I'm super excited to release Episode #50 as our very first premium episode available exclusively to patrons. This is an extended trailer brought to you with the support of XDEEP. To access the full episode go to - https://www.patreon.com/speakingsidemount In this episode, I speak with British cave diver, Chris Jewell. Chris is a member of the British Cave Diving Group and was part of the team involved in the Thai Cave rescue nearly 2 years ago now. Chris took part in the actual extraction dives ...
May 06, 2020•12 min
Thanks so much to XDEEP and also to the patrons of Speaking Sidemount whose support enables this podcast. In this episode, I catch up again with Brian Kakuk of Bahamas Underground and he shares the emotional story of his recovery following Hurricane Dorian and how he is dealing with the current COVID lockdown. We also get into his exploration of the Crystal Caves of Abaco, Sidemount CCR, using the Shearwater NERD 2, and Brian's involvement in Jonathan Bird's brilliant IMAX feature... Amazing Cav...
Apr 28, 2020•48 min
In this episode sponsored by XDEEP, I interview David Debruyne of Outcast Explorers in Belgium. Huge thanks to the patrons of Speaking Sidemount who are helping to produce the episode you are about to listen to. David teaches sidemount and cave diving in Belgium and other parts of Europe. We catch up and discuss his experiences training with Garry Dallas, how Outcast Explorers was formed, how he configures his sidemount gear, how he teaches sidemount, sidemount boat diving in the North Sea, his ...
Apr 14, 2020•1 hr 1 min
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 down or lost in the dross of the string. So I took note when a while back when Florida based Dive I...
Apr 01, 2020•1 hr
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 relationships with mentors from whom she can learn and follow. And then ultimately, she travels the world ...
Mar 11, 2020•53 min
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 sidemount in the caves of the Yucatan Peninsula. We discuss the importance of using local guides to buil...
Feb 10, 2020•1 hr 10 min
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 develop the next generation of Cave Explorers at Protec Sardinia. #XDEEP, #SupramonteKarstExplorationPr...
Jan 19, 2020•1 hr 7 min
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 KISS Sidewinder with Edd Sorenson, and plans for future CCR diving, diving the XDEEP Stealth 2.0 Tec wi...
Dec 30, 2019•1 hr 9 min
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 affected by mental health issues. Chris and I also discuss sidemount diving, cave diving, and our recen...
Dec 05, 2019•50 min
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 try. Harry had to deal with ethical dilemmas as he agreed to the plan to anesthetise the kids and then...
Nov 19, 2019•1 hr 14 min
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 Sidewinder My experiences with the KISS Sidewinder and how they aligned with my expectations How we progress...
Nov 06, 2019•45 min
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 technical diving. Sponsor: XDEEP www.xdeep.eu The Human Diver - www.thehumandiver.com #Humandiver #XDEEP #S...
Oct 21, 2019•59 min
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 #shearwater #sidemountdiving #cavediving #Sidemountpros #stevedavis #stratiskas #Intothewildadventur...
Sep 14, 2019•46 min
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 shares on his experiences diving to over 220m in Pearse Resurgence, his partnership with Craig Chall...
Aug 28, 2019•54 min
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 by XDEEP, I interview Phillip Lehman, Natalie Gibb, and Vincent Rouquet-caltha and we discuss the caves o...
Aug 08, 2019•1 hr
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 Newfoundland on the east coast of Canada. In this episode Steve and I discuss his background, his expe...
Jul 15, 2019•1 hr
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 bailout, and about their recent dive travel to Abaco in the Bahamas, Mexico, Little Cayman and Orda Cave...
Jun 30, 2019•1 hr 7 min
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 is also a Sidemount and Cave Instructor and a dedicated explorer of the caves of the Bahamas. In this w...
Jun 08, 2019•1 hr 4 min
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 tips from Becky on how to improve your images and then we learn of Becky's use of OC sidemount and her ...
May 20, 2019•57 min
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.com/yvonnepresstechnicaldiving/ https://www.sidemountpros.com/ Join me in Truk 2020 - https://www.side...
May 07, 2019•1 hr 5 min
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 sidemount diving, his work supporting deep diving world record attempts, he is an absolute decompression d...
Apr 24, 2019•47 min
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 temperament and skill set to be able to undertake cave recoveries that are at the very limits of what is possi...
Apr 09, 2019•53 min
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 bomber. Recently he has ventured into cave diving and discovered Sri Lanka’s first major underwater cave s...
Mar 31, 2019•38 min
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 problems with social media and forums his XDEEP presentations on set up and fixing issues and much more.....
Mar 21, 2019•1 hr 3 min
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 equipment they use the skill-sets required to dive in these conditions what they have discovered so far,...
Mar 09, 2019•34 min
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 Group (CDG) and a TDI Sidemount and Cave Instructor. Mike and I go deep into: his background in diving...
Feb 27, 2019•55 min
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 and much more... Featured in this episode: Protec Sardinia - https://protecsardinia.com/ Sidemount Fun...
Feb 20, 2019•1 hr 3 min
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 when Brendan Moore suggested that I reach out to Ryan I was straight on it. Ryan lives in Mt Gambier, ...
Feb 13, 2019•33 min
Many thanks to Rebecca Barrett who introduced me to Peter Norris... a cave explorer from British Columbia, Canada. She mentioned Peter was involved in some pretty cool projects and had discovered a unique cave system on Vancouver Island called "Wet Dreams" so with that... I just had to learn more. Peter's a caver who became a sump and cave diver to extend his capabilities in exploring cave systems. Sidemount was an absolute necessity in this... Not only to enable him to pass restrictions but als...
Feb 06, 2019•47 min
Let's face it, we all love to tinker with our sidemount equipment so in this episode, Andy Goring of SUMP UK and I discuss modifying your sidemount equipment. We cover: Andy's background in diving How he conceives, develops and produces his custom parts How small customisations can make a big difference in your comfort and much more.... Featured in this episode: SUMP UK - https://bit.ly/2sYE6lv Sidemount Fundamentals eBook - https://goo.gl/Davqc1 Truk 2020 Sidemount Group - https://goo.gl/V8Hhrq...
Jan 30, 2019•39 min
