Guided Spearfishing in Cornwall｜United Kingdom

Meet your guide, Dom, at Surf Sanctuary, based at The Headland Hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Free parking, changing facilities and secure storage are available before Dom fits you with premium equipment, including a wetsuit, hood, gloves, socks, long-blade freediving fins, weight belt, mask and snorkel. You'll also be introduced to your California-made Riffe speargun, float and line system, fish carrying equipment and the role each piece of kit plays throughout the session.

Before entering the water, Dom will explain how the day's location has been chosen. Rather than returning to the same site every day, recent, current and forecast wind, swell, tide and underwater visibility are assessed before selecting the venue that offers the best combination of safety, comfort and hunting conditions. Depending on the forecast, this may involve a short drive to another part of the Cornish coast before entering the water.

Once at the dive site, you'll receive a briefing tuned to both your experience and the conditions. Beginners are introduced progressively to the fundamentals, while experienced spearos can focus on refining specific skills. Topics may include fish identification, legal minimum sizes, hunting techniques, shot placement, safe speargun handling, loading and unloading procedures, re-wrapping the shooting line, contingency procedures and responsible harvesting.

Once in the water, the coaching continues throughout the session. Dom will help you develop efficient breathing, surface diving, finning, stalking techniques, fish recognition and safe hunting practices, providing continuous feedback as the session unfolds. The aim is to build practical skills that stay with you long after the day is over, not simply to visit a single dive site.

If you're successful, Dom will show you how to dispatch, bleed, handle and care for your catch before offering advice on transporting, storing and cooking your fish. Whether you leave with dinner or simply a new set of skills, you'll finish the session with a deeper understanding of Cornwall's coastline, greater confidence in the water and the knowledge to continue spearfishing safely and responsibly.