JIMMY Atzeni reckons he’s spent more of his life under water than on land.
The 30-year-old said he would spend his school holidays with his brother fishing on the reef but also found bream and squid off the Wellington Point jetty and bream and flathead off the breakwater at Wynnum Creek.
“There is always something to catch,” he said.
Mr Atzeni ultimately turned his passion into a career, spending 11 years as a commercial harvest diver, specialising in crayfish, sea cucumbers and pearl shell in most of the northern half of Australia.
He said the sea cucumbers were destined for the Asian market.
Eight or nine divers would live on board the vessel using a hose and compressor with a scuba regulator to dive.
“You are always on the lookout for something,” he said.
During his time at sea, Mr Atzeni said he saw whales, sharks and turtles and spent thousands of hours underwater.
“One memorable moment would be when I swam over the top of a whole whale skeleton in about five metres of water on a reef outside of Mackay. That was special.
He also recalled catching 17 barramundi in two days, all of which were caught and released.
“I keep the Mangrove Jacks though,” he said. “There is always fish to be had. I will often eat fish every night.”
Mr Atzeni said he had been stung on the face and head on three occasions by Irukandji jellyfish.
“I went to hospital twice and the other time I just curled into a foetal position for about 36 hours. I have a decent heart, so I was OK,” he said.
He said he had never been bitten by a shark but knew several spear fishermen and divers who had.
Having now hung up his wetsuit, Mr Atzeni is qualified to drive a remote operated vehicle support ship.
“We have about 16 divers on board. Instead of diving, I get to sit in air conditioning and drink coffee,” he said.
