February 2025 | Level UP Podcast

Timestamps:

00:00 Level Up Hosts Greg Holt of ScubaRadio, William Cline, publisher of Scuba Diving Industry Magazine; Britain Cline of Scuba Diving Industry Magazine Introduces Level Up

01:22 Britain Cline announces Scuba Diving Industry Magazine’s presence at Beneath the Sea (Booth 303) and encourages industry engagement.

04:04 Neal Watson discusses his historic achievements in diving, including a 70-mile underwater swim and a 437-foot compressed air dive featured on To Tell the Truth. Neal shares a story about how a saltwater vs. freshwater mix-up during his long-distance dive forced him to surface prematurely.

07:49 Situational Awareness Part 2: It's All in the Details by Dan Orr discusses the importance of paying attention to small details in diving, especially regarding equipment preparation and risk mitigation, citing research that 63% of diving accidents stem from equipment issues.

12:20 Quit Your Bleaching: Causes, Trends, and Solutions by Alex Brylske examines coral bleaching, its causes, and potential solutions, emphasizing the role of marine protected areas, restoration efforts, and pollution control. Stresses the need for reducing CO₂ emissions to save reefs.

18:54 Getting Your Store Ready for the New Dive Season by Jeff Cinciripino provides a checklist for dive shop owners to prepare for the season, covering staff training, equipment maintenance, retail space organization, and personal workload management.

24:47 Skin Cancer: Diving’s Most Prevalent Injury by Gil Zeimer & Guest, Mike Malterre raise awareness about skin cancer risks for divers, sharing personal experiences and emphasizing sun protection strategies like wearing reef-safe sunscreen, protective clothing, and regular dermatologist visits. Mike Malterre highlights the dangers of chemical sunscreens to reefs and humans, advocating for mineral-based, reef-safe sunscreens. Introduces new developments like "Reef Protection Factor" labeling.

35:58 Moving Your Happy Dive Group Onto the Next Trip by David Prichard and Lily Mak Shares strategies for dive travel operators to book repeat customers while on a trip, emphasizing social media, storytelling, and advance planning to build excitement and secure future commitments.

45:28 When It’s Time to Stop Teaching by Pat Hammer discusses aging in the diving industry and how older instructors should recognize their limits, adjust workloads, and prioritize safety over trying to keep up with younger divers.

The episode also covered a report on upcoming dive shows like Beneath the Sea and Boston Sea Rovers by Britain Cline. William Cline introduced Gavin Goes, a blog following Gavin Young’s journey to becoming a dive instructor in KoTao, Thailand.