I have been diving since 1999 – all thanks to a tropical rainstorm in Cancun, Mexico… Struggling to find something to do, I decided to have a ‘Try Dive’ – the rest is history.
Expedition organisation and leadership is a real passion of mine – having led several wreck and cave diving trips to the Maltese Islands. I am also a UK Mine and Cave member – a group dedicated to diving, exploring and mapping the plethora of mines and caves in the UK, many of which are abandoned mines in Wales and the Peak District.
I have been lucky enough to dive in some very exotic locations including Egypt (x14 trips), Malta (x8 trips), Thailand (x5 trips), Cyprus (x 4 trips), Australia, Hawaii, Florida, Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica, Menorca, Sardinia, Turkey, Tenerife, Lanzarote – and my all time favourite – Truk Lagoon in the South Pacific.
My real passion within diving is cave, mine and wreck diving. Cave diving has to be one of the most dangerous sports in the world – but the exhilaration and feeling of ‘What’s around the next corner?’ is second to none.
I was lucky enough to be part of the ‘Aber Las’ mine (Wales) four man exploration team – pushing the unexplored mine every week and month – until the end was located. I really do miss my late friend, Will Smith, who was so influential in my UK mine and cave development, confidence and adventures. I know he is smiling and laughing at me now, down from ‘Dive Heaven’. God bless you mate.
In my 16 years of diving, I am proud to have achieved the following qualifications:
- NACD Full Cave Diver
- TDI Advanced Nitrox
- BSAC Open Water Instructor
- BSAC Accelerated Decompression Procedures (ADP) Instructor
- BSAC Advanced Twinset Instructor
- BSAC Nitrox Instructor
- BSAC Advanced Diver
- BSAC Accelerated Decompression Procedures (ADP)
- BSAC Dive Leader
- BSAC Sports Diver
- BSAC Ocean Diver
- BSAC Buoyancy & Trim (Black Belt)
- BSAC Search & Recovery Diver
- PADI Divemaster
- PADI Rescue Diver
- PADI Advanced Open Water
- PADI Open Water
- PADI Nitrox Diver
- PADI Wreck Diver
- PADI Deep Diver
- PADI Drysuit Diver
What’s left on the Dream List? – Florida Caves, Truk, Cyprus, Vanuatu (to dive the President Coolidge), Maldives and Bikini Atoll.
What’s my #1 dive ever – The Zenobia Wreck (aka ‘The Hulk’, ‘The Zen’, ‘Goliath’) – specifically the Lower Car Deck – it just doesn’t get better than that 😉
Roll on the ‘2016 Tech and Wreck Expedition’ to Malta in September – with Dan Hodkin.
Enjoy some of my YouTube videos below – I will keep adding to these as best I can.