This month, the CMAS Spearfishing World Championship saw participation from a total of 23 countries. Spain's team secured the top spot, with Italy and Tahiti closely following suit on the podium. The US finished 17th.

Hey there, spearos. This is The Stone Shot, your weekly dose of spear content (and maybe some fishing, but we try to keep it below the water line)

Here’s what we have for you today:

• The Question: Is MDR A Spearo’s Secret Super Power?

• Weird fish of the week: Black Snoek

• California Lobster Opener: Tomorrow, 6pm PST

• Video: Crystal Clear FL Everglades

The Question

What Is The Mammalian Dive Reflex (MDR)?

The mammalian dive reflex, found in all mammals, including humans, is an automatic response to being submerged in water. It triggers a slower heart rate (bradycardia) and redirects blood away from non-vital areas to conserve oxygen. This adaptation allows mammals to stay submerged longer while minimizing oxygen use.

It is the reason why, before 6 months of age, when a newborn baby is underwater, the baby’s windpipe automatically closes to prevent water from entering the lungs, and why whales and dolphins can survive such great depths.

The 3 Main Benefits Of MDR

• Slower Heart Rate: Bradycardia occurs which is the slowing of the heart rate. This conserves oxygen. When your face is immersed in water, the heart rate slows by 10% to 30%. Freedivers who train their MDR can achieve up to a 50% heart rate reduction.

• Reduced Blood Flow: Peripheral vasoconstriction. This term refers to the narrowing of blood vessels in the extremities (arms, hands, legs, and feet). During the MDR, it happens to conserve blood and oxygen for vital organs like the heart, lungs, and brain. Reduced blood flow to the limbs means more oxygen for critical body parts.

• Blood Shift: When peripheral vasoconstriction occurs and the diver descends, blood from the limbs moves toward vital organs and fills the space left as the lungs compress. This process, known as the blood shift, prevents the chest and lungs from crushing under water pressure. Blood doesn't compress, maintaining volume as the diver goes deeper.The Not So Fun Part of MDR

The Not So Fun Part of MDR

It makes you have to pee! The blood shift causes an increased blood volume in the body's trunk. In response, the kidneys detect this change and attempt to restore the body to its usual state by removing excess water from the blood through urine synthesis.

And what happens when you pee out all that extra water? You get dehydrated. That’s why it’s important to drink more fluids than normal while diving.

Another downfall of MDR is the build up of lactic acid. This is the burn you feel in your muscles, whether it is in your legs from finning or in your arms from free immersion, and what causes cramps or soreness.

How To Strengthen Your MDR

To enhance your freediving skills, you can take specific actions to bolster and condition the mammalian dive reflex:

1. Stretch the intercostal muscles and perform Uddiyana Bandha

2. Practice depth regularly

3. Increase depth slowly

Weird Fish Of The Week: Black Snoek

Belonging to the snake mackerel family, these fish tend to prefer depths exceeding 1000 feet during daylight hours. And boy are they creepy…

The fish above is a world record black snoek that was caught in the Maldives. Weighing just under 40 lbs.

Announcement!

California Lobster Season Starts Tomorrow

Tomorrow marks the start of California's Spiny Lobster season, a thrilling time for West Coast divers. This year, the recreational season will commence at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 29th, and will run through Wednesday, March 20th.

No Net, No Tickle Stick… Just Hands

Unlike many parts of the world, when diving for lobster in California, you are only allowed to use your hands. Most divers will go down with a flashlight, a gauge, and a catch bag. The limit is 7 lobsters, with a minimum carapace length of 3 ¼ inches.

All-Time Record

We contacted California's Fish and Game for this one, and our minds were blown. The all-time record for a California Spiny Lobster is 26 pounds. Yes, you read that right, 26 pounds! That's the size of a two-year-old child.

And I know what you're thinking because we thought it too – show us a picture! Well, apparently, there is no picture (hmm, suspicious?). However, here is a photo of an 11-pound lobster caught by Tom Powers:

If you were to double the size of this lobster, you still wouldn't be at the 26 lb record. That's one large two-year-old child...

Video

Beautiful underwater footage of the Florida Everglades

That’s it for us! We’ll see you back here next week.

PS - Reply to this email with any crazy spearfishing stories, photos or videos of your own, we’d love to feature you!