By TSJ
As far as gaining some perspective on the man vs. fish trend that's permeating the waterman culture as of late, there's no shortage of reasons to pickup The Evolution of Freediving and History of Spearfishing in Hawai'i by Sonny Tanabe. Included in the 200-page book are the story of Dr. Terry Maas' record-setting 398-pound Bluefin speared off of Guadalupe Island in 1982 (which served as the cover photo for his seminal Blue Water Hunters), the story of the first purge valve masks, and all of the other deep water exploits that 100 years underwater have brought us.
Also included is a short, one-page story about the relatively obscure Del Wren, which both captivates and inspires. Born in Rochester, New York, in 1925, Wren ran away from home at 13. By the time World War II rolled around, he found himself serving in the Pacific theater. After the war he spent a brief stint in Oregon as a logger, where an accident took his left leg in 1946. Undeterred, shortly thereafter he moved to California and began diving. By 1958 he won his first U.S. National Spearfishing title, and the following year Wren and the U.S. team would finish third at the World Spearfishing Championships in Malta.
As the story goes, Wren was sick with the flu during a competition in 1954 and had decided to stop fishing early. Laid up on the beach under a towel, when it came time to announce the winners one of his fellow divers announced that Wren's 45-pound catch was enough for the victory. That's when his old nemisis Charlie Sturgill exclaimed, "That one-legged bastard, that's who won?" Thus a nickname was born.
The above photo of Wren was taken in 1953 and features his own handwriting depicting the adaptations he made to his equipment to become a successful spear fisherman. "To stay in top diving shape Wren practiced breathing exercise, did push-ups, and swam at least four times a week," writes Tanabe. "He preferred to use a Duck Feet fin. His accomplishments in the sport are amazing."
