Words By: Eulogy Du Plessis
Qatar is fast becoming the sports capital of the world, hosting many world championships and international competition across a variety of sporting codes; however its outdoor activity lifestyle is not as well known.
Adventure sports and hobbies are on the rise, becoming more and more popular with locals and expats alike. And one of these has been a well-kept secret – spearfishing.
After the making of “One Fish” in 2010, a DVD featuring the adventures of one local Qatari diver Mohammed Jassim Al-Kuwari, the popularity of spearfishing soared in Qatar.
Increasingly, spearfishing is being explored as a preferred past time in Qatar. It’s all about an early start, making your way to that perfect diving spot, getting into the water and catching your fish of the day. The simple pleasure of enjoying it later with some friends over the BBQ is enough reward for most of the “spearos” in Qatar.
There is no official body regulating these activities in Qatar and information can be hard to come by. But a few trips to the Souq Waqif (and of course getting some locals to share their secrets), you quickly come to understand the community and the need for some local assistance. It is imperative to connect with one of the Qatari experts, and this can be tricky – like all true fishermen, they reluctantly give away their “secret spot.”
Currently, there are no government regulations restricting these fishing activities, and the “season” is open all year round. It must be noted that the spearfishing community in Qatar is quite environmentally conscious, and keep to self-regulated quotas.
The searing heat in the summer months make diving a little more difficult, and finding fish more challenging. Most local divers agree that April, May and June are the best time of the year for spearfishing. Visibility is usually good around these months, some divers reporting up to 15m on a perfect day.
For a good day of spearfishing, you have two options: enjoy exploring the natural reefs, found all along the mostly shallow coastline, making it very accessible. But beware, strong natural currents can be deceiving. The alternative option is to find your way to some of the man-made wrecks, providing some structure in the otherwise even ocean floor. This bit of structure provides an artificial habitat for fish, almost always promising a good catch!
A popular spot for all diving activities is near Sealine Beach Resort in the south of Qatar called “The Old Reef.” An assortment of sunken buses, vehicles (and even the odd porcelain toilet!) is now home to wide variety of different species. Access via shore entry and the deep water starting not far from the shore makes this a fun and easy place to go.
In the north of the country lies some spectacular off-shore spots for spearfishing, but you will need a speedboat and local diver with the GPS coordinates to get there.
An incredible variety of fish species are found here. Expect to catch some barracuda, Spanish mackerel (also known as kingfish), amberjacks, groupers (which is locally known as hamour), sea pike, rabbitfish and trevally. And these are just to name a few! Most divers are caught by surprise by the abundance of fish found off the local shoreline.
One of the local shops provide freediving courses and according to Khalid Al Hammadi, owner of State of Qatar, he has trained and accredited about 400 freedivers from Qatar and the GCC over the past five years.
The two main shops where you can buy spearfishing equipment and source more local advise are both located close to each other at Souq Waqif:
Al Kashat, Fishing and Hunting Equipment
Contact details: sales@alkashatqatar.com; +974 667 24828 or +974 700 57489
State of Qatar (also known as QatarSub), free diving and spearfishing one stop shop
Contact details: www.stateofqatar.com; khalid@stateofqatar.com, +974 443 1234
Most people expect only sand (and more sand) when they come to stay or visit in the Middle East. It is therefore a pleasant surprise when you experience the inviting waters of the Arabian Gulf, and start to unravel the secrets hidden beneath.
Spearfishing off the shore of Qatar is a unique experience that leaves all divers that have had this pleasure breathless (pun intended).
