Speaking Sidemount

As I've mentioned a few times, I am often frustrated with the level of criticism and lack of respect shown on some of the sidemount Facebook groups. I guess there's an element of human nature in there and also comments are taken out of context or misunderstood due to language barriers or the limitations of the written word. You do see genuinely helpful comments but these are also sometimes shouted...

In this episode sponsored by XDEEP, I catch up with Sandra Clopp. Sandra is an exceptional diver, instructor, adventurer, and role model for aspiring divers. I seriously enjoyed our discussions and the depth of thought and practice she has put into her growth as a diver and teacher.   She walks the talk and by that I mean, she hones her skills through regular practice, she seeks out and forms rela...

In this episode sponsored by XDEEP, I catch up with Mexico based cave diver, explorer, and instructor, Roger Williams of Xoc-Ha.   We talked about how Roger got into diving, cave diving and instructing. We contrast the paths that you can take in diving - becoming an instructor or... focusing on developing as a diver through tech training. I get Roger's perspectives on sidemount and how he dives si...

In this episode sponsored by XDEEP, I catch up again with Toddy and we talk all things caves in Sardinia. We then go deep into his staggering cave exploration Project Utopia where Toddy is set to break cave exploration distance records while employing cutting edge decompression strategies to accomplish these amazing dives. Listen in to hear how Toddy is doing this and also how he is helping to dev...

In this episode sponsored by XDEEP and Shearwater Research, we "turn the tables" and Audrey Cudel interviews me! We talk about, my vision when I started Speaking Sidemount, how I develop episodes and find interview guests, how my own knowledge has grown through the interviews. We discuss the diving here in NZ and the sidemount training courses that I run. We cover my experience training on the KIS...

In this episode sponsored by XDEEP, I catch up with Chris Dawson to discuss his experiences dealing with PTSD and depression following two operational tours in Iraq with the British Army. In this inspiring story, Chris shares his journey from rock-bottom to recovery through diving and how he has become involved with the organisation, 'Dive Against Depression' where he is working to help others aff...

What you are about to hear is the first-hand account of the experiences of Richard "Harry" Harris during the Thai cave rescue. His excitement at the opportunity to participate was quickly replaced by the trepidation of what the rescue team faced. They almost certainly would witness the deaths of the 12 boys and their coach and there was little hope that they would be successful. But they had to tr...

In this episode sponsored by XDEEP and Shearwater Research, I sit down with Edd Sorenson and discuss my experiences training and diving with him on the KISS Sidewinder mCCR. I spent a brilliant two weeks with Edd at Cave Adventurers, Marianna, Florida so we had much to discuss and cover: Sidemount vs. Backmount CCR Why a sidemount CCR can be your first choice Myths and reality re the KISS Sidewind...

In this episode sponsored by XDEEP, I catch up with Gareth Lock of "The Human Diver" and author of the book "Under Pressure". We discuss Gareth's application of human factors principles taken from the aviation industry in diving and their subsequent benefit in supporting dive safety. While not a specific sidemount episode, this is important for all divers and particularly those involved in technic...

In this episode sponsored by XDEEP, I interview Greek cave diver and instructor, Stratis Kas. Stratis is a professional fashion photographer and videographer who successfully combines his profession with his passion for sidemount and cave diving. He is a super cool guy and I really enjoyed his perspectives on sidemount, cave diving, videography, and learned heaps about the caves of Greece. #XDEEP...

In this episode sponsored by XDEEP, I catch up with Richard "Harry" Harris. A key member of the Thai Cave Rescue, Australian of the Year and cave explorer, Harry is one of the nicest guys I have ever met.  Harry and I discuss, how he got into diving, cave diving and exploration, the connection between anaesthesiology and diving, how the cave exploration group... The "Wet Mules" was formed... Harry...

Recently a group of dedicated cave explorers and instructors from the Yucatan created an awareness campaign to highlight uncontrolled development of the Muyil region, south of Tulum, Mexico.    Somos Los Cenotes... "We are the Cenotes" is the campaign and we invite your support by sharing as much of our and your own content as you can with the hashtag #somosloscenotes.   In this episode sponsored...

Steve Lewis is an absolute industry veteran and a passionate sidemount, CCR and cave diver. He has been at the forefront of instructor training since the early 90s working with TDI right from its formation and more recently becoming the Director Diver Training for RAID.   Steve is an author, a member of the explorers club and as we'll learn, he led the early exploration of the Bell Island Mine in...

Marissa Eckert and James Draker are the owners of Hidden Worlds, Fort White Florida and extraordinary sidemount/cave divers and instructors. In this episode, they share their passion for cave diving and instructing and their love of dive travel. We talk about their backgrounds, philosophies around teaching sidemount and cave diving, why it is important to streamline stages, deco cylinders and bail...

Cristina Zenato has dedicated her life to the protection and conservation of Caribbean Reef Sharks. From her home in the Bahamas, she has spent over 25 years interacting and learning about these amazing animals, to the point where she has real relationships with individual sharks demonstrated by their interactions with her in the water.   Cristina is world renown for her work with Sharks but she i...

Finally... in this episode sponsored by XDEEP, I got the chance to meet one of the world's great photographers... Becky Kagan Schott.   We had a great time discussing; how Becky got into diving and photography, about Liquid Productions and their award winning features. We discuss diving the wrecks of the Great Lakes in North America, what it takes to be a great photographer or videographer, some t...

This episode is very close to my heart!! I had the great pleasure to catch up with Yvonne Press an awesome sidemount and tech diving instructor based in Bali, Indonesia. We had a great time discussing; sidemount for open water dives, what it takes to be a good sidemount diver, how she teaches sidemount, CCR and sidemount CCR, and much more... Featured: https://www.xdeep.eu/ https://www.facebook.co...

In this episode, I speak with Tom Steiner of Gozo Technical Diving. I was fortunate to get to know Tom very well during my two seasons training and working at Gozo Technical. Tom is an instructor trainer for a number of agencies and an absolute consummate instructor and diver both in sidemount and backmount diving. In this episode, Tom and I discuss his background in diving, how he got into sidemo...

In this episode sponsored by XDEEP, I speak with cave diving legend, Edd Sorenson. In addition, to his exploration of the caves of the Florida Panhandle, Edd was one of the original members of the International Underwater Cave Rescue and Recovery team. He has been involved in several successful cave rescues and sadly a number of cave recoveries. In particular Edd is renown as having the temperamen...

In this episode sponsored by XDEEP, I catch up with  Dharshana Jayawardena or DJ. DJ is a pioneering underwater explorer in Sri Lanka. In addition to being an author, he is the founder of DiveSriLanka.com and is also a field editor for  Asian Diver magazine.  DJ has identified the origins of several mystery wrecks; among them the World War I SS  Worcestershire  and a World War II  Catalina patrol...

In this episode, I catch up with Matteo Varenna. Matteo is a terrific sidemount diver and instructor and a great guy as well. In this episode we go deep into: his background in diving and sidemount what is wrong with Sidemount Specialty Instructor training and how this can be fixed why he decided to become a Sidemount Essentials instructor the importance of video feedback in dive courses the probl...

In this week's episode kindly sponsored by XDEEP, I interview Micke Tilja of Expedition Bjurälven, a project now in its 12th year undertaken by a team of awesome divers and support crew who brave the height of the Swedish winter exploring the Bjurälven cave system in the Swedish mountains. Micke and I go deep into: his background in diving and sidemount how Expedition Bjurälven came about the equi...

When it comes to the history of sidemount diving, all roads lead back to the UK and the sump divers of the Cave Diving Group or CDG. The CDG gained world-wide attention and recognition following their stellar contribution to the Thai Cave rescue. In this week's episode kindly sponsored by XDEEP, I interview Michael Thomas. Mike is the Training Officer for the Somerset Section of the Cave Diving Gr...

In this week's episode, I interview one of the world's top divers and explorers Thorsten Waelde or "Toddy". Toddy is the owner of Protec Sardinia and the inventor of the "Toddy Style" sidemount systems and a great guy as well.   In this episode Toddy and I go deep into: his background in diving about Toddy Style sidemount diving in beautiful Sardinia, Italy the exciting T-Reb sidemount rebreather ...

  Every now and again a dive image captures your attention and you say "WTF"!! One from a few months back was the expedition into Cocklebiddy Cave, Western Australia by a team of three divers, Stephen Fordyce, Liz Rogers and Ryan Kaczkowski. The pic was taken by Liz and features Ryan and Stephen towing a literal mountain of equipment into Cocklebiddy... I thought... That is seriously badass... So...