Kevin Daly is preparing to represent Great Britain at the 2026 Euro-African Spearfishing Championship, taking place in Montenegro from 22 to 25 October. While spearfishing in the UK differs considerably from the Mediterranean, Daly brings two decades of experience visiting and diving in the region, particularly the Adriatic.
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With a Croatian wife and numerous trips to the Mediterranean, the British spearfisher has developed a particular fondness for hunting dentex, grouper and brown meagre. However, he expects the activity of boats and competitors in Montenegro to create a very different challenge from a recreational dive.
In this interview with Carlo Forni for Apnea Passion Magazine, Daly discusses his Mediterranean experience, his passion for competitive spearfishing and the pride of representing Great Britain internationally since 2007.
Mediterranean experience: from Croatia to Ponza and Syros
Carlo Forni: Spearfishing in the UK is quite different from the Mediterranean. Have you also had good experiences in the Mediterranean, and how have you enjoyed it? Will that experience help you in Montenegro?
Kevin Daly: My wife is from Croatia, so I have visited the Mediterranean many times over the last 20 years. Most of my diving in the Mediterranean has been in the Adriatic, but I have also dived off Italy, at Ponza, and Greece, at Syros. I particularly love hunting dentex, grouper and brown meagre.
The competition diving in Montenegro will be very different and far more difficult than hunting fish on a social dive. For one thing, the activity of nearly 100 boats and divers will make the fishing very difficult!
Competitive spearfishing: understanding fish behaviour
Carlo Forni: What do spearfishing competitions mean to you? They sometimes attract criticism. What is your response to that?
Kevin Daly: I love competitive spearfishing. It adds another layer of challenge to what is already a very challenging sport. You have to really think about the diving you are doing in competition and try to understand the behaviour of fish: where they will be, their movements and how they will react to the diving activity.
Competition diving is sometimes criticised here in the UK, mostly out of ignorance, as we have very strict limits on sizes and quantities per species. Our format of competition for the British Nationals also mostly involves diving from the shore, which creates an extra challenge.
Representing Great Britain on the international stage
Carlo Forni: What does it mean to represent your country in international spearfishing competitions, including this year’s championship in Montenegro?
Kevin Daly: Representing Great Britain has been an immense source of pride for me, and I have been very fortunate to have represented the country in several championships since 2007. I have really enjoyed these opportunities and have learned a lot from these experiences.
Kevin Daly’s goals for the 2026 Euro-African Championship
Carlo Forni: What do you expect from Montenegro, and what are your goals?
Kevin Daly: I don’t have a specific placement goal in the competition, as I will be diving with some of the best spearfishers in the world. My goal is to do the best that I possibly can, enjoy the experience with good friends and make some great memories.
