Brandon Duhaime’s quest to become a successful YouTuber took another major step on Monday when his spearfishing account, @DivinwithDEW, uploaded its highly anticipated first video.
The 49-second YouTube Short shows Duhaime, in full scuba-diving gear, stalking his prey before eventually spearing a red grouper near the bottom of the sea. Duhaime then swims to the top while showing off his catch.
Warning: This video could be upsetting for some.
The video popped up on YouTube to the delight of many Capitals fans who followed Duhaime’s account after he announced it in late September.
“It’s working,” an excited Duhaime said on Tuesday, seemingly wowed by the technology. “Let’s get it out there!”
As of this article’s publication, Duhaime’s video has garnered 168 likes and nearly 2,000 views. It’s also received some buzz on social media.
“Yeah, I mean, I haven’t really looked at the numbers or anything, but if it’s getting views, that’s pretty cool,” Duhaime said. “It’s awesome to show that side of it.”
A team of eight people was assembled to complete and post the video. The 28-year-old Duhaime also admitted there were some “big-time” technical difficulties and the solutions took a while to figure out.
“We had an original launch date, and I think it got pushed back a couple weeks from there,” Duhaime said. “[We’re] a little bit all over the place, but we got it done.”
The first comment on the video came from one of Duhaime’s Capitals teammates and the person behind his photoshopped Aquaman avatar: Pierre-Luc Dubois.
“I had to text him beforehand to make sure he was ready on his phone to get that comment,” Duhaime said.
When questioned if Dubois created his YouTube account, @Pierre-LucDubois-u2b, just for the purposes of commenting on his one video, Duhaime replied, “He might have. I think a few guys did just to get my sub count up so that was nice.”
Duhaime said more videos of him spearfishing are coming, with the timing intentionally spaced out for maximum exposure and engagement on YouTube’s timeline.
“Yeah, I think we’re going to do short ones for now,” Duhaime said. “Then I’m going to have to up my game this summer and then make some longer ones.”
The Capitals fourth-line winger is also hoping to do some in-season footage done during the All-Star Break.
While Duhaime has gotten support from many teammates, one player’s patience was beginning to wear thin of the added distraction.
“If I have to hear about diving one more time,” Jakob Chychrun, Duhaime’s close friend from childhood, chirped from a few stalls over in the locker room. “The season’s started — you’re not in the Keys anymore!”
Duhaime sighed.
“The boys are tired of hearing about it.”
