On the surface, solo-diving is one of the most dangerous hobbies for a person to have. Already at a high risk of an accident or emergency, solo-diving leaves no room for error.
But that’s the thing about diving. You have to look deeper than the surface.
For Lachlan Campbell, the appeal comes from a more traditional approach to diving.
“Free diving by yourself is amazing sometimes. I love how primitive it feels, like how it would have been when spearfishing first started” said Campbell.
This hunter-gatherer mindset is what has drawn many to diving, the opportunity to live off of the land so attractive to those who wish to have a more sustainable lifestyle.
“I really enjoy the feeling of harvesting and gathering my own food and being able to share this fresh produce with my friends and family,” he said.
While there are limits and restrictions on fishing and cray diving in Australia, most divers tend not to take anymore than they need.
A focus on conservation and sustainable living is one which goes hand in hand with a deep respect for the ocean, and an understanding of just how interconnected the environment truly is.
“The fact that you’re able to cut out the middleman, the processing stage of food production, is pretty incredible” said Campbell.
It isn’t just diving either. This passion for sustainability has seeped into Lachlan’s everyday life, and has changed the way he views a lot of things.
“Having a sustainable life on all fronts would be amazing. I’d love to have a veggie garden, chickens, etc… the combo of that with freediving for seafood is beautiful,” said Campbell.
However, Lachlan’s intimate connection with the ocean extends beyond sustainable living, and acts as a separate world in which he feels at home and completely comfortable.
His attachment with the ocean started early, three years old and surfing with his dad on an old tattered surfboard at Batemans Bay. As he grew, so too did the allure of the sea.
“I always wanted to experience what it was like to be under the water, instead of just paddling around on top of it. Although I took to diving a bit later, I feel it’s the strongest connection I have with the ocean,” he said.
While he does not consider diving as an escape, for Lachlan it is a good distraction from the stress of daily life.
It’s the place where he feels most at home, and a place that provides him the chance at a sustainable, happy and healthy lifestyle. He, of course, puts it best, and most simply:
“I tend to always feel the happiest when I’ve come in from diving.”
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