The Great Dive Podcast

Brando and James had so much fun talking with Stephanie Gandulla from the NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This fresh water marine sanctuary is home to many of the most incredible shipwrecks the world has to offer and being in Alpena, MI it is home to us. We recorded this while attending the Thunder Bay International Film Festival back in Jan 2020. We hope to see you all there with us n...

This week the boys wrap up their look at the 1992-1996 technical diving incident reports. Once again we see problems with deep air, ego and arrogance, as well as loss of buoyancy and awareness that all lead to problems. Could they have been prevented? Was there a sign? Like a Black Grouper crossing your path?

We continue our deep dive into the early days of technical diving accidents with the “aquaCORPS” Incident Reports. Re-released earlier this year through, “In Depth” magazine (https://gue.com/blog/examining-early-technical-diving-deaths-the-aquacorps-incident-reports-1992-1996/), Jamesy and Brando talk about more than just these accidents but also the lead up to these accidents, as we highlight the...

We’ve dove into the DAN Annual Report. We submerged into the BSAC reports. This year we are going to plunge into the early days of technical diving accidents with the “aquacorps” Incident Reports. Re-released earlier this year through, “In Depth” magazine, Jamesy and Brando talk about more than just these accidents but also the lead up to the accidents as we highlight another important upcoming ev...

Spring is in the air and that means love is in the air too... and if there is one thing that we at The Great Dive Podcast truly love, it's Dive Gear! Listen as we discuss an article written in the early 2000's as a guide to buying dive gear. Should you just buy the most expensive? Should you try to skimp on dinero and get a "less than optimal" octo? Should I just buy whatever my instructor is usin...

Their affair was doomed from the start. But neither one of them could turn away from a forbidden love. Ed knew but wouldn't say a word to Vanessa, for he knew if he did that he would have to face the fact that it was over.... and for Ed, that was a far worse fate than a cheating wife. Vanessa knew that Ed knew, but a love like the love she had for Dudley would only come around once in a lifetime a...

We all can remember diving one of those “Great Dives” where everything seemed to click. A time when you were in the zone, your buddy was in it with you, things were smooth and easy. That zone is called “Flow” and getting there takes practice. James and Brando discuss some ways you can make this a regular occurrence instead of a mystery.

One of the costs of Flattening The Curve is that divers are being forced to take a break from their sport. Regardless of what side you are on of the Stay At Home order, when the time comes that we can all get back in the water, will you be a better or worse diver? Can taking a break actually help you improve your diving? The boys discuss this idea from the Men’s Journal, by Charli Kerns. And Sorry...

After a statewide extension of our Stay-At-Home order here in Michigan, Jamesy and Brando get back to what you love about your favorite dive buddies. Reading stories and cracking jokes. We talk about the 11 ways you can still stay involved with diving despite this lockdown.

Are you still out diving during the Coronavirus quarantine? Or, are you staying at home and watching a marathon of Tiger King? Jamesy and Brando meet up over Skype to stay isolated and still bring you the topics you need to hear while waiting to get back in the water. Tune in to find out our conclusions.

This interview with cave diver and instructor, Larry Green, is one that will be sure to please divers of all levels. Larry shares many old stories, exciting history and his philosophy of education with James and Brando. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

BREAKING NEWS!!! BREAKING NEWS!! Scientists have found that listening to The Great Dive Podcast may reduce your chances of getting the dreaded Coronavirus. However, it may increase your chances of drinking a Corona or three this week... because we head off to Cozumel in a story that has nothing to do with the motherf'ing coronavirus....suck it media.... Join Jamesy & Brando as they celebrate their...

Join your TGDP buddies as they discuss one of Brando's favorite preaching points. Failure Points. How many of these little plastic problems are you wearing?

It's quite a philosophical question that is more appropriate for Yoda to answer than Ol' Jamesy & Brando.... but have a listen as we attempt to break down a story old as time in the scuba world. Listen as the boys examine one diver's experience of a nearly fatal accident and his "takeway" from that experience.

What's cooler than being cool? ICE COLD!! Let's go ice diving AND take some photos!! Join the boys as they discuss taking your underwater photography under the ice to get those interesting and unique shots that are available for only a short time of the year and in the cooler climates.

The boys get back to a fan favorite, underwater photography. What do you do when the dive changes? Maybe it’s because of the weather, maybe it’s because of a mechanical problem with the boat, or maybe it’s the bio-rhythms of your hard-bodied models that prevents them from diving… probably an ear problem. Anyway, when things go bad you can make some easy changes to your perspective to still come aw...

In 1960, America’s Greatest Diver was lost inside of a cave near Cassis, France. The search for Conrad Limbaugh included the French and U.S. Navy, dive teams from Cousteau and a commercial company Sogetram and more. While trying to learn more about fish symbiosis and cleaning stations he ventured past the Cone of Stones and that is where he took his last breath.

The alternate title of this episode was going to be, “19 Inches of Silt.” Johnny Cash wrote a song about it. Today, Jamesy and Brando dig up a story about one of the most feared disasters while cave diving. Losing the line home. There are lessons to be learned and songs to be sung.

As a diver who do you look up to? Your Instructor? A buddy or a mentor? Who do they look up to? Chances are, no matter how good you are or how much experience or levels of certification you have there is always someone you still look up to. Cave diving has a tradition of this mentoring and building experience is favored over getting another card. Join us as we look up to the pros from an apprentic...

As a diver who do you look up to? Your Instructor? A buddy or a mentor? Who do they look up to? Chances are, no matter how good you are or how much experience or levels of certification you have there is always someone you still look up to. Cave diving has a tradition of this mentoring and building experience is favored over getting another card. Join us as we look up to the pros from an apprentic...

They knew it 25 years ago and yet, much has not changed. Can the recreational scuba diving world learn anything from the cave diving world? Tune in to this week's episode as the boys continue their celebration of National Cave Diving Month with a discussion centering around an article from 1995 by PADI's own Karl Shreves when he took his first Cave Diving Course and what he learned from his experi...

This week the boy's tackle the most divisive topic within the Scuba Community. No matter which side of the aisle your particular mindset has you pitching your tent, we think you'll get a "kick" out of today's episode! We went to the Internet for the idea of tackling this topic and we hope you enjoy....although we know this particular debate will never be "fin-ished". Relax and have a listen!!

In the year 2020 divers have so many resources to inform them about their amount of remaining gas, however out-of-airs still happen. Why? Join Jamesy and Brando for this self-addressed stamped episode of TGDP to find the answers.

It’s 2020 and a new year for a new you. Many divers will start off the year with a fitness plan and a fresh awareness of their health. But what is the right fitness level for safe scuba diving? Well, sit back and listen as the two fittest scuba hunks on our show, who have no fitness accreditation to their name, talk to you about breathing, heart rates and yoga.

The boys sit down and have a rap about all the fun stuff and shenanigans from 2019. The highs, the lows, the good times and the bad. We remember our favorites and take a fun look at all our fans from around the world. Thank you to everyone who listened in 2019 and we look forward to next year.