We had a chat with Daniel Mann, one of the athletes on the Polosub Team. A true globetrotter who has “got his fins wet” in nearly every corner of the world, as he himself tells us:

“I started spearfishing in Australia over 20 years ago, with my brother. We grew up fishing with rods alongside our grandfather, father, and uncles, who often took us out with them—so we already had a solid base for recognizing which species were best to eat. As teenagers, we would dive every chance we got, especially during summer. Even winters are mild in Australia, so getting in the water was never really an issue. Plus, the seabeds back home are incredibly diverse, with average fish sizes way above what you typically find in the Mediterranean.

“It’s easy to be good in your ‘own backyard,’ so when I moved to London in 2015, it was a real shock. My only previous international experience had been in the Kingdom of Tonga, which wasn’t all that different from Australia in terms of diving conditions and species. But the UK threw a whole new set of challenges at me—starting with the water temperature and fish species. The water now ranged between 8 and 18°C, while in Australia the coldest I’d ever experienced was 19!”

And then what happened?

“My first year in the UK, I used my old 5.5mm Polosub Forza Tre wetsuit, which already had a few years on it. I’d be lying if I said I never got cold, but I quickly adapted to the new species—mullet, sea bass, pollack, and flatfish. That same year, I even caught my biggest sea bass ever: 4.8 kilograms.

“The following year, I knew I needed a thicker wetsuit, and that’s when I discovered the 7.5mm smoothskin suit—it was a game changer. It let me truly enjoy diving in cold water. That’s also when I decided to enter a competition: the Øresund Cup in Denmark (which I somehow managed to win!). That’s where I met Giuliano Tagliacozzo for the first time. I immediately sensed Giuliano would become more than just an acquaintance in this sport—and over time, we became close friends, sharing many trips together in Italy and Norway.”

“Giuliano invited me to join the Polosub Blucamp in Ponza Island in the spring—my first real spearfishing experience in the Mediterranean. It was a whole different world, where precision, flawless technique, and zero mistakes were required. I only caught a few small fish, but what really struck me was the value placed on each individual catch—celebrated and shared at the table. Nothing was wasted.

“In Australia, I used to take only the fillets and throw away the rest. Looking back, I find that shameful. But I’m grateful for the experiences I had in Ponza—they changed the way I think about fishing and food.

“Despite all my prior knowledge and thinking I knew everything about spearfishing, I had to take a step back and acknowledge my limits when entering unfamiliar waters. I quickly realized that no matter where I went, I could pick up tips and techniques that would make me a better diver. That’s where my personal philosophy was born: Dive Everywhere. A reminder to listen to local fishermen, follow their advice, and break out of the routine of familiar spots. Swim a bit farther than usual, try a completely new location—or even a different country!

“To date, I’ve dived in 25 countries, and I’ve learned something in every single one. From the icy waters of Arctic Norway to the tropical reefs of the Bahamas, Polosub has always been with me—with the right wetsuit for every condition.”

Any moments you remember with special fondness?

“Some of the best memories from my decade in Europe come from my various trips to Norway. On my first expedition, I didn’t see a single halibut the entire week—while some friends landed fish up to 76 kg!

“The next year, I went back with Giuliano, and on a single dive, we both landed our personal bests: mine was a 47-kg halibut, his was 68 kg. Another trip, in late winter, was a bit risky: it snowed almost every day, and the sea temperature was between 1 and 4°C. Over five days, the four of us caught only one plaice—but hey, at least we got a nice photo out of it!

“I’m also obsessed with the king of the Mediterranean: the dentex. It’s a fish I was obsessed with, even haunted by. After several unsuccessful trips to Italy and Greece, I knew it would be a long challenge.

“During a sabbatical year with my wife in 2022, I ended up in the Strait of Gibraltar with Pablo from Orca Spearguns. It’s a stunning place, full of fish, and I finally caught a dentex—2.4 kg. Not a giant, but I was over the moon. Still, the real challenge was to catch one in the Mediterranean.

“Later that year, I found myself in the Peloponnese, in southern Greece, with a great mentor, DM Clauss. After just one day, I achieved the dream—a Mediterranean dentex. For many locals, it’s ‘just another dentex,’ but for me, it was the result of growth and adaptation.”

“Of course, I can’t overlook fishing in England. Sea bass is the main target, but at certain times of year you can also find lots of bream. Offshore, there are places where—during summer and autumn—hundreds of thousands of sea bass gather. It’s like swimming in a dream.

“England has been a great teacher, with many days spent searching for fish and coming home empty-handed. My mentor here, Kevin Daly, taught me a lot about how to navigate these waters—so much so that in 2024 I managed to win the British Championship. Ten years ago, I never would have imagined winning a national title.

“Without a doubt, spearfishing in so many different places—especially in the Mediterranean—sharpened my skills to the point that this achievement became possible.”