The Great Dive Podcast

This week the boys kick off the 2024 International Cave Diving Month Special with a look at a fatality that occurred on a solo cave dive. Was it a medical problem? Did he forget to monitor his gas? Could a buddy have helped him? These questions and more are discussed. Join us.

Is there anything you cannot do in California? Join the boys as they kick off ice diving season with an article on ice diving in the Sierra mountain range in California. Have a listen!

This week the boys bring you a special 2 hour double episode, live from the 2023 Thunder Bay International Film Festival. As TGDP prepares for attending the 2024 show we look back at a few interviews we did last year. All the talks seem to come back to the feature film last year, David Ruck’s “The Erie Situation.”

The boys ring in the New Year with a review of the top dive destinations for 2024!! Have a listen!

Happy New Year from Jamesy and Brando. Here is a look back at our very first New Years Resolutions show.

In 1913 the Great Lakes were devastated by a Great Storm. But after all the death, destruction, and chaos of that white hurricane one ship tried to bring some Christmas joy back home to Chicago. The Rouse Simmons. Locked, loaded, and overloaded with fresh pine and Christmas carols… she was soon to be resting on the bottom of Lake Michigan instead of being safe in Chicago.

Join the boys the week as they reveal the answer to the "Who is it?" Episode of last week and it is.... the impeccable Stan Waterman of course!! The boys recap a story of his from his book "Sea Salt: Memories and Essays" where Stan waxes poetic on the joys of working with "Jacqui B." on the set of "The Deep" back in 1977. The dive world (and the "world" world) will most certainly miss Stan Waterma...

The is week the boys look at a DCS hit that took place in Bora Bora. In many ways it is a rather typical incident. Warm tropical location, daily repetitive diving, pushing the limits, and it finally catches up with you. But this story comes from a diving legend. Can you guess who it is?

Join the boys this week as they discuss what one underwater photographer calls "The 10 Worst Pieces of Advice For Underwater Photographers".

The Wah-Wah continues. Join us as we talk the truth about diving deep on regular old air with Bob Raimo and Michael Menduno. Last week we mentioned how Bob almost died, this week we go through his personal memoir of the dive.

Join the boys this week as they continue their series dedicated to diving pioneer Bret Gilliam. This week they discuss quite possibly the most controversial article about Bret Gilliam and without question the most controversial dive ever done by Bret Gilliam! Have a listen as the boys dive into the topic of personal responsibility vs. personal freedom in the dive world!

The boys continue their look back on the life of the legendary Bret Gilliam and read one of his most controversial articles. Not only that but they also revisit the comments from an online discussion board at the time. A fight had started for what technical diving was and deep air was the first battle. Is it Technical Diving just because we are beyond recreational limits or was that term going to...

The dive community has lost more than a couple notable figures this past month. This week the boys pay homage to one of those legendary figures that left an indelible imprint on many of us that were around for the birth of technical diving, Bret Gilliam. Have a listen!

This year for the TGDP Halloween Special, the boys harken back to Jamesy’s old days on an underwater habitat in the Baltic Sea. Germans, French women, a Brit and unfortunately no bathrooms… but they did have a moon pool. Wait… what was that???

This week the boys discuss Paulette's "event" off the coast of Northern California in Carmel. Unusual hypothermia symptoms throw Paulette and Dennis a curve ball. Have a listen and find out what the confusion is all about!

This week the boys go back in time to learn a lesson from a warm water diver who wanted to try a cold water dive on his vacation to Norway. Cold water, dry suits, dark water, overweight… it all comes together in an exhausting and dangerous experience for Jeffrey. Don’t forget to tip your dive guides.

This week the boys continue more cold water chat with an episode addressing some of the considerations for underwater photography in cold water. Have a listen!

They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but, this week the boys learn 4 tips for staying warm in cold water. Pour yourself a cup of Hot Jolene because its time to dive with Jamesy and Brando.

As summer comes to an end and the cold weather diving season returns, TGDP prepares to answer some cold-water diving questions that have been coming into our emails. As the boys prepare a new fall season of TGDP, join us as we revisit our first TGDP Quiz Show. We will talk to you next week.

IIiiiit's time for your favorite diving Game Show.... The Great Dive Podcast Quiz Show.... with your host, Ol' Jamesy and the sole contestant Brando! Have a listen as the boys reminisce about the old game shows while they share a buoyancy quiz from Ol' Dennis Graver!!

This week the boys take a jittery dive to far limits of recreational diving. What could go wrong when a diver with not enough experience, takes not enough gas, to a deep wreck dive where he has never been? Join us and find out.

This week the boys wrap their 2 part discussion on panic and the diver. This is the conclusion of last week's article written by a UCLA Professor and DSO back in 1971 that examines the readiness of the new diver and what is needed to prepare them for confidence and competence underwater. Have a listen!!

This week Jamesy and Brando visit a paper written by a UCLA Professor and DSO. It examines the readiness of the new diver and what is needed to prepare them for confidence and competence underwater. You may be surprised to find out that the answer is NOT shorter and faster classes.

This week the boys discuss the role of confidence in diving and learning diving. As an added bonus, we have another poem from the great Dr K-Seuss!

Episode 330 – Anchored To The Bottom This week do a little treasure hunting. But you know what they say about one mans treasure, it’s another mans junk. When you’re looking for loot, it is easy to hyper focus on the prize and forget about the important parts of diving. Join us for a search and recovery dive that goes bad.