RIFFE International

RIFFE Team Diver Sebastian Melani was born in Patagonia, Argentina, where his early life around yacht clubs and dive clubs first pulled him into the underwater world. A first scuba dive at eight changed everything, and freediving and spearfishing quickly became his life.

After studying a marine biology career and becoming a PADI instructor, Sebastian shifted fully into spearfishing and never looked back. Today, he’s based in Mexico, where he built SPEARMEX, the country’s first Spearfishing & Freediving Academy, and continues to lead blue water hunts, trips, and training.

He’s driven by connection with nature, the challenge of pelagic hunting, and the moments that matter most, especially sharing the underwater world with his family.

Sebastian’s Go-To RIFFE Setup (Big Pelagics)
RAIDER 67”
100 ft bungee line
Two 3 ATM floats

Sebastian Melani
SPEARMEX

Read more about RIFFE’s elite Team Divers — link in bio.

Heading up from his first drop of the day, Ryder DeVoe saw a wahoo above him. It looked big. As the fish started to swim away, he fired a long shot with the Raider 67.

With sharks closing in, the fish was worked carefully back to the surface. As it came into view, the Slip Tip held, although stopped short of a full pass-through by the spine. Hands secured the gills. 93.4 pounds on the scale.
 
If anyone knows Ryder, he is one fishy guy and usually the first to get in the water, setting the tone for the day. Congratulations on landing the biggest fish/Personal Best Wahoo and securing the highest score overall at the 20th Annual Blue Water World Cup.
 
Baja was Jay’s second home and supporting this event each year holds a special place in our hearts. Having a couple of the RIFFE crew down there to participate this year made it even more special.

A Big Thank You to Palapas Ventana Fishing and everyone who helped make it a success.
 
 Photos by:

RIFFE Team Diver Diego Santiago grew up on the coast of Brazil, where a simple mask and snorkel at eight years old opened the door to a world he never wanted to leave. What started with hook-and-line trips with his dad quickly turned into a lifelong obsession with seeing what lived beneath the surface, and over the last 20 years, this sport has become his life.

From Búzios to Panamá, Diego has landed true giants: a 258 lb (117 kg) yellowfin tuna, powerful cobia, trophy groupers, and heavyweight amberjack that test every bit of his breath-hold, patience, and positioning. Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, is his favorite hunting ground, with year-round fish and volcanic structure that hold hidden treasures.

On land, Diego runs his own spearfishing and freediving shop, sharing hard-earned knowledge, trusted gear, and his passion for the sport with divers who chase the same bluewater dreams. What drives him most is the deep connection with nature, using mind and body together under pressure, and coming home with a fresh, healthy meal for family and friends. From close encounters with killer whales to schools of giant reef fish, Diego brings calm focus to BIG opportunities and an unwavering respect for the sea.

Follow his adventures in his YouTube channel.
Read more about RIFFE’s elite Team Divers — link in bio

Make the Cut. Built for safety, control, and the unexpected.

From entanglement to landing your catch, a knife is the piece of gear no diver or adventurer should be without.

Now Back In Stock!

Wrangler 3.5, 4.5 & 4.5 Dual Serration
EDC Safety Orange 3.5, 4.5

From the food that nourishes us to the beauty that inspires us, our blue planet is the ultimate provider. We’re grateful for every moment underwater and everything the sea provides.

Harvest responsibly with balance, taking only what is needed respecting the rhythm of the sea, and ensuring the ocean thrives for generations to come.

The ocean that connects us and the planet that sustains us. Harvest with care. 🌎💙

📸:

, a seasoned spearfisherman from Pico Island in the Azores, carries on his family’s generation-old tradition, living by the sea. Growing up with his house a stone’s throw from the ocean, Paulo was hooked early, mesmerized by his father and brothers’ epic tales and the fish they hauled in, further fueling his spearfishing dreams.

The nutrient-rich waters along Pico’s rugged coast teem with massive tuna, wahoo, mahi, amberjack, and hefty groupers amid steep volcanic drop-offs and strong currents. Embracing bold risks with a sharp focus on the sea’s unpredictability, Paulo lives by hard-won lessons of patience, humility, respect, and gut instinct - trusting his intuition when something feels off.

Alongside the ocean’s harvest, a garden yields fresh bounty, sustaining family and community. This simple, straightforward, and rewarding life captures the essence of Azorean resilience.

Paulo’s Go-To RIFFE Setup
Marauder 63 with 7.5mm double flopper mini shark fin tabs shaft, and Horizontal Reel (versatile for bottom and open water)
RAIDER 70” with breakaways and float-line (for big pelagics)

Read more about RIFFE’s elite Team Divers — link in bio.