Spearo Diaries

Jessie has spent the last two decades hunting fish and exploring the ocean across the world. From living aboard a boat and travelling between countries, to chasing dogtooth, filming underwater and finding ways to protect the places she loves — her life has revolved around the ocean.

In this episode we talk about the places the ocean has taken her, the fish she’s chased, life on a boat, underwater filmmaking, reef conservation, and what it really means to build a life around the sea.

This one is full of adventure, stories and a whole lot of saltwater. 🌊

🎧 Episode 36 — out now.

#Spearodiaries #Spearfishing #SpearfishingWomen #OceanAdventure #Freediving #UnderwaterFilmmaking #OceanConservation #JessieCripps

Show Notes:

Sailing Popao: Shooting Dogtooth Tuna in the Coral Sea

https://youtu.be/nfTJwMdXWa0?si=ci6mprgV0-iN4d70

https://youtu.be/8KcYpcs41CI?si=-DsZGMLQSuqLDEjd

Wettie Products:

Wettie women’s 5mm Ocean armour wetsuit: 

https://www.wettie.co.nz/products/wetsuits/womens-wetsuits/5mm-womens-ocean-armour-2-0-wetsuit/

Wettie squid mask: 

https://www.wettie.co.nz/products/masks-and-snorkels/masks/wettie-squid-mask/

Wettie Soft Snorkel:

https://www.wettie.co.nz/products/masks-and-snorkels/snorkels/wettie-soft-snorkel/

This one feels big. 💙

Laura’s stepping back from Spearo Diaries.

We started this podcast as a silly idea on a car ride.

We never imagined it would reach listeners in more than 76 countries, or bring so many incredible people, stories and memories into our lives.

One thing we’ve learned along the way: don’t keep putting off the things you love. And if someone’s been there for you along the way, tell them you care about them.

Because diving isn’t just about the ocean — it’s about the people beside you in it. The ocean is therapy, and dive mates make it even more special. 🌊

This episode is a little look back at the memories we’ve made, the adventures we’ve shared, and what comes next.

🌊 Tag a dive mate you’re grateful for. 🤿

#SpearoDiaries #SpearfishingNZ #OceanAdventures #DiveMates #OceanCommunity

SD: 34 Jeremy Viall - The Midnight Squid Slayer.

In this episode, Jeremy Viall takes us out for a night dive.

With Squid in our minds and guns in our hands we head into the dark.

We chat in the car about the conditions, the plan and what we’re hoping to find, then we have a post dive chat about how the night actually unfolded — chasing squid, diving in the dark and staying in the water until 2am.

There’s something pretty special about night diving. The ocean feels completely different, and you never quite know what’s going to appear in the beam of your torch.

Come along for a late-night squid mission with Jeremy Viall on his YouTube channel Learn to speatfish 🤿🌊

https://youtube.com/@learntospearfish-th2es?si=T12TPPPOVU62yziH

SD: Episode 33 Ray Powell - Master of his Craft & Ocean Innovator

This episode we hear from one of the legends in spearfishing, from passionate spearo to master fin builder. We chat about how DiveR Fins began, what makes a great fin, the evolution of spearfishing equipment, stories from decades in the ocean, and the lessons he's learned along the way.

Get your earholes ready for this gem! 🎤🧜‍♂️🎧💦

This episode we talk about art and sea adventures with a bright and creative wahine. 

She has built a life around creativity with the sea as her inspiration. She is the innovative force behind her brand Diver Mon.Less known online for being a spearo, Mon isn't just a weapon at whipping up fish art and designing marine detailed clothing swimwear, mask tamers and fins. She is also a very skilled freediver and a modest spearfishing huntress . 

So get your earholes ready as we talk to Sea Sensation & Artistic Soul Diver Mon -  about the best time to eat a sandwich, her kiwi roots and her love of everything under the sea.

To kick off the new year in 2026, we bring you a phenomenal conversation with an optimistic spearo who is constantly striving to improve his craft.

A natural problem-solver who has experienced some truly epic days in the water, and a guy who regularly chooses to do hard things in nature’s elements.

Well known for his role on South Seas Spearo , his connection to Garmin and his recent spot on the NZ Spearfishing team who travelled to Worlds, in Brazil in Nov of 2025 . This chat is all about Kieran and we know you're going to love filing your earholes with this one .

Episode #31 of the Spearo Diaries Podcast: Kieran Andrews – Optimistic Soul & Appreciative Explorer

In this episode of Spearo Diaries, we chat with four of Aotearoa’s top competitive spearfishers as they prepare to represent New Zealand at the 2025 CMAS World Spearfishing Championships in Brazil.

We sit down with:
• Dwane Herbert
• Kieran Andrews
• Chris Marshall
• Jeffery Brown

These Kiwi spearo weapons share their goals, mindset, and the mahi that goes into competing on the world stage. We dive into:
• How they’re training and preparing for Brazil
• What competition spearfishing actually involves
• The challenges and excitement of representing Aotearoa
• Insights into the NZ spearfishing community
• What they expect from the conditions in Brazil
• Their personal aspirations for Worlds 2025

Whether you’re a seasoned spearo, new to the sport, or just ocean-obsessed — this episode gives you an inspiring behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to compete among the world's best.

 Listen now and support our Kiwi team as they head to Brazil!

This episode we chat to a spearo who truly cares about the natural world. A man who is extremely humble about his special talent for creatively capturing ika. Tim Li is a kiwi artist based in the Kapiti Coast well known for combining artistry with a respect for marine life using real fish for gyotaku prints. As well as expertly detailed pencil works of ocean creatures. 

We know you're going to love hearing Tim talk about his connection to the ocean and the insight into his art making process.

Spearo Diaries is no longer just on Spotify - you can find our episodes on Youtube and all other major podcast playing platforms.

To kick off the Aotearoa spring season, we recently sat down with someone we’ve wanted on Spearo Diaries since day one: Sam Wild.

You might know him as a spearo, duck hunter, land stalker, rum wrestler, underwater cameraman, and a core part of the South Seas Spearo crew. Sam is a passionate ocean advocate, founder of the mahi dive float brand, and a man who lives and breathes the outdoors.

In this episode, we dive into his deep connection with the ocean, his honest and humble approach to spearfishing, and his endless thirst for adventure. You’ll also hear about his most exciting role yet—becoming a dad. A warm, insightful kōrero with one of Aotearoa’s most respected watermen. 

On this Spearo Diaries Episode we have an interesting & in depth yap with one of our favourite gear gurus. A man with a Heart of Gold & King of Cuisine - Jeremy Viall.

Jerry is a frothing spearo, devoted dad, deer stalker, and a wizard in the kitchen. Whether he’s snooping snapper near Auckland or spending time with his kids, family is always at the heart of what he does. By day, you’ll find him at Wettie’s showroom helping fellow spearos gear up, but his passion spills far beyond the shop. He runs Learn to Spearfish sessions , organises boat trips through Thor Charters and gets out for epic nights dives and local missions when he can.

In this heartwarming chat Jerry shares how the ocean has shaped his life, how he balances spearing adventures with dad life, and why bringing home a feed means more when it’s shared around the family table. A man with a true heart of gold, Jerry proves that the best spearos don’t just feed their families — they inspire them . He takes us from who inspired him in his early days ,the importance of mentorship and community , to discussing the joy of taking his daughter for her first taste of the Spearo life .

We touch on the significant mental health benefits for Jeremy and how for him spearfishing is not just about trophies; it's about sustenance.

We know you're going to enjoy learning about what drives this legend to dive , just as much as we did .

If you enjoy this episode be sure to share it with a Spearo mate or pop us or Jeremy a message on Instagram ✌️🙏🙌🤿🐟

Toodles 🧜🧜