The BiG Scuba Podcast

Gemma and Ian chat to Sean Clements.   Sean is a natural ambassador for the aquatic environment, scuba diving fanatic and watch enthusiast. Sean founded SDC Watches in 2020 by combining three of his greatest passions with the hope of creating something meaningful. Sean's driving force throughout his journey has been to create a legacy of ocean conservation awareness and positive change.  SDC Watch...

Ben Bengey     Come to the Island of Lundy   Gemma and Ian chat to Bengey.  Ben is a skipper of a charter boat operating out of Ilfracombe on the North Devon Coast in the UK.  He tells us about his role on his boat, the Barbara B and about all that the Island of Lundy has to offer to divers and non-divers.       https://www.lundydiving.co.uk/diving/ https://www.instagram.com/hihocharters/     GET...

Miranda Miranda Krestovnikoff and David Kennard - Neptune's Army of Rubbish Cleaners   Gemma and Ian chat to Miranda Krestovnikoff and David Kennard.  David is the founder of Neptunes Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC), a Welsh charity, who dive to keep the seas litter free and collect a lot of lost fishing gear, such as lobster pots and rope, in order to protect the wildlife and keep healthy habitat...

Gemma and Ian chat to Samantha Howlett.   Samantha has been on our podcast before but she has finished her PhD and talks about her new job about anaylysing Environmental DNA and also her amazing experiences in Fuvahmulah Maldives.   She tells as about the getting to know the local Maldivian people and the incredible diving there.   SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS Instagram :         https://www.instagram.com/s...

Gemma and Ian chat to Jessica Mitchell.   Jessica is a passionate diver, she is a technical diver and Underwater Filmmaker based in Cornwall, UK, where she grew up. Jessica has always loved the sea and all it has to offer from an early age and she also enjoys freediving.  Jessica has dived all over the world in her underwater and photography and filmmaking career, she has turned the ocean into her...

TITLE Episode 125   DESCRIPTION Gemma and Ian chat to Sean Sizeland and Ellia Driver.  Sean is the Chairperson of the BSAC East Anglian Branch and Ellia is the Treasurer.  They are both avid divers on the North Norfolk Coast.  We hear about the numerous wrecks we have off our coast and what its like to dive in this region.  You will be amazed and inspired.     SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS Website           ...

Gemma and Ian chat to Ross McLaren   Ross is a chemistry teacher in Scotland who dives at the weekends…He talks about the incredible life he seas in the Scottish sea lochs and how breath taking it is.  He has been taking photos using a go pro and more recently the Olympus TG-6. One of the highlights has been working with BBC Scotland and their online platform "BBC the Social" to write, record, pre...

Gemma and Ian chat to Chantelle Newman.  Chantelle is the DAN Europe Area Manager for the UK and Ireland.  We hear about how she started diving and all aspects of DAN and her connection to WDHOF, Women Divers Hall of Fame. SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS Www. TheDiverMedic.com Www. WDHOF.org Www.daneurope.org   OTHER LINKS TO ITEMS DISCUSSED ON THE PODCAST Ford Mustang MACH-E           https://www.ford.co.uk/c...

Gemma and Ian chat to Cristina Zenato and Kewin Lorenzen.   Cristina and Kewin have been on the podcast before, in 2020 and in 2021 so we invited them back to have a catch up on the last year and what plans they have for the future.     https://cristinazenato.com/ https://www.instagram.com/cristinazenato/ https://www.instagram.com/kewinlorenzen/ https://www.facebook.com/czunderwater https://www.fa...

Gemma and Ian chat to Alexzandra Hildred.   Alex is Head of Research and Curator of Ordnance and Human Remains at the Mary Rose Trust.  She joined the project in 1979 as a graduate archaeologist.  An archaeological supervisor during the 1979-1982 excavations, she has since directed the site monitoring, survey and excavations which culminated in recovering the stem in 2005.   Alex has extensive exp...

Gemma and Ian chat to Tatyana Dacostagomez and Kaitlin Scowen.  Both work for "The Sirene Project", a platform that highlights and connects female conservationists from all walks of life, to inspire one another, exchange ideas and to be a resource for the next generation of ocean conservationists.   SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS   Leoni: IG @leoni_caro Kaitlin: IG @howzitscowen Tatyana: IG @sharkgirltatyana...

Gemma and Ian have spent a few days away in North Devon.  They travelled and camped in the Ford Nugget Plus and stayed on a camp site near Ilfracombe.  Saturday and Sunday they went diving on the east side of the Island of Lundy.  Lundy is famous for diving with seals predominately.  Have a listen and let us know what you think.   https://www.lundydiving.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lundydivin...

Gemma and Ian chat to Chef Anton.  Chef Anton is an IDC Staff Instructor with over 500 logged dives and is also an Award-Winning Magician from Hollywood's Magic Castle.  You may have seen his appearance of Penn and Teller's Fool Us.  Chef has created a brand new PADI Distinctive Specialty called Scuba Magician which has now over 500 instructors world-wide.   The course teaches divers 15 magic tric...

Gemma and Ian report from Stoney Cove and cover their day diving.   It's a bit of a roving report.  We also chat to Jeff Lucas the author of the Lost Ship.   Website:         https://jefflucasauthor.com/ Amazon Books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba     OTHER LINKS TO ITEMS DISCUSSED ON THE PODCAST Stoney Cove:   https://www.stoneycove.com/ Electric Autonomous Vessel:            https://...

Gemma and Ian talk to Homer Hickman.  . Homer Hickam, is a world-class Scuba diver and the New York Times best-selling author of  Rocket Boys, the most read book in U.S. schools, which was adapted for the big screen as the now-beloved classic film, October Sky based on Homer's life as a young rocket engineer growing up in Coalwood, West Virgnia.   His latest book 'Don't Blow Yourself Up' is a memo...

Gemma and Ian talk to Aoibheann Gillespie-Mules.   Aoibheann (pronounced E-Fin) grew up along the gorgeous NW coast of Ireland so was drawn to the ocean from an early age. She finished a Bachelor in Marine Science then participated in a whale shark project in Mozambique and ultimately knew she wanted nothing more than to be under the surface daily.  She travelled to the tropics to begin profession...

Gemma and Ian talk to  George Linnane.  George made the news in November 2021 when he fell deep in the Ogof Ffynnon Ddu cave system in Wales.  George, 38, was the subject one of the longest cave rescues the UK has seen, where about 300 volunteers rushed to his aid from around the country.  We talk to George and hear about how his diving and caving journey began. Facebook -      https://www.faceboo...

Gemma and Ian talk to Alexa Fernando .  Alexa is a digital nomad, photographer and all-around creative from the Philippines and Canada. She is currently based in Baja California Sur, Mexico, living her dream to live by the ocean. Her dad introduced her to scuba diving when she was 16 years old but it wasn't until 2019 when she became passionate about it and fully immersed herself into the diving c...

Gemma and Ian talk to Tim Lamont. Tim is a marine biologist at Lancaster Environment Centre, with research interests in coral reef ecology and restoration.  Tim is well known for his recording of fish 'whoops and growls' recorded on restored reefs.   Facebook -      Instagram -      https://www.instagram.com/tim_lamont3/ Twitter            https://twitter.com/TimACLamont                         ht...

Gemma and Ian talk to Becky Kagan Schott.   Becky is a five-time Emmy Award-winning underwater cameraman, photographer & technical diver with a passion for adventure, discovery and exploration.  Becky has been actively diving for 23 years, 19 of which have been technical diving starting in caves when she was 16 years old living in Florida. She began diving closed circuit rebreathers in 2007 and cu...

  Gemma and Ian chat to Rick Ayrton.  Rick learnt to dive and remains a member of Clifton BSAC club, Bristol UK. He is a BSAC Advanced Diver and has the HSE Commercial diving qualification. He has additional technical diving qualifications including hypoxic trimix, allowing dives in excess of 100m. An early adopter of rebreathers he continues to dive with an AP Diving Inspiration unit. He enjoys t...

Gemma and Ian chat Nays Baghai.  Inspired by The Blue Planet as a child, Nays' work as an underwater cinematographer and photographer has been showcased by numerous premier brands, including Rolex, Sony Alpha.   Nays was featured amongst the Top 30 finalists of the Australasian Top Emerging Photographers competition in the Portfolio and Animal categories. He is a PADI-certified Freediving Instruct...

Gemma and Ian chat Kris Mears.  Kris grew up in Chepstow UK and then travelled extensively. He became a Divemaster and instructor on Utila in Honduras, spending four years working in a resort and then onto liveaboards. He went onto to manage liveaboards in the Maldives and Palau. For the last 10 years Kris has been based in Puerto Galera, Philippines and the International sales manager for Scandi...

Gemma and Ian chat to Andy Forster.  Andy is the Project Director at Dive Project Cornwall.  He tells us about his own passion for diving as well as how Dive Project Cornwall is going to educate and inspire many youngsters over the coming year. www.diveprojectcornwall.co.uk Contact Gemma and Ian with your messages, ideas and feedback via The BiG Scuba Bat Phone    +44 7810 005924   Or use our soci...

Gemma and Ian chat to Jhénelle Williams.  Jhenelle is originally from Jamaica but based in London and currently doing her Masters in Climate Change.   She came into diving via her Ocean Engineering course and from there she has completed her rescue and shark diving certifications.  She had some training with Cristina Zenato and experienced close encounters with sharks.  Jhenelle aims to use her st...