homebase: Haiku, Maui, Hawai'i


For as long as I've known him, my friend Jordan Costa has always been an adventure drifting junkie.
 
Born and raised on the island of Maui, Hawai'i, he has traveled around the globe in search of any adventure he can get his hands on. 

He has gone snowboarding, bungee jumping, diving, racing, dog sledding and so on in places like Oregon, Texas, Canada, Mexico and more.
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As a Hawai'i born local boy, the water is Jordan's second home. 

A couple of weeks ago I caught up with Jordan for a quick interview on what it's like for an adventure junkie like him to have the beaches of Hawai'i as his backyard. We talked about one of his favorite past times, spearfishing. 

Here are just a few of things he shared with me...

How often do you go spearfishing?

At least once a week when the water is calm.

What do you enjoy about it?

I love to do this because it's an escape from the world above, and it's where REAL everyday adventures begin. I have a lot of respect for the dangers of the ocean, but I also really believe that if you respect the ocean and understand it, it will give you back so much more in return, enough future adventures that most people will never be able see first hand in their life. 

What are some of the challenges?

The purpose of spearfishing is to hunt game in as traditional a way as possible, and one of the biggest challenges in doing this is having to hold your breath to catch big game the way it has always been done in the past.

As a freediver, you try to use the least amount of modern technology as possible. Why?

Of course, modern technology has provided a much easier and more efficient means of catching fish, but this has resulted in over fishing and pollution, which eventually effects us all. 

Besides, when you free dive for your food, then bragging rights is all yours.

Longshot here, I know, but just wondering... Can you share any of your secret Maui spots with us?

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Sorry, but I can't share all of the secret spots. It's nothing selfish, it's just that over populated and over fished places have drastically changed the marine life in the Hawaiian islands. 

So as far as suggestions on where to go, I'm gonna keep it general and just say that if you wanna see a variety of marine life, stick to the northern shores.

Fair enough. Last of all, do you have any advice for new learners?

  1. KNOW THE OCEAN AND ITS CURRENTS! The ocean is extremely dangerous to people who don't know the currents and who underestimate the power of the ocean.
  2. NEVER dive alone. 
  3. And ALWAYS respect the marine life, you have no idea how fast things can change the moment just one person decides to do otherwise in the underwater marine world. 

If you haven't had a chance to freedive yet and you're curious what it's like to be down in the depths of the blue world, below is a diving video shot by Jordan himself while out freediving in Makena, Maui. He used a GoPro Hero with the new dive housing to get this amazing underwater footage. 

Oh, and just in case you were wondering what's the difference between 'freediving' and 'spearfishing'... freediving is pretty much the same flipping thing as spearfishing, the only difference is that you go in the water without a spear or spear gun. 

Check out Jordan's freediving footage below:

What do you think? Is this something you would like to do?

This is the first in a series of adventure travel videos shot by Jordan Costa. 

If you are interested in seeing his other upcoming videos of him and his friends dog sledding, snowboarding and riding, please be sure to SUBSCRIBE!

And now we'd like to ask you: Have you ever been freediving? What did you think of your experience?

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17 Comments
Ash
4/18/2013 12:32:20 pm

Hey Jordan!
I realized I was holding my breath half way through that video...oops. Breathe!. okay better...Awesome footage though!. I look forward to FULLY exploring the ocean without fear and pollution in the future...

Reply
JR Riel link
4/18/2013 06:06:14 pm

I love the footage, too! When I first saw it, I knew this was the first one to feature. Something about how he captures the feeling of what it's like to enter a whole other world that really makes the video awesome. Glad you enjoyed it!

Reply
Kalei
4/19/2013 02:43:27 pm

One more activity to add on to my Paradise List.

Suzy link
4/21/2013 12:37:33 pm

It's amazing how clear the water is! Living in a landlocked state, I always envied those near water with this whole other world under the ocean.

Reply
JR Riel link
4/22/2013 12:01:08 am

Good point. It's one of those things you take for granting if you have it around you all the time. Only when you move on and see other parts of the world, you begin to realize how big a part the ocean pays in your life.

Reply
Christine |GRRRLTRAVELER link
4/21/2013 11:05:46 pm

Pretty cool video. Not as deep as the The Deep Blue, but still, I admire those who can hold their breath underwater for a long time. Sometimes when I go snorkeling, I have friends that go down close to the reef to get a better view. I totally can't sustain that long. Just when I go down, I"m coming back up again.

Reply
JR Riel link
4/21/2013 11:59:50 pm

Yeah, it takes training. If you did it regularly, like every day, you could train your lungs into holding more air for longer. But even for myself, I haven't done something like this for so long, I probably would go down and come straight back up after not too long.

Reply
Natalia link
4/22/2013 01:00:06 am

Very nice. You got some skills!

I'm glad you try to get to the message out about respecting the ocean. Glad you didn't spill the coordinates of your dives. ;)

Reply
JR Riel link
4/22/2013 03:41:10 pm

Jordan is a true adventurer. One night he's up in the mountains hunting with dogs, the next night he's in a cave near the ocean having beers, grilling steak and fishing off the seacliffs. I loved the respect about ocean part, too, it's so true and something that needs to be put across. I knew he wouldn't let out any of his secret spots to 'strangers', but I love to tease the readers!

Reply
Dana Carmel link
4/22/2013 11:24:13 am

Great video and great interview! I've never been spearfishing or free diving. Jave's uncle in Jamaica often goes spear fishing at night. Yikes!

Reply
JR Riel link
4/22/2013 03:43:21 pm

I grew up night diving with my dad! It was the funnest thing to do for me as a kid. We could see and catch so many things that are hard to see in the day time! You should try it with your in-laws someday, it'll be fun.

Reply
Lumaca link
4/29/2013 01:00:07 am

Very nice read, thank you for the sharing :)

Reply
JR Riel link
4/29/2013 05:28:21 pm

Thanks, you have a beautiful photoblog, too!

Reply
Lumaca link
4/29/2013 04:46:18 pm

I love snorkeling the Hawaii, especially Kauai and Maui, it's no free diving I know, but this interview bring back good memory, thanks :)

Reply
JR Riel link
4/29/2013 05:29:37 pm

Same idea, snorkeling is yet another way to enjoy the ocean. Glad you had a good time in Hawaii.

Reply
kimmy @ AfterGlobe link
6/2/2013 05:56:26 am

Nice article. Last time I went snorkeling, I saw someone freediving and was very intrigued by it. Now, I want to try it!

Reply
Kimberly Bachman
8/5/2014 03:22:22 am

Funeral services for Jordan will be Saturday, August 9, 2014 at Ballard's family Mortuary at 9:30am.

Reply



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    I'm JR. I come from a long line of adventurers, some were nomadic explorers of the sea and others wandering cultivators of the earth. Ultimately, this legacy of drifters has deeply affected my view of travel. Read more... 

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