CSM alumnus 'spears' toward success
Julie Myhre
Issue date: 3/8/10 Section: Campus Life
CSM alumnus Dan Silveria, 25, will be competing in September in the 2010 World Spearfishing Championships in Croatia
Silveria has been spearfishing since the age of 7.
"My Dad was born on the Islands of Portugal, in the Atlantic Ocean, where fishing is a way of life," said Silveria.
He was taught the sport from his dad as a hobby and a way to represent his heritage.
After high school Silveria realized his love for the sport and decided to turn professional.
"I entered a competition as a novice, and ended up beating everyone," Silveria said of his first competition.
Since then Silveria has become a member of the USA Spearfishing Team, a SCUBA instructor, and a professional underwater cinematographer and photographer. He has won numerous awards and even broken some spearfishing records, including being the first and youngest diver to ever win the Pacific Coast Championships three years (2007-2009) in a row.
"Water is my second home," Silveria said.
While spearfishing the athlete deals with many types of elements, including cold water, large waves, kelp beds, murky water, and heavy equipment.
Silveria explained that when he is in the water his focus is like meditation and helps him to control his twitching and breathing before he pulls the trigger.
"The split second before I pull the trigger is my favorite part of the sport because I am purely in the moment and nothing else matters," Silveria said.
To prepare for competitions, Silveria extensively studies the fish so he can learn to track and intercept them. "The first thing I study about the fish is what they eat, because that tells you where you can find the fish. Then I map the ocean and try to predict where in the pinnacles the fish are and how the fish will move," Silveria said.
He knows so much about fish that he teaches his own seminars and classes on the subject. "Without seeing the bottom of the ocean you can know how deep you are by the types of fish you see," said Silveria.
After the fish is caught, Silveria cooks the fish with family and friends, freezes the fish for a later date, or donates the fish to the locals. "When I dive in Mexico, I give a few 100 lbs. to the people of the town because fish and fishing are expensive there, and they are in need of the protein," Silveria said.
Silveria is currently preparing for his competition, with high hopes of success and raising money for the USA Spearfishing Team's trip to Croatia.
Silveria has been spearfishing since the age of 7.
"My Dad was born on the Islands of Portugal, in the Atlantic Ocean, where fishing is a way of life," said Silveria.
He was taught the sport from his dad as a hobby and a way to represent his heritage.
After high school Silveria realized his love for the sport and decided to turn professional.
"I entered a competition as a novice, and ended up beating everyone," Silveria said of his first competition.
Since then Silveria has become a member of the USA Spearfishing Team, a SCUBA instructor, and a professional underwater cinematographer and photographer. He has won numerous awards and even broken some spearfishing records, including being the first and youngest diver to ever win the Pacific Coast Championships three years (2007-2009) in a row.
"Water is my second home," Silveria said.
While spearfishing the athlete deals with many types of elements, including cold water, large waves, kelp beds, murky water, and heavy equipment.
Silveria explained that when he is in the water his focus is like meditation and helps him to control his twitching and breathing before he pulls the trigger.
"The split second before I pull the trigger is my favorite part of the sport because I am purely in the moment and nothing else matters," Silveria said.
To prepare for competitions, Silveria extensively studies the fish so he can learn to track and intercept them. "The first thing I study about the fish is what they eat, because that tells you where you can find the fish. Then I map the ocean and try to predict where in the pinnacles the fish are and how the fish will move," Silveria said.
He knows so much about fish that he teaches his own seminars and classes on the subject. "Without seeing the bottom of the ocean you can know how deep you are by the types of fish you see," said Silveria.
After the fish is caught, Silveria cooks the fish with family and friends, freezes the fish for a later date, or donates the fish to the locals. "When I dive in Mexico, I give a few 100 lbs. to the people of the town because fish and fishing are expensive there, and they are in need of the protein," Silveria said.
Silveria is currently preparing for his competition, with high hopes of success and raising money for the USA Spearfishing Team's trip to Croatia.
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