Scuba Shack Radio

Scuba Shack Radio has wrapped up but there is more in store. Specifically - I will be launching a new podcast - Scuba Educational Alliance Ocean Podcast on September 19th, 2024. This new podcast will be dedicated to ocean health, sustainability and fostering a new generation of ocean stewards through scuba diving education. I hope that you will tune into the new podcast coming soon.

The time has come to wrap up Scuba Shack Radio. After 142 episodes, I have decided to end the podcast as I look to focus on other initiatives. The podcast has been a rewarding endeavor. I have enjoyed the research, preparation and delivery of a show every two weeks over the past 5+ years. As I began season 6 earlier this year I knew that someday I would move on and after a great deal of thought, h...

It seems that we are using the term complacency to talk about various incidents or accidents in scuba diving. Is it really complacency or is is something else. Are divers being careless, irresponsible or reckless. As scuba divers we know the inherent risks of entering this incredible environment. So when we don't take the appropriate action to minimize this risk are we really being complacent. ===...

We hear the terms mastery, competency and performance when discussing scuba training, but what do these terms really mean. Let's talk a little more about these terms. How do we achieve mastery or competency? Should there be repetition standards? Are all the skills necessary for basic open water? There is a lot to think about when it comes to mastery, competency and performance in scuba diving. Wet...

Here is an update on my reading list for 2024. The second batch of books that I finished include: Arctic Drift - Clive and Dirk Cussler A Message from Martha - Mark Avery Built to Fail - Alan Payne Crescent Dawn - Clive and Dirk Cussler A Furious Sky - Eric Jay Dolin On my reading list for 2024 summer and beyond include: Poseidon's Arrow, Havana Storm and Odessa Sea - Clive and Dirk Cussler Losing...

Innovation, technology, and market forces can drive inflection points for business or industries. Inflection points are times of significant change and transformation is necessary for sustainability and growth. Whether it be new training models, like subscription-based learning or new products that create inventory challenges for small dive shops, these changes are signals of an inflection point....

Becoming a competent and confident diver is a progression that involves training, gear and diving. We often call these the three Es - Equipment, Education, and Experience. But just taking the next course or buying another piece of gear is not the answer. Divers need to progress with the right training with the right equipment at the right time. Without the proper foundation in diving, training may...

How would you rate customer service across the dive industry? How do you define good customer service for a dive operator, dive shop, or dive resort? Listen to an example of very poor customer service that we recently experienced plus some examples of how we think about good customer service Plus Wet Notes provides updates on The DIVE BOAT act The FISHES act Orca Torch ZD710 pricing and new produc...

Martha was the last of the passenger pigeon species and died on September 1, 1914. The passenger pigeon was once the most abundant bird on the planet and within a few decades this species went from billions to zero. We need to hear the message from Martha to protect the ocean species from extinction including sharks, rays and whales. Loss of habitat, ocean warming, overfishing, plastic pollution a...

In 2022, NOAA released recommendations for vessel speed restrictions in an effort to protect the North Atlantic right whale. NOAA not only expanded the area dramatically, they also expanded the vessels being covered. The new rules would restrict most vessels 35 feet or larger to 10 knots in these seasonal zones. Approval of this proposal however is stalled. There are too many competing interests a...

Dive computers are powerful, reliable and an essential part of your scuba kit. There are many affordable dive computers on the market today that allow divers to fit this into their budget. Is it okay to tell divers that they don't need to use a dive computer because the dives are going to be shallow? This is not how we dive and not how we counsel our divers. In my opinion, a dive computer is as es...

In this episode, I discuss why you might find it a challenge to rent scuba gear from your local dive shop. The local dive shop is a small business and as such must make investments in equipment and time to those areas of the business that keep them profitable. Renting scuba gear may not be one of those areas that generate the revenue versus the investment. Not all local dive shops are the same. We...

In this episode, I discuss the results of the a survey conducted by the Business of Diving Institute on training agency net promoter score. The results are a bit surprising on how various stakeholders view the numerous agencies in the scuba industry. Wet Notes news and information updates include: Challenges for aging divers A new regulator bag from Akona An update on the Oceanic + housing and app...

The tipping culture is deeply embedded in the dive industry. It is critical for dive professionals around the world to make a living. But the tipping culture is a challenge for divers. There is no standard method for determining how much to tip and who to tip. Also, it seems that every place does it a little differently. Is there a better way?  Listen to hear my thoughts on the challenges of the t...

Wet Notes Updates Changes at Aqualung DEMA Town Hall meetings regarding 2024 show New industry trade magazine from William Cline Latest edition of Scuba Diving Magazine New Fourth Element Arctic undergarment History of Diving Museum 2024 Immerse Yourself series The first seven books on my 2024 reading list - The Underworld by Susan Casey Trojan Odyssey by Clive Cussler Rocket Men by Robert Kurson...

Season six will feature a few changes to the format. Sea Hunt It's Still Alive will be on hiatus for a while. After five years it is time to give Mike Nelson a bit of a break. Every show will also feature an update from the dive shop. In this episode I talk about some of the "fun" year-end activities. Wet Notes will continue on with news, information and product updates - in this episode learn mor...

On this last episode of season five of Scuba Shack Radio I will take a look back at the very successful and very busy 2023 year at Scuba Shack. Hear about all of the training and travel that made for an incredible year.

The Sea of Tomorrow Society of Beneath the Sea is offering a number of scholarships and grants for 2024. You can apply online at www.beneaththesea.us/scholarships. The scholarships and grants will be awarded at the Beneath the Sea Show in March 2024. The Q4 2023 edition of Alert Diver from Divers Alert Network is out. Once again it is packed with information including an article of diving in Conne...

The Dive Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) Show took place in New Orleans November 14 - 17, 2023. The show continues to recover from the pandemic with a significant increase from the 2022 event. In this recap, I will give you some insights into the energy within our scuba industry. The show offers dive professionals the opportunity to attend training classes, various seminars and presenta...

PADI AWARE Foundation has updated the Project AWARE Specialty course to be the PADI AWARE Specialty and includes electronic learning along with a take action workshop that you complete with your PADI Instructor of dive shop. How much trash is in the ocean? Ocean Conservancy recently published a blog post - let's just say it is way too much. Fourth Element has released another new product - the See...

In this episode, I will tell you all about our exciting dive trip to the Philippines where we spent an incredible 10-day visit at the Atlantis Dive Resort in Dumaguete. I will tell you about getting to the Philippines, the incredible diving in Dumaguete, our trip to Apo, our snorkeling adventure with whale sharks in Oslob, plus the absolutely amazing service provided by the staff at Atlantis. At A...

The 2023 Iceland whale hunt season is over and resulted in the deaths of 24 fin whales. The season was shortened by the Iceland government because the hunt failed to comply with Icelands Animal Welfare Act. For the record there are three countries that still hunt whales - Japan, Norway and Iceland. Whale deaths along the Northeast coasts continue to rise. The numbers keep going up. There are a num...

Scuba Diving Magazine's September/October issue is their 2023 Photo Issue. In this issue they present the 2023 winners of the Through Your Lens photo contest. The Women Divers Hall of Fame is now accepting applications for their 2024 Scholarship and Grant programs. Deadline for application is November 15, 2023 at 5 pm eastern. More info. Ocean Explorer Trust had released footage from the EV Nautil...

REEF's 2023 Discover the Sea Underwater Photo Contest is now accepting entries through September 18, 2023. There are several categories including fish portraits, macro, and more. You can check it out at www. REEF.org/photocontest The third quarter 2023 Alert Diver Magazine from DAN arrived. This edition features Stan Waterman as the  profiled diver. You can also learn about diving in San Diego, Le...

PADI Club recently completed their latest club trip to Belize where they had 38 divers from around the world participate. There is another trip planned for Bonaire in September. PADI Club continues to grow their benefits. A team of divers from the Musee des Ilse de la Magdalin have discovered 7 shipwrecks believed to be from the 1800s. The shipwrecks are off the Magdalin Islands in the Gulf of St....