Dibuk Seid Lands 71-pound Barracuda, declares spearfishing her Passion
Koror, Palau — July 7, 2025- As the Pacific Mini Games captivate audiences across the region with displays of athleticism and national pride, Dibuk Seid found herself reflecting on what sport truly meant to her. While others raced on tracks and courts, she dove into Palau’s rich blue waters — and surfaced with a revelation.
Just days ago, Seid descended along the edge of a deep drop-off and speared a massive 71-pound great barracuda. She described the moment with a precision that mirrored her aim.
“I didn’t realize the size of it in the moment. I just focused on the shot and my precision, shooting the head so that I could land it,” Seid explained. “I used my Palauan-made small riffe gun. I practice being stealthy, moving slower, and getting the shot that I like — a good shot.”
Her success wasn’t just about one incredible catch. Seid shared how observing fish behaviors, learning how to call different species using techniques like grunting, flashing, or dusting, helped her become a more effective hunter. She continues to train and learn every time she dives, always striving to become better in her craft. What she’s learned from her father, brother, husband, brother-in-law, and spearos — both men and women — from around the world inspires her to keep working hard and improving.
It was during these days of the Pacific Mini Games that her epiphany struck.
“I wondered, what is my sport?” Seid recalled. “Then, a few days later, I landed a 71-pound great barracuda and realized that fishing is my sport. I would love to spearfish as a sport, join a team, and fish with other fishers — as well as the men. This is my sport: spearfishing.”
Seid’s passion highlights the unique athleticism and skill demanded by spearfishing — a sport requiring breath-hold diving, patience, precise marksmanship, and deep knowledge of marine life. Her dream of competing in organized spearfishing events could inspire more women and young people in Palau and the Pacific to see traditional fishing not only as sustenance but also as sport and cultural heritage.
As the region celebrates athletic excellence during the Games, Seid’s story reminds us that the ocean, too, can be a playing field — and that champions come in many forms.
By: Eustoria Marie Borja