Do you want to build a snowman?

Only if its in a glass and called a Frozen Margarita!

For those of you who haven't seen Frozen, YouTube it go on I dare you! (after you read this though)

I managed to catch up with our newest female diver and brand ambassador Magali Cote, who is currently living on a sailboat.... hang on.. what.... a land sailboat?! Actually her Ute (Truck for our overseas friends) is pretty awesome, and I am kinda jealous. She is able to travel and have creature comforts of home in some of the most amazing destinations that Canada offers (and freezing to from her Instagram pics @misssnorris).

As Larry would not let me travel to Canada to conduct the interview and I couldn't quite pin point where to find Magali, I had to make do with intermittent chats when Magali had reception. What I learnt is that our Mags' is a jack of all trades, down to earth and a seriously cool chick.

So without further ado lets get into it!

#notsotrustysidekick
Hi Magali, welcome to the Penetrator Fins family. We like to ask our ambassadors a few questions so that our followers can learn a bit more about you. So to start what got you into free-diving and spearfishing?

@misssnorris
Hi Everyone! Call me Mags and I've always had a passion for the water and started scuba diving at 16 years old. I loved it so much I became a commercial diver and worked for years on big underwater projects, like construction and maintenance of dams and bridges.
In my early twenties, I traveled and fell in love with the West Coast (of Canada) and  decided to move there, but it was hard to find dive work, so ended up working on land. It took me a few years to realise what I was missing in my life. It was water. So I booked myself a flight to Hawaii and a free-diving class! From so many years spent in the water, I was already confident and a natural in the water but I had to learn the basics of safety, etc. It didn't take me long to realise it was going to become a new passion!

#notsotrustysidekick
That is pretty cool working on the dams and bridges, I never thought about people maintaining them underwater as well as on top. Also the water must be freezing in Canada, a friend of mine from there says the weather is always cold? So if you could dive anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

@misssnorris
It's not always cold! Like right now I am wearing flip flops (thongs/pluggas for us Aussies) and about to head to the beach, in Summer it easily gets to 35 degrees. But if I had a chance to dive anywhere, it would probably be in a high altitude remote lake on top of a mountain, under the ice and snow and only accessible by hiking or skiing. I have always had a strong interest for exploration and adventure.
I've been spending some time under the ice in Canada in the past few years and this type of diving made me realise there was so many places no human ever dove and have never seen before. Being Canadian and a skier since age 3, it is definitely a big motivation for me right now, as unpleasant as it seems for other divers!

---

#notsotrustysidekick
Right so Larry and I will plan a trip around Spring/Summer time then! Okay wait a minute. You said you dive under the ice like UNDERNEATH it! Do you take an ice whacker with you or something?? What about the hole, doesn't it freeze up while your under? I am claustrophobic for you just thinking about it?!

@misssnorris
Hahaha an ice whacker, no I would never be able to break that ice! We always dive in pairs and have someone watching our back. When you dive under the ice you really need to be alert and you must ALWAYS have a dive buddy. Due to the nature and danger of it, you need to tether yourself to the surface, and someone watches and holds the rope (a tender) if the visibility is not good. When we get good visibility, we can go under the ice without a rope, but you must stay near the hole and you follow the light to come back up. Your dive buddy stays near the hole in the ice watching you dive closely from the hole in the water, ready to intervene if necessary. But we are always careful ice diving, always.

#notsotrustysidekick
Please kids do not try that at home. Magali is a professional, leave it to her, I will be. Plus we don't get much ice in Australia. So other than ice diving and making me claustrophobic, what is your favourite memory from your freediving/spearfishing days so far?

@misssnorris
Every dive I have had is memorable. But one of my favourite dives was when I made it to 47 meters for the first time when I was training in Kona, Hawaii. I grabbed a handful of sand from the ocean floor and brought it back to the surface as a proof I reached the bottom. Surrounded with good friends around the dive float, the stoke was real and everyone was cheering, like we always do for our friends who realise a new personal best. I felt so happy and blessed at that very moment, I will always remember this day!

#notsotrustysidekick
Well done! How beautiful is Kona, it is so laid back and relaxing. Our fearless leader Larry (and i) loved the Big Island and diving it. Who would you say are your biggest influences in the freediving/spearfishing world?

@misssnorris
Because I started freediving in Hawaii, I had the pleasure to dive with many accomplished divers from the islands. Annabel Edwards AKA “dive mom” was one of the first and biggest influence I had. Every year, she welcomes people at her house and takes them under her wing. She lends lead for dive belts and fins, offers not only mentor-ship but also friendship to anyone willing to learn. She shared her knowledge selflessly and happily with me and is now a very good friend. Thank you Annabel!
To "give back" to the wonderful diving world that has embraced me I carry on this tradition of mentoring young divers, I just love and enjoy helping them achieve, it is something that I have put a lot of time and effort into with a great learner Kaelyn recently. She has such a passion for the sport and I think she will follow in her mother's footsteps and be a great spearfisher.

#notsotrustysidekick
It's nice that you can pass on knowledge you gained to others, then the cycle of learning can continue on. Being a mentor to others, what tips do you have for someone starting out?

@misssnorris
Take a freediving class. The end.
It will not only make you a safer diver from the beginning, but you will also meet people who might just become your dive buddies! Having a good friend that you entirely trust with all your guts is something extremely important for this type of diving. A lot of people spend so much money on getting fancy gear and have no money left for a class. Even with a surf wet suit and little plastic “flippers” someone can learn the ropes. So don't sweat it, go for it and have fun, the rest will follow as you learn what you really need for gear!

#notsotrustysidekick
Quite a few people say the same about freediving classes. If you had to give some advice/inspiration to those wanting to get into the sport or are already in the sport, what would it be?

@misssnorris
I would say to always remember do it for themselves. Our sport can be healing in so many ways. It is like a medication on it's own and it soothes your soul. If you can relax your brain enough to hear the sounds of the ocean inside you, you will find peace down there and every breath will feel amazing once you get back up.

#notsotrustysidekick
You may know that I do not dive, but float like a pro! As someone who is not comfortable in the water I like to know and I'm sure other do to, how do you remain calm when underwater and not freak out?

@misssnorris
One of the things you learn in a freediving class is how your body uses the gases in your lungs when you are at depth and what happens when you spend time down there. Once you have learned why and how this all takes place and have a good dive buddy around you, you will feel more confident and relaxed to spend more quality time holding your breath at the bottom. Go do a class!!

#notsotrustysidekick
Haha one day I might. At Penetrator we like to remind people that the sport can be dangerous and we need to dive with a buddy and watch each other at all times. Have you had any bad experiences or setbacks during your time freediving/spearfishing?

@misssnorris
I try to stay as safe as possible every time I dive, but I definitely remember some gnarly shore dives in Hawaii, getting in and out in rough winter swells. I had to learn how to count sets and play with them carefully!

#notsotrustysidekick
Yeah my legs met some lava rocks in Kona, the sting was real! We had the awesome @mic_strong take us out and see some new terrain and wildlife that made up for it. Do you think the amount of time you have spent in the water has made you more interested in the environment and conservation?

@misssnorris
Freediving was without a doubt a big eye opener for me. I was already pretty close to the ocean and it's inhabitants, but the fact I could only stay down there for so long made me observe things with a much different eye. After traveling a lot for diving, I was more aware of the major issues with our oceans, but did not know much about my own Canadian waters. My interests shifted to Canada quickly and the impact of our actions. I unquestionably am now very concerned about a few different things, salmon open net-pen fisheries being on top of my list.

#notsotrustysidekick
Even though you have done so much in your life already, are there there things we can still expect from you in the future?

@misssnorris
Always! I want to dive more remote places. I want to see the unseen, document it and share it. Cold water is a source of inspiration to me and I want to explore it more, in different ways. I also have been working on some fun projects lately with a few people and I cannot wait to see the outcomes. I published my first article in a dive magazine last year and I will try to write more and share my images and words with readers more often.

#notsotrustysidekick
Lots of people assume being an brand ambassador means all you do is dive all day everyday. Are you lucky enough to do this full time or do you still have a “real” job?

@misssnorris
I really wish this was my full time job! Fortunately, I have chosen exciting career paths that made my “real” job almost as fun as freediving, so it's not too bad, after all!
After commercial diving, I worked as a welder in the oil and gas industry and it lead me to become a rope access technician and work at heights. I climbed amazing infrastructures for work and everyday has been a new physical challenge. I am actually in the process of starting a new career, with the Canadian coast guard this time. All of the ocean adventures made me realise that being close to the ocean was a must for me and I am taking the steps to make it happen!

#notsotrustysidekick
You like to do things to the extreme! From the bottom of the ocean diving to to top of tall structures and ice diving. You certainly know adventure! We have seen some great pictures from you on Instagram, how are you able to capture such images? Is it all in the timing or a carefully planned scene?

@misssnorris
I always enjoyed capturing moments and portraits myself. I got an underwater camera last year and I have been playing around with it a lot. I often hang out and dive with other photographers and artsy people that fuel my creativity. It is always such a pleasure to collaborate with others and get inspired with amazing images and story creators. Most of the photos and videos we take are from a real live moment, rarely staged and planned.

#notsotrustysidekick
Thank you for taking the time to answer our Penetrator Fins questions. I know that our followers like to get more insight into the industry and our divers. Good luck with all your endeavors and adventures. I will not be joining you on an ice dive! But have fun, it looks awesome!

@misssnorris
Your welcome. And go take a freediving class!!

---

Magali chooses to wear Penetrator Fins "Naked" Carbon fins in Soft.

Photos supplied and produced by Magali Cote.

Penetrator Carbon Fin Blades "NAKED" Exposing the bare beauty of carbon fibre!

• Stiffness: Soft
• Foot Pocket Size: None
• Fixing Kit Holes Drilled (select None if buying foot pockets or do not need holes drilled): None
• Mare Razor or Cetma Foot Pockets $159 (select None if not required): None

A$440.00

Add to Cart

Strong but flexible, the latest technology for high performance fins. The Penetrator Carbon range offers the ultimate in fin performance.

Identical profile to the composite blade, 72 cm working blade length, 25 degree toe angle for efficient surface fining and extremely lightweight at 325 grams with wide water channeling rails. This means less fatigue and lower oxygen consumption for divers who appreciate the advantages that can be gained from high performance equipment.

See our testimonials about these blades.

These are NOT recommended for rock hopping in heavy swell.

Penetrator blades are manufactured using a proprietary Capillary Closed Moulding System (CCMS). This system is a culmination of 25 years’ composites manufacturing experience applied to fin blade development over the past 8 years by Penetrator Fins founder Larry Gray.

The process eliminates the requirement for secondary processing materials used by other manufacturers producing an outstanding surface finish on both sides of the blade and reduces waste. These 2 outcomes alone produce a blade with a smoother flex curve and reduces the environmental footprint of the manufacturing process.

All metal production tooling has been produced in-house utilising Penetrator Fins CAD design and CNC manufacturing capabilities. Mould temperatures are digitally controlled through the process to ensure the specially formulated resin system reaches its ultimate mechanical properties. Only certified carbon and glass fibres issued with a certificate of conformity (usually reserved for aerospace applications) are used. Full process control over these parameters ensures engineering performance measures are consistently achieved.

Carbon Fiber blades receive a protective layer of Kevlar 49 multi-axial reinforcement in the tip of the blade to prevent chips and cracking. This system is unique to Penetrator blades. Kevlar is an extremely resilient and flexible material providing added impact resistance while allowing full flexibility of the blade tip.

Once moulding is complete fin blade profiles are CNC machined to an accuracy of .01mm. Penetrator Fin’s proprietary rubber water rail is then added with cyanoacrylate adhesive in purposed built pneumatic clamping jigs.

Logos are added using hard wearing epoxy inks or In Mould Labelling (IML) techniques during manufacture. Our graphics are digitally printed onto lightweight media and incorporated during the moulding process using IML.

Blade dimensions:

Working blade length: 72cm

Insert length: 14cm

Blade width: 19cm

Angle to foot pocket: 25 degrees

Blade weight bare in grams:

Carbon Naked medium: 240g

Carbon Naked soft: 215g