The Scuba Diving Podcast

In this episode we go inside the hyperbaric chamber, and ask everything you’d ever want to know about actually going in! Or, as owner and operator Mitch Hall puts it, “going down”.

The hyperbaric chambers are used not only to treat scuba diving related injuries, but heal wounds and have other benefits to your health. He explains what it all means, how they work, and has some very surprising stories about some past divers that got into trouble (and a cautionary tale to those cavalier divers out there!)

He gave me a tour of the entire facility, and we had way too much fun doing it!

Divers Alert Network’s (DAN) marketing director Steve Jamroz gives us a peek behind the curtain of the world’s most famous SCUBA organization.

DAN helps develop treatments, preventions, best practices and insurance for diving related accidents, illnesses, and even trip or business losses. They research prevention on everything from equipment safety to Decompression Sickness (DCS), as well as new training techniques. DAN also has a free Medical Services department you can call anytime to ask about potential conditions that could prevent you from diving. Their medical professionals can also offer guidance to your own doctor, whereas they may be unfamiliar with diving-specific health considerations.

Steve and Kenny have a casual discussion about life at the DAN organization, workplace culture, marketing their product, and of course, the DEMA after-parties they’ve become famous for.

Follow or contact them on all major social channels listed on their website below:

In this showcase episode of the Buddy App, we go after the CORE reason the dive industry struggles to produce income earners: connection.

The top question I get is “where do you suggest I go?” or “where can I learn to dive in my area?” or “who has dive trips around that area?” Despite all of the search engines on our smartphones and apps, this question is still going strong.

This feature of the buddy app let’s dive shops, charters, resorts and even Independent Scuba Instructors create their own platform to connect with divers, and gets them found by divers. It is (finally) a TRUE hub for the diving community.

It benefits divers, students, organizations and businesses, so everyone wins by being connected. No weird or awkward groups to join on some website or social platform you really don’t want - just divers connecting in the easiest way possible.

The Buddy Dive Log app has everything else in a dive log, like social media links, tipping functions, galleries, filters, and even validates your dives certifications and professional status (with all agencies like PADI, NAUI, SSI, SDI, CMAS, and more). So you can connect on so many other levels as well.

There’s been a longstanding rift between Technical Diving and Recreational Diving in some circles, but does it have to be like that? Not according to Chris Foisey aka "The Modern Diver" -host of one of the largest scuba equipment review channels on the internet. He explains the importance of learning proper finning, trim and buoyancy, but also gets the value of fun (HINT: It’s the whole reason we do this) Chris is easily the most relaxed, educated, and easy-to-listen-to gear critic out there, with thoughtful breakdowns that let the diver actually make decisions for themselves, vs just an opinionated "this is what I think" monologue.

I learn something EVERY single time I watch his videos, so it was a joy to finally speak to him in real time for this interview. We hit all the hot button topics like teaching on the knees, Backplate and Wing for Open Water training, and why some dive shops behave so differently than others. But perhaps the most valuable conversation of all, is HOW to bridge that gap between Recreational Diving and the Tec Diver crowd. Chris is a breath of fresh air, and is leading the way toward a more symbiotic world of diving.

Find Chris Foisey as The Modern Diver on your favorite platforms:

Strong opinions, confusion, and being overwhelmed with getting started are all part of this beast…

The good news is we have an absolute GAME CHANGER:

Once and for all, the dive gear dilemma of not knowing where to go, who to talk to, or where to even start is OVER. Alexis Jabbour, founder of The Buddy App, talks about how dive gear is now connecting people through sharing. Anyone can add gear to their dive log (even if it’s rental) so nothing gets lost. Dive buddies can see what their friends are wearing and literally click on it to learn more, including links to buy it right then and there. Influencers, Dive Shops and “Buddy Explorers” even have ways to add their affiliate links or get sponsored gear directly on their profile. Professional can even link back to their home dive shop! Buddy is quickly changing the landscape for diving, making it easier and more accessible for more people. This revolutionary dive app is streamlining the entire gear debacle that’s gone on far too long. The Buddy Dive Log app has everything else in a dive log divers need to get the most out of this lifestyle: Social media links, tipping functions, galleries, filters, and even validation of your dives, including a place to verify your certifications and professional status (with all agencies like PADI, NAUI, SSI, SDI, CMAS, and more). Go check out the App and don’t forget to add me as a Buddy!

Alannah Vellacott is truly a creature of the Caribbean Waters, in every possible sense. She's been famously dubbed "The Real Life Little Mermaid" by many notable figures, and for good reason.

Aside from freediving, scuba diving, working on several Shark Week episodes, and simply living the Island Life we all dream about… she actually works to preserve and rebuild the very world that sustains her lifestyle (and the planet, for that matter!)

Land Based Coral restoration with Coral Vita is a unique process that she explains with great enthusiasm during our interview. It's a system that allows coral to grow up to 50 times faster than it would in the wild, helping revitalize dead or dying reefs.

Alannah is wildly connected, seen working with the likes of André Musgrove, Cristina Zenato, Scuba Radio, and even Samuel Jackson. 

A flagship citizen of Grand Bahama Island, Alannah is armed with a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences, with an extensive resumé ranging from Cape Eleuthra Institute, BREEF, Perry institute for Marine Sciences, and a Scuba Instructor with over 16 years of diving.

I got to hang out with Alannah at The 2023 DEMA show in New Orleans, where she not only represented Coral Vita, but put on a show with fellow Mermaids bringing an incredibly fun vibe to the festivities.

BIG THANK YOU: All underwater footage, facility footage and drone footage of Coral Restoration and Bahamas footage courtesy of Coral Vita.

Alannah’s contact info:

Ellie is as charming as she is talented, with more big scuba names under her belt than… maybe anyone. Known by her screen name as “Scuba Ellie”, she’s responsible for connecting Scuba Diving with the rest of the world in profound way. She works using brilliant visual photography, videography, editing, and just being awesome at diving.

She creates content for the dive industry full-time, she’s a Scuba Instructor, and dives everything from the tropics to drysuits, aluminums to doubles.

Ellie discusses how to handle social media burnout, negative comments, and of course what NOW fills her cup. If you’re like so many people trying to build your brand or following, she shares some sage advice for any creative diver that's willing to listen.

I was fortunate enough to spend some time with her at the DEMA show, sit on a panel discussing social media with the dive industry, and finally, the after parties from Deeper Blue to Bourbon Street. 

PS: I’m still waiting on that scuba skating video…

Ellie’s contact info:

Ed Rasmussen is part of the Scubapro Team, including the Deep Elite Global Team, a Scubapro global government manager. Ed was also an active Navy Seal, who went on regular deployments. He is now a Divemaster, helping to liaison the recreational dive industry with defense departments, law enforcement, and emergency services.

Ed is a big supporter of those who served in the Armed Forces. He’s received an avalanche of subscribers to his now-iconic Instagram page @ ecrazz

-loaded with facts and historical video ranging from equipment breakdowns to covert operation footage.

Ed now enjoys diving for the sheer joy of it, bringing a wealth of expertise,  experience, and valued perspective that very few get to hear.

He was as pleasant as he was knowledgeable to finally meet in person, and I’m fortunate to say I have a new friend in the diving world.

Kenny sits down with the founder of Deeper Blue, the world’s largest community for scuba divers.

Stephan is larger than life, throwing the number one party to be at during the number one scuba diving gathering on the planet. His love of the ocean flows like a perfect cocktail. Always upbeat, hilarious, and seems to be close friends with the entire worldwide scuba industry (I’m kind of not kidding).

He explains what DeeperBlue does, how it got started, the future, and what he would love to see improve in the dive industry as a whole. 

His passion for scuba and freediving is on full display everywhere he goes. Not only during our interview, but throughout the DEMA show, and pretty much anywhere else there was fun happening… Stephan was there. Never an ego or point to prove, just a fun-loving, water-obsessed human being.

Further (and by total coincidence) Stephan & Kenny were both invited to a Panel for social media influencers to discuss with the audience some of their secrets to success. The event took place at the DEMA convention center in New Orleans, hosted by the scuba legend Tec Clark.

Friends were made, good times were had, and the whole Sweetwater crew hopes to follow up again for more of Stephan and DeeperBlue!

DeeperBlue has an app, a podcast, news articles, forums, and an absolutely stellar social media presence. If there is something happening in the world of diving, Deeper Blue is a part of it. 

Main website:

Chef Anton is an Award-winning magician who can actually teach and certify a PADI scuba specialty course using underwater magic!

He uses magic to help make scuba diving concepts easier to understand, relieve anxiety, and foster better learning.

Further, it helps paint a better picture of concepts like nitrogen buildup, compression and expansion, and all those core fundamentals that can be tough to grasp for new divers. Aside from making learning easier, underwater magic makes everything a LOT more fun!

I was completely mesmerized during this interview. He performed REAL magic tricks right in front of me and the crew (And I promise, no camera tricks!)

He’s an IDC staff instructor, offering a real specialty certification for scuba diving professionals, and specialty certification for scuba diving students, along with an underwater magic starter pack. His execution is just as impressive as his welcoming, warm, and hilariously charming personality.

A fixture in the Daytona Beach area, Don Bouer has one of the most unusual takes on just about anything water related. He’s a master of aquatics, spending decades protecting swimmers & tourists in one of the busiest beaches in Florida, which also happens to be the home of the shark attack capital of the world, New Smyrna Beach (Ponce Inlet). It’s also known as a dangerous area for swimmers due to the currents, waves, rip tides and tidal changes, combined with such a high number of annual visitors.

Don teaches scuba diving, swimming, and seems to know someone everywhere we turn. He’s eccentric, fun, full of energy and his positive outlook on the world around him is beyond contagious. You can’t help but have a good time and feel like there’s something good about everyone and everything after spending just a few hours with him.

His answers are reliably atypical, and even his (casual) independent scuba instruction company name is called “Aquatic Alternative”. He teaches private scuba lessons at both his customers’ and his own pace, and isn't afraid to take whatever time is needed.

Don answers questions ranging from swim tests, teaching scuba on the knees, backplate and wing, and peeing in the wetsuit. He also drops his opinion on why scuba diving has been so male dominated (although changing for the better), and of course just about anything else you’d wanna know.

At 77 years old at the time of this interview, he finally tells us exactly what he’s looking forward to the most (and it’s worth the wait).

Don is a people person, and just flat out a fun human being to be around. He was one of the first-ever interviews on this show, so I HAD to pay my respects and see what he’s been up to for the last 2.5 years.

Just before filming, we had an unexpected move to the ocean beachfront. So apologies for the wind noise…I got rid of some of it, but hopefully doesn’t detract too much!

"OMGitswicks" tries scuba diving with Kenny and the Sweetwater Crew, and lives to sit down and talk about it!

Not only do we talk about that first experience scuba diving, but what it’s like running a social media personality with millions of followers, and making content everyday.

In fact, some swimmers down at a remote freshwater spring in Florida immediately recognized him while we were getting ready to dive.

Wicks is just as funny in person as he is with his sketch comedy, and wild Florida observations.

We talk gators, crocodiles, hurricanes, Big Summer vs Summer Jr, and of course, Super Humidity. I also asked him his favorite character, favorite post, and when he felt like it went big.

Finally, OMGitswicks hints at what’s coming around the corner, Publix, and of course the Blue Crab that had it out for him.

This was the funniest interview I’ve ever had the pleasure of doing, I hope you have as much fun as I did!

Make sure to follow his channels, Plus let him know how you felt about this interview by joining him on his very regular LIVE shows! (on all platforms)

Kenny was invited in-studio to interview the host of Scuba Radio, Greg “The Divemaster” Holt. Founded in 1997, Scuba Radio is the oldest (and only) nationally syndicated terrestrial radio show for scuba divers (that’s like OG radio on the dial!) His interpretation of why people go scuba diving gives some serious food for thought. We discuss motivations for going scuba diving, why people tune into his show, golf vs scuba, some issues facing the dive industry, and even the late Jimmy Buffett.

This whole show is basically a bunch of divers talking about diving at a waterside Tiki Bar.

Scuba Radio is fun, energetic, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and just about anyone can get on the show if they ask nicely (hey, they even had me on!)

Scuba Radio airs LIVE every Saturday 

LIVE number:  1-888-88-SCUBA

In my continuing showcase series of the Buddy App, we talk about Social Media and the integration of the “Sharebuilder” feature. While the app’s ability to integrate with social media accounts might seem like a meager topic on the surface - social is now the bloodline of Scuba Diving interest, and is indispensable for attracting new divers.

We discuss the importance of social (for all its flaws) in diving, due to its visual nature. Alexis and her Buddy team did not overlook this critical element of the diving community, and went above and beyond.

Although I’ve already interviewed Alexis in Hawaii (on site) about this app, I keep finding new things that make it special, and are worth discussing on my channel.

With the official 2023 Summer launch completing its fourth month in existence, Buddy is making waves throughout the industry as a disruptive platform that’s quickly changing the landscape for divers, freedivers, and snorkelers.

The world of diving is going to look very different 1-2 years from now, with the rapid adoption of the Buddy platform.

The Buddy Dive Log app has the best of all the agencies like PADI, SSI, NAUI, and goes well beyond the capabilities of Manufacturer apps like Garmin, Suunto, Apple Watch and many others. It combines all the features into one, without those barriers that divide the already-small industry even smaller. Connecting buddies of ALL agencies is the skeleton key of all future growth.

It’s clean, works smoothly, easy to use, and is easily the most comprehensive diver app YET. It got me excited enough to continue interviewing and discussing this incredible new tool. 

Not to worry, it’s even set up for those that aren’t certified yet, so literally anyone can download this app (and of course, it’s free).

After reading a highly compelling blog by Independent Scuba Instructor Taylor Schott, I had to have her as a Guest on the show. 

We’ve seen this argument before, but not so eloquently explained. In fact, her blog was so well-written that I tracked her down and actually convinced her to come talk to me about it. 

The pros and cons are laid out in an unbiased, friendly way, and nobody is being “put down” or lambasted for having a different opinion than Taylor. That vibe (and temperament) is something we need more of in the dive industry, and it was absolutely refreshing to know this is the future of scuba diving.

Not only did she explain it in a convincing way from a training aspect, but also from the oft-neglected business perspective as well. She just makes a lot of sense.

She’s a well-trained scuba instructor, cave diver, and freediver, with her own independent training company called “Schottsie’s Scuba”. She teaches private open water scuba lessons, and beyond.

A direct link to her blog can be found here: https://www.schottsiesscuba.com/post/bcd-s-backplate-wing-vs-jacket-style

The Sweetwater crew ran into Crosskix VP Mike Beverly, and decided this was worth the interview.

His company makes a washable, high-end shoe that works in water AND in your dive fins. It keeps debris out, can be hosed down, and drains in an almost entertaining way.

These are THE shoes used by major cruise lines like Norwegian and Carnival, waterpark and resort staff, and even Universal Studios. 

Mike let us ransack his booth, took the time to walk us through the details, and might have even bought us beers while we walked the showroom floor.

This is a game changer for those warm water divers walking beaches, gravel, jetties, and just long distances to their dive sites, no booties needed!

Yasmin talks about artistic inspiration for everyone’s favorite underwater art!

Fin Pin Shop is officially the center of the universe at every trade show (Shark Con and DEMA to name a few) and of course they’re in popular dive shops and ocean-themed gift shops from sea to shining sea!

This isn’t just a scuba diver wonderland of art and trinkets, Fin Pin is made and supported by Marine Biologists (like Yasmin and Jaclyn), conservationists and artists. They have a massive online and social media presence, donate to a MULTITUDE of wildlife and aquarium charities, plus use smart and sustainable packaging and materials!

How does one dominate an industry with pins, stickers, and other fun goodies? Yasmin Greene walks me through the artistic process, hurdles and excitement of dominating what many would consider a niche business, and a crowded market.

Yasmin runs Fin Pin along with her “partner-in-crime” Jaclyn (interview a few episodes back S3 Episode 11) 

They combined forces, producing a constant flow of ocean-themed fun (oh, and of course plenty of Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou themed merch to go around!)

Probably my favorite part of the interview was her explaining their soft spot for the “underdog” species’ (like the Batfish and Blobfish!) and even use a Mola Mola fish as their main logo. If you can turn the Batfish and Horshoe Crab into fun… I think you may have something there.

This interview is sure to impress and entertain any ocean, marine or aquatic enthusiast.

Yasmin has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa in Marine Biology, a Master’s degree from Drexel University in Environmental Science, and an MBA from Florida International University. She loves Manta Rays, cats, frog fish, and churning out puns.

RJ is the fiancé to owner and creator of Spacefish Army (Morgan Oughton). However, RJ was there from the beginning, behind-the-scenes, offering support, labor, and rolling with the wild turns of life.

From a secret relationship on a live aboard charter (for NINE months!), to launching a clothing line, and now helping with trade shows, RJ explains how they both work so well together, stay happy, and continue to grow everyone’s favorite outerwear brand. 

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Make sure to watch (or listen to) the Interview that started it all with Spacefish Army: S3:E09 and the earlier S2:E26

And of course, go check out their EPIC line forged from the rigors of scuba liveaboard life!

In this showcase series we talk about the most innovative integration into a dive app ever created - the Discover Feed. 

This is truly a hub, newsfeed, and showcase for scuba divers to get a pulse on the community, dive industry, and most importantly, what their buddies are doing.

I just keep getting more excited about this app every time a new update drop.

The Fin Pin Shop is officially the center of the universe for fun grabs at every trade show (Shark Con and DEMA to name a few) and of course they’re in popular dive shops and ocean-themed gift shops from sea to shining sea!

This isn’t just a scuba diver wonderland of art and trinkets, Fin Pin is made and supported by Marine Biologists, conservationists and artists. They have a massive online and social media presence, donate to a MULTITUDE of wildlife and aquarium charities, plus use smart and sustainable packaging and materials!

How does one dominate an industry with pins, stickers, and other fun goodies? Jaclyn walks me through the struggles, hurdles and excitement of launching what many would consider a niche business, and a crowded market.

Jaclyn runs Fin Pin along with her “partner-in-crime” Yasmin (interview coming shortly after this one) who combine forces, producing a constant flow of ocean-themed fun (oh, and of course plenty of Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou themed merch to go around!)

Probably my favorite part of the interview was her explaining their soft spot for the “underdog” species’ (like the Blobfish!) and even use a Mola Mola fish as their main logo. If you can turn the Blobfish into fun… I think you may have something there.

This interview is sure to impress and entertain any ocean, marine or aquatic enthusiast.

Jaclyn Gerakios has a Bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in Marine Biology and a Master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University in Environmental Education. She has worked as an aquarist, marine science educator, water quality technician, classroom teacher, nonprofit manager, SCUBA instructor, and even a performing mermaid! Jaclyn is now a marine biology professor at the University of Tampa.  She also is a volunteer supervisor with her local sea turtle patrol.

Morgan Oughton makes the jump from her New York City design job to working on a Live Aboard charter… all while launching the legendary Spacefish Army outerwear line. Her designs and products can now be found around the globe in retail dive centers and watersports venues, as well anywhere that ships online.

She goes deep into life on a liveaboard charter, and how that lifestyle works (and how it sometimes doesn’t). More surprising, she finds her life partner AND manages to launch Spacefish Army, all while working 16 hour days (and keeping the relationship a secret).

This is the interview for anyone considering working on a live aboard yacht as a Bosun, Steward, Divemaster, Instructor, or anything remotely similar.

Finally, she talks about how to know when you’ve hit success, the difference between happiness and satisfaction, how to balance work and personal time, and what the future looks like for Spacefish Army.

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Morgan Oughton quit her job in NYC, and became a Divemaster and Instructor for the Aggressor Fleet of diving liveaboard yachts. 

She fell in love with diving, and during that transformative adventure found a way to fuse her passion of diving, artwork and design into something useful for all of us: Spacefish Army.

Diving needed to break free of the “bland”, and Morgan did it. Not only did she inject life & color into scuba diving wear, she brought practicality from knowing what it takes to work as a dive professional in the most demanding setting for any diving pro.

From pockets to sunblock, eco-friendly pieces, Mo and her wildly friendly team have you COVERED, head to toe.

Red Sullivan owns a scuba gear service company and commercial dive salvage operation called Bluewater Diving, based in Daytona Beach, FL.

While working on gear or teaching technical diving courses such as Rebreather, Cavern & Cave Diving, Red listens each day on his massive radio tower for the call.

Calls come in requesting help with sunken boats, a need to sink a boat to form an artificial reef, or even airplanes and cars that find themselves on the bottom of a local pond or waterway. Red spends his in between time at the work bench, servicing scuba regulators and equipment from all over the world. He services gear for dive shops and other facilities, and has been for over 30 years. In that time, he's seen some wild stuff.

Red talks about teaching techniques with open water scuba certification (such as teaching on knees vs starting from a neutral position) as well as some contrasts between recreational and tech diving, from an Instructor's viewpoint. 

This is also the famous "ear beer" story from those viral post on all the sweetwater channels, …or possibly better known as “Red’s Ear Beer” 

His personal concoction to keep ears form getting infected while diving in nasty water.

The second interview is finally here and I hope you enjoy this episode!

Red Sullivan is the owner of Bluewater Diving in Daytona Beach, FL

https://www.bluewaterdiving.com

red@bluewaterdiving.com

+1 (386) 299-8671

—

Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

In this showcase series of the best scuba diving app on the market today, we discuss how divers can setup a profile, and (finally) get tipped! This interview takes place on the beaches of Oahu, Hawaii, with Guest Alexis Jabbour. She’s the mastermind behind the Buddy App, now over 2.5 years in the making! With the Summer 2023 launch happening as we speak, Buddy is making waves throughout the industry as a disruptive platform that’s quickly changing the landscape for divers, freedivers, and snorkelers.

With the tipping feature built right into the Buddy Profile, we no longer have to remember our cash, find an ATM, or worse… forget and never see the divemasters or boat crew again. 

Not only can dives be validated and buddies be added to dive that show up in the dive log, it’s an easy way to find and tip those who deserve it, even after-the-fact!

The Buddy Dive Log app has the best of all the agencies like PADI, SSI, NAUI, and goes well beyond the capabilities of Manufacturer apps like Garmin, Suunto, Apple Watch and many others. It combines all the features into one, without those barriers that divide the already-small industry even smaller. Connecting buddies of ALL agencies is the skeleton key of all future growth in this watery world. Making sure hardworking scuba instructors, boat hands, and divemasters get paid is equally important. This app, yet again, fixes a lingering rankle within the dive industry.

Further, Alexis talks about the Charter and Dive shops features that allow those QR codes to be posted for those who pool their tips.

It’s clean, works smoothly, easy to use, and is the most comprehensive diver app YET. It got me excited enough to continue interviewing and discussing this incredible new tool, and making it part of our series here on The Scuba Diving Channel.

Just a reminder, it’s even set up for those that aren’t certified yet! So literally anyone can download this app (it’s free).

BONUS: There’s a program to help you make more money by getting people to sign up! Become a “Buddy Pro” and start growing your following NOW: 

In this showcase series of the best scuba diving app on the market today, we discuss adding buddies in the Buddy App. This interview takes place on the beaches of Oahu, Hawaii, with Guest Alexis Jabbour. She’s the mastermind behind the Buddy App, now over 2.5 years in the making! With the Summer 2023 launch happening as we speak, Buddy is making waves throughout the industry as a disruptive platform that’s quickly changing the landscape for divers, freedivers, and snorkelers.

In fact, I have a feeling the world of diving is going to look very different 1-2 years from now, with the rapid adoption of the Buddy platform.

The Buddy Dive Log app has the best of all the agencies like PADI, SSI, NAUI, and goes well beyond the capabilities of Manufacturer apps like Garmin, Suunto, Apple Watch and many others. This one combines all the features into one, without those barriers that divide the already small industry even smaller. Connecting buddies of ALL agencies is the skeleton key of all future growth in this watery world.

Further, Alexis talks about the search features coming down the pipe that will allow meetups and other ways to connect that we’ve been desperately needing for too long.

It’s clean, works smoothly, easy to use, and is easily the most comprehensive diver app YET. It got me excited enough to continue interviewing and discussing this incredible new tool. 

Not to worry, it’s even set up for those that aren’t certified yet, so literally anyone can download this app (and of course, it’s free).

BONUS: There’s a program to help you make more money by getting people to sign up! Become a “Buddy Pro” and start growing your following NOW: 

I had to go all the way to Hawaii to find the best scuba diving app on the market today! I walked the cities and beaches interviewing the founder of the all-new Buddy Dive Log App. In this interview we discussed the Dive Log interface and what makes it so special. This particular interview takes place on the beaches of Oahu, just North of Electric Beach, with Guest Alexis Jabbour. She’s the mastermind behind the Buddy App, now over 2.5 years in the making! With the Summer 2023 launch happening as we speak, Buddy is making waves throughout the industry as a disruptive platform. It's quickly changing the landscape for divers, freedivers, snorkelers, (and eventually) Mermaids! The Buddy Dive Log app has the best of all the agencies like PADI, SSI, NAUI, and goes well beyond the capabilities of manufacturer apps like Garmin, Suunto, Apple Watch and many others. Buddy combines all the features into one, without those segment barriers that divide our already small industry even smaller. And arguably one of the most important features of all, the Share Builder allows divers to customize, then post to social media directly from the app, toggling what (and what not) to display. Further, it allows you to connect your money accounts for tipping and bookings, verifies your certifications or professional memberships (regardless of agency), lets you share your gear, and of course has all the other fun dive log stuff (literally everything) including a photo filter for underwater adjustments. It has the ability to “friend” and chat with other divers directly on the platform, and helps you find divers in a specific area that match your skill level. It’s clean, works smoothly, it's easy to use, and looks to be the most comprehensive diver app YET. It got me excited enough to continue interviewing and discussing this incredible new tool (and yup, I use it now!). Not to worry, it’s even set up for those that aren’t certified yet, so literally anyone can download this app. It's also important to note this app is free in its full form, so no pesky click bait ads. Get it here: www.divewithbuddy.com

Kenny and Mike break down a highly contentious subject within the dive training community: Should students be taught all the required scuba skills only AFTER gaining the ability to hover in a neutrally buoyant position?

Many supporters have been quoted saying they’ll “die on this hill”. But since this is NOT the widely accepted industry standard, at least for the WRSTC or most major training agencies (like PADI, NAUI, SDI, SSI and others)... should it be the norm, or is it simply overkill? Is it realistic in every single scenario with every single student, and is it even practical for group classes within a typical budget of an Open Water certification course? There is no doubt an issue with poor neutral buoyancy training, as most working divemasters and instructors will vehemently profess, but is this the solution or is there another angle?

This topic can be seen stirring pretty strong opinions in any given scuba forum or comment thread, so we decided to discuss it point blank.

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Regular Guest Michael Kest is a jury trial attorney for civil litigation, and an experienced scuba instructor. He’s worked many dive shops, charter boats, and has taught independently in locations ranging from Florida to Hawaii. Mike has also been a Divemaster for Epcot’s Dive Quest program at Disney for over 15 years, leading tens of thousands of Guests in the Seas aquarium on a weekly basis. He played football for FSU, he’s a father of three, a husband, a coach, and regularly dives in South Florida for fun on his spare time. 

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Red Sullivan owns a scuba gear servicing company, which also conducts commercial dive salvage operations It's called Bluewater Diving and is based in Daytona Beach, FL.

While working on gear, Red listens on his massive radio tower for calls from sunken boats, airplanes and cars that found themselves on the bottom of a local pond or waterway. Red spends the bulk of his time at the work bench, servicing scuba regulators and equipment from all over the world. He services gear for dive shops and other facilities, and has been for over 30 years. In that time, he's seen some wild stuff.

Not only does he talk about the freaky things he's found in divers' regulators, but also how to take care of gear, what matters the most when buying, and whether or not you should really spend money on regulators.

This interview also contains the infamous "puke" story from those with acid reflux that "vurp" into their regulators, the lizard egg story, spiders in regulators, and of course his pet peeves. 

It's finally here and I hope you enjoy this interview!

Red is the owner of Bluewater Diving in Daytona Beach, FL

https://www.bluewaterdiving.com

red@bluewaterdiving.com

+1 (386) 299-8671

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Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

Alexis Jabbour is the mastermind behind the Buddy App, now 2.5 years in the making! With the June 2023 launch happening as we speak, Buddy is perhaps the most important step forward the dive industry will see in a generation.

Creating a platform that FINALLY gets divers from all walks of life into a single place is injecting a new level of fun, but importantly… CONNECTION!

It helps industry leaders make more money, makes it easier to market themselves, and helps everyday divers connect with other divers easier than anything that’s ever been made.

This helps any scuba instructor, dive shop, charter or facility using ANY agency ( PADI, NAUI, SSI, SDI, BSAC, CMAS, etc). It allows Divemasters and Instructors to “Verify” dives, making it easier than ever to keep people up to date, legit, and more actively engaged with the community.

Further, it allows you to connect your money accounts for tipping and bookings, verifies your certifications or professional memberships, lets you share your gear, and of course has all the other fun dive log stuff (literally everything) including a photo filter for underwater adjustments. It has the ability to “friend” and chat with other divers directly on the platform, and helps you find divers in a specific area that match your skill level.

It’s clean, works smoothly, easy to use, and looks to be the most comprehensive diver app YET. It got me excited enough to continue interviewing and discussing this incredible new tool. 

Not to worry, it’s setup for Freedivers, Snorkelers, for those that aren’t certified yet, and on the horizon: The Mermaid community!

BONUS: There’s a program to help you make more money by getting people to sign up! Become a “Buddy Pro” and start growing your following NOW: 

Undervaluing the enormous amount of time, experience, equipment, prep, and patience it takes to teach scuba courses is killing the dive industry, and the customers and recreational divers out there get hit the hardest.

Mike and Kenny get to the very core of the dive industry’s lack of growth, when compared with similar industries. Further, this same root cause is why so few people keep diving after they get scuba certified. 

This cycle creates burnout on the Instructors and Divemasters, and sets up students to fail at their ultimate original goal: Confidence to be a scuba diver (aka the lifestyle). While many may still "catch the bug" in a basic discounted course, most either have to find additional training/guidance or simply never go diving again. This is mainly due to rushed courses, and lack of personal attention.

The “2 year burnout cycle" of the scuba instructor is caused by not charging what they’re worth, getting overworked with too many students, dive shops not not having the time to form lasting bonds, and ultimately not nurturing divers into this incredible world. 

Increased value increases value… for EVERYONE. 

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Michael Kest is a jury trial attorney with his own practice. He’s an active dive instructor with experience that ranges from working dive boats in South Florida and Hawaii, water safety at Sea World and Disney's Dive Quest, working for dive shops and teaching classes all over the world. He coaches kids sports on his spare time, and is a father of three.

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Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

Morgan Oughton quit her job in NYC, and became a Divemaster and Instructor for the Aggressor Fleet, one of the busiest & most famous diving liveaboard charters in the world. "Mo" fell in love with diving, and during journey found a way to fuse her passion of diving, outer space, artwork and design into something useful for all of us: Spacefish Army. Diving needed to break free of the same-old "bland and boring", and Morgan literally made that happen. Not only did she inject life into scuba diving wear, she brought practicality to it. She knows what it takes to work as a dive professional in the most demanding setting (liveaboard dive charters!) From sneaky pockets to sunblocky, eco-friendly pieces, Mo and her wildly friendly team have you COVERED, head to toe.

Melissa drops by and asks Kenny questions about handling kids in the scuba certification class. Where does the line of supervision begin and end between parents and instructors? How do you take a scuba class WITH your kids? It’s all there. Plus, Kenny explains the parallels between kids and spouses taking scuba lessons together. With summer around the corner, this is the timeliest podcast in the world  for all you parents out there!

Melissa Lea Hughes has been featured on television shows, and has hundreds of thousands of followers for mom and family inspired content. She’s a social media coach, a published author of “She Can Laugh”, a Podcast host, and above all, posts DAILY tools for moms, parents, and ways to cope with life, children, and staying happy.

Mark Gibello talks with Kenny Dyal about creating a scuba equipment business over 20 years ago, and why he absolutely loves it. His energy and enthusiasm only seem to grow with time, which are on full display throughout this full-throttle interview. Come behind-the-scenes at XS Scuba, going from inception to being in nearly every dive shop, aquarium, charter and facility today. Mark also lets us in on the future of his company, his secret to success, and why he never wants to retire.

Alexis Jabbour speaks with Kenny about the brand new “Buddy App” rolling out for scuba divers and freedivers. 

This is FINALLY an app that works for all agencies (PADI, NAUI, SSI, SDI, BSAC, CMAS, etc), but also allows you to connect your money accounts for tipping and bookings, verifies your certifications or professional memberships, let’s you share your gear, and of course has all the other fun dive log stuff (literally everything). 

It has the ability to friend and chat with other divers directly on the platform as well. It’s clean, works smoothly, easy to use, and looks to be the most promising diver app yet. It was enough to prompt an impromptu interview after someone flagged down Kenny to show him the app right on the tradeshow floor.

BONUS: It also has a business interface for diving professionals, rolling out around the time of this episode publishing.

*This actual interview took place at DEMA, in November 2022. Since then, Kenny has been in regular contact with Alexis on the development of the Buddy App, and is an avid user. 

Rayna O’Nan is a world-renown shark diving guide, scuba instructor and Marine Biologist.  She explains why she loves taking people diving with some of her favorite sharks. In fact, Rayna was instrumental in creating one of the first “celebrity sharks” that divers can see up close in the wild: “Snooty” the Lemon Shark!

We also dive right into the hotly-debated topic of using bait to attract sharks, the effects it may have on behavior modification, and why this is actually saving sharks. 

We cover it all: How to do the dive, what conditions are required, why she loves it, and of course… is it safe for divers?

This is one of the most content-packed interviews ever done in one spot. We had just got off the boat and spent the day on two distinct shark dives led by Rayna: Lemon sharks AND full-grown BULL sharks! We loved every minute of it, and all of these videos were taken directly from that trip (minus the Publix footage, of course!)

NOTE: Our second dive (shown in much of this video) was STRICTLY BULL SHARKS, for a total of 6 full-grown females. After being given proper instruction and precautions, they were absolutely fantastic to dive with!

The different ways DAN will help your own doctor with diving contraindications for getting clearance to dive is also mind blowing. Odds are, you’ll want to add them to your phone’s favorites right away.

For any diver that values their own safety, or the safety of others, this interview is prescribed to you.

Cristina directly analyzes the practice of lionfish feeding, and other types of shark feeding for shark tourism.

This is a must for anyone who questions the practice of shark diving with food in the water, with an extremely insightful anecdote laden with relatable analogies.

This is Part 2 of the complete Cristina Zenato interview with Kenny Dyal. Be sure to watch or listen to Part 1 which dives into shark behavior, opinions on aquariums, and how she stays so energized, accomplished and positive in daily life.

Follow or learn more about the incredible works of Cristina Zenato here:

An icon of positivity, Cristina Zenato gets charmingly candid with her anecdotes for aquariums, sharks, conservation, and life in general. From mapping underwater cave systems to removing hooks from sharks’ mouths, Cristina is a champion of conservation and motivation. She also discusses her stance on whether aquariums are good or bad, while diving into the issue of animals in captivity.

She talks about her famous sharks, how she gets to know them, and keys to understanding shark behavior.

Stay tuned for the immediate follow-up interview, specifically discussing her analysis of shark tourism and shark diving.

Follow or learn more about the incredible works of Cristina Zenato here:

Whether you believe the swim tests should be stringent, are a waste of precious bottom time, can scare an otherwise good diver out of the rest of the class, or are a crucial evaluation point to move forward, you’ll love this chat between two experience instructors.

Michael Kest and Kenny Dyal talk about the swim test requirements for Open Water Scuba Certification, and debate the relevance it has in training new scuba divers. The ISO 24801-2 Open Water Scuba Diver standards and how they apply to agencies like NAUI, PADI, SSI, SDI etc., are also explained.

They further explain why scuba diving must be taught by real people in an actual setting, and why classroom teaching of skills is generally fruitless.

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Michael Kest is a jury trial attorney with his own practice. He’s an active dive instructor with experience that ranges from working dive boats in South Florida and Hawaii, water safety at Sea World, Disney's Dive Quest, working for dive shops and teaching classes all over the world. He's also a father of three.

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Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

Returning for Season 2, Captain Michael Nastasio takes us out on his charter boat and yup… he put us right on top of the famous “Black Gold” which is shark teeth slang for “Megs” which is (yet another) shark tooth hunter buzzword for Megalodon Teeth.

Capt. Michael lives and breathes this every single day the weather lets him, and so far has never returned to shore without a MEG.

He explains the tricks to finding more, common mistakes, and even daily battles with fraudsters and “site pirates” that try to steal his secret locations!

This was just an incredibly fun day for our crew, with the interview at the end being a cherry on top. This interview is a MUST for any fossil diver or shark tooth enthusiast.

He runs private daily charters out of Venice, FL called “Black Gold Fossil Charters”.

Michael Kest and Kenny Dyal talk about the stigma, perceptions, and thrill out there of diving deeper. They share common conversations found amongst the dive world about depth, and even a bizarrely ill-advised business practice regarding Nitrox on a dive boat.

NOTE: This is merely a conversation about “Recreational Diving”, but does not get into “Tech Diving” limits which go well beyond Recreational depths discussed.

Michael Kest is a jury trial attorney with his own practice. He’s an active dive instructor with experience that ranges from working dive boats in South Florida and Hawaii, water safety at Sea World, Disney's Dive Quest, working for dive shops and teaching classes all over the world. He's also a father of three.

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Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

With her large online following (especially on TikTok LIVE) she educates AND entertains anyone with a love and interesting in sharks.

Emily goes into detail how sharks are caught off the beach by line, tagged, measured, and released (plus the issue of removing old hooks from their mouths). We talk about everything from her upcoming Inked Magazine Cover Girl competition, to whether or not Megalodons still exist.

This super fun interview was done right on the beach in Venice, FL, the “shark tooth capital of the world”. 

*The day after the interview, Emily actually found her first Megalodon tooth!

You can VOTE FOR EMILY here (starting Feb 6th):

1. Shawn Chadwick is an independent scuba instructor that teaches privately, as well as for a local dive shop in Venice, FL. We discuss the mutually beneficial dynamic of that relationship, plus an added bonus of being able to teach in TWO different agencies (NAUI and PADI)
2. Shawn talks about finding the famous Megalodon Teeth & other shark’s teeth and fossils around the Venice Beach area, as well his role in leading excursions. In many cases, Shawn teaches people to scuba dive JUST so they can go out and hunt “Meg Teeth” with him and locally on their own!

Shawn has been diving since 1986, teaches private and small group lessons with his company “Trident Scuba” and takes people hunting shark’s teeth.

You can follow Shawn here:

Finally, Madalen directly answers the big question in the room: Does coral reef restoration really work and will it actually help?

Video credits:

The vast majority of this (truly amazing) footage was kindly provided by Alexander Neufeld of Coral Restoration Foundation. VERY BIG thank you!

Alexander Neufeld (All coral nursery footage, including in-action nursery boat & working shots, water entries and exits)

Sweetwater Scuba b-roll includes the following clips:

In-person podcast interview, aerial drone of land/Key Largo area, Katie Reich dancing underwater (buoyancy control), toting flag over reefs in West Palm area, underwater basketball shot, grabbing buoy, Spiegel Grove, pool training, Blue Heron Bridge reefs (Robin Powdrill waiving) and Keys land shots (dog driving, shop with giant lobster)

Mermaid footage of “The Alchemist” of Seattle Mermaid School by Kenny Dyal

Contacts:

Mike describes a situation that really happened when he was working a boat as a Divemaster. Not only did another diver nearly drown well beyond 100 feet deep, but the simple cause might surprise you. Mike walks us through the dive start-to-finish, plus we discuss and pinpoint where things went wrong leading up to the near-death situation. A lesson we can all take with us to make our diving that much better and safer.

Michael Kest is a jury trial attorney with his own practice, an active dive instructor with experience that ranges from working dive boats in South Florida to Hawaii, water safety at Sea World, Disney's Dive Quest, working for dive shops and teaching classes all over the world. He's also a father of three.

Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast.

Rebecca Ziegler (Becca) explains what it's like out there in the dating world for scuba divers. Not only does she share an actual exchange with a non-certified diver (that dives), but also how she learned to dive with her dad when she was young. 

Becca is a professional diver with experience ranging from leading West Coast USA shore diving, commercial diving, to working as a Divemaster for a boat and at an aquarium that brings Guests underwater.

Anyone getting their children certified, trying to certify a spouse, or taking classes with all-of-the-above should definitely keep this podcast handy!

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Kenny Dyal is the host of the Scuba Diving Podcast