Diver Profile - Kate Rogers Penetrator Fins Brand Ambassador for women in Spearfishing

Let me introduce Kate Rogers @k8osm8os to you....
Kate is a talented diver who grew up in Ulladulla located in the southern part of New South Wales, Australia but now calls our nations capitol Canberra home.
Kate has recently joined our Penetrator Fins family as a brand ambassador for women in spearfishing! Kate is currently trialing Penetrator Carbon Fins with Cetma pockets and her feedback regarding them is very interesting!

So while Kate lives in Canberra and it is currently winter in Australia the #notsotrustysidekick did not fancy a trip down south to freeze (Sorry Kate! Oh yeah I have been to Canberra before in winter, I grew up in NSW its like a right of passage to go, we froze in our caravan - literally we got frozen in by condensation!) so I stayed in sunny warm Queensland (yeah I'm a chicken we should all know this by now) and had a chat with Kate long distance style asking her our hard hitting Diver Profile Questions!

#notsotrustysidekick
Good Morning Kate how's it been down there in Canberra?

@k8osm8os
Its been all good, except for the horrid swell and wind, other than that can't complain!

#notsotrustysidekick
Nice, now I know you have been using our Kevlar Blades for a few years now but how did you first hear about Penetrator Fins?

@k8osm8os
I first discovered Penetrator Fins on Instagram, when I was looking to upgrade from my little flippers that I had been using since I was a teenager. (I started off with bodyboard  flippers... it seems so funny to call them flippers now! Hahaha!)
I was looking for an Australian made brand, and decided on Penetrator because I was able to message Larry directly and ask him all sorts of questions with quick responses. I remember one of them was - "will the gold Kevlar blades attract more sharks?"

I also liked Penetrator because I had seen a lot of other talented divers using them on Instagram. 

#notsotrustysidekick
What got you into freediving and spearfishing?

@k8osm8os
I've been lucky enough to have grown up on the south coast, in Ulladulla so being near and in the ocean has always been a part of who I am. It was my dad who taught me about diving for crayfish and abalone when I was younger. He taught me about the ocean, and everything I could love about it! It wasn't until recently that I discovered my love for spearfishing. I love the entire thrill of the hunt, from that first moment you put your face in the water, to cleaning and cooking your catch. Even if sometimes I don't come back with anything for the table, every dive is a different adventure and different thrill. 

I guess it's the "I wonder what I will see today" and the "I hope it's a big kingfish!" that keeps me coming back.

#notsotrustysidekick
Wow your very lucky to learn at such a young age! So if you could dive anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

@k8osm8os
I absolutely love the tropics - even though I have only have experienced this once - on my trip to Guam earlier this year. But the diverse fish population on the reef, and the close proximity of big pelagics' on the drop offs and even over the reef is for me the perfect match. A few of the bucket list places I would like to go to are - Tonga, Tahiti, Christmas Island and also Norfolk Island. I also really hope to be able to take a few more trips to the coral over the next few years! 

#notsotrustysidekick
The tropics are good, warmer water and weather! With your long diving history do you have a favourite memory you would like to share?

@k8osm8os
So far I've had the best of times with my buddy Irene. She was with me when I shot my first kingfish. We had been in the water all last summer looking for them, we had come painstakingly close, missed a few, and then this one day it was finally meant to be.
The weather was crap, the visability was crap, the swell was crap. 
We had jumped in at one of our favourite spots, and within 10 minutes she had me onto the biggest fish I'd ever shot!

It was awesome to be able to share the experience with her. This summer we hope to both get onto them! 

#notsotrustysidekick
While we know your Dad was a big influence with your diving especially when you were first starting out and you have your friend Irene who you dive with, do you have anyone else who influences your diving and knowledge in the spearfishing world?

@k8osm8os
YouTube! I love watching how different people approach Spearfishing - I've watched almost all of the YouTube videos from Australia and I guess I take a little bit from each one and try and emulate what they do in some way. It's the people who have fun and push sustainability and respect for their catch that really stand out for me though. And for me it's also the people who don't just tell you about what they're doing, but are happy to show you how. 

With Instagram and Facebook I like watching those people who constantly push the limits - in freediving, spearfishing, movie making, and not to mention the manufacturers who continue to innovate and refresh the sport.

#notsotrustysidekick
I am not someone who is a diver (big chicken prefer land etc), do you have any tips for people like me or someone starting out and those interested in freediving and spearfishing?

@k8osm8os
Really?! Well I'd advise anyone who was starting out to do as much research as possible. Watch YouTube videos, tutorials, read up on it.

Then.......

My tip would be to get in the water as much as possible and learn how to be comfortable there. I think you learn the most through experience, and if you have a mentor or buddy who you can practice with in a safe environment then the possibilities are endless. 

#notsotrustysidekick
Do you have any techniques you would like to share that help you remain calm when underwater and not freak out if sharks want your catch?

@k8osm8os
This is something I actually struggle with still - there are different scenarios I find myself in where i can either stay calm, or my excitement gets the best of me. Seeing some awesome fish will always get my heart rate up and my adrenaline going. But I'm learning to take my time, and not rush the shot.

When I'm holding my breath, I try to relax as much as possible and be mindful of my body. It's an important part of my routine to know that when I'm down - I'm only half way there. I haven't been in a situation where I've felt like panicking or that I could blackout.

On the other hand, seeing sharks is still a surprise sometimes, not always a very welcome one - but I try and assess the situation, stay calm, take careful observations on their behaviour and make a decision on what to do. I've only ever seen one big shark, it was just cruising, but we had been chumming a lot that day and we decided not to tempt fate and got out of the water asap. I always try and keep an eye on any sharks at all times.

Accepting that sharks are in their natural environment, and you're just a visitor there helps with that process. 

#notsotrustysidekick
Ocean awareness and sustainability are very front of mind these days for a lot of both freedivers and spearfishermen, do you think the amount of time you have spent in the water has made you more aware of the environment and conservation?

@k8osm8os
Absolutely. We're pretty lucky to have healthy fish stocks down here in Ulladulla, but I have seen the impact of overfishing in some areas.
I'm also interested in line fishing, and sometimes you just can't pinpoint the fish, and are left wondering why you couldn't catch anything in that certain spot. Being able to get in the water and look at the fish stocks that are there - size, species and numbers, gives you an insight into that environment. When I'm diving, I'm conscious of what reef fish I take based on what I can see.

#notsotrustysidekick
What can we expect from you in the future?

@k8osm8os
In the future I plan on going to some of my bucket list locations, write about my experiences in a blog and make some videos showcasing the whole "ocean to plate" process. I also want to continue to promote selective and sustainable seafood through social media and help get more people involved. 

I hope to help change the attitudes of people who are against spearfishing that think that we just kill for the sake of killing or have the unfair advantage in the fishing world. 

#notsotrustysidekick
I love that! Spearfishing is definitely not an easy sport or way of fishing, I don't think people realise the skills needed to safely fish and to also identify what they are actually catching.
So you have been lucky enough to try our new Cetma foot pockets and Carbon Penetrator blades. What did you think? Did you like the feel of them? And how do you feel they compared to traditional foot pockets and blades?

@k8osm8os
Yes! I have the Penetrator soft carbon blades paired with these foot pockets! (Thanks guys!) Compared to traditional footpockets that have rails, these feel much lighter, and have more maneuverability. I think the angle of the foot pocket is perfect to achieve the optimum blade action. I had a look at this by swimming backwards and could see the full blade flex and easy motion pushing through the water. 

It took a day to get used to, but now the other footpockets feel heavy and like gumboots!

#notsotrustysidekick
I'm glad you liked them! Well thank you for your time today Kate, I hope the weather starts to warm up for you and the conditions get better for diving and chasing your dinner!

@k8osm8os
That's okay, I hope it gets better soon to! I will keep you guys posted on how I go!

Want a pair of your own Penetrator Carbon Blades? Then just shop below! You can also follow Kate on Instagram @k8osm8os.
As always keep tagging #penetratorfins @penetratorfins so we can see all your awesome pics and you to could get the chance to do our diver profile!
Until next time
#notsotrustysidekick

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