E092 Pepe Tiburon: "Tren Maya - A Disaster in the Making"

In this episode of Speaking Sidemount, brought to you by XDEEP, host Steve Davis interviews Álvaro Granell, a cave diving instructor from Mallorca. They discuss Álvaro's journey into diving, his transition to sidemount diving, and his path to becoming a cave instructor.Steve and Álvaro delve into the intricacies of diving education. As Álvaro is a high school teacher, Steve asks how he leans on his professional education background in dive instruction. They discuss the significance of daily practice, the role of video feedback in enhancing diving skills, and the necessity of continuous learning to fill training gaps. The dialogue also touches on diver safety, gas sharing protocols, and the evolving technology in cave diving, including the benefits of rebreathers. They discuss Mallorca's caves, their beauty, the history of exploration, and the specific differences between sump diving and cave diving. Álvaro shares insights into the caving community in Mallorca, the exploration and scientific projects that he supports, and his future plans in diving.

27 Sep 1h 19min

In this episode of Speaking Sidemount, host Steve Davis interviews Ana Gonçalves, a prosthodontist and sidemount diver, about her unique journey that intertwines her expertise in dentistry with her passion for diving. They explore the challenges and rewards of sidemount diving, the importance of proper training, and the risks associated with diving, including those related to dental work. Ana shares her experiences, insights into diving medicine, and her aspirations in hyperbaric medicine, providing a comprehensive look at the intersection of these two fields. In this conversation, Steve Davis and Ana Filipa Gonçalves discuss various aspects of diving, including the challenges and techniques of sidemount diving, the transition to rebreather diving with the Sidewinder, and the importance of building experience. They also touch on Ana's journey through her Mod 1 course, her aspirations for future diving in Mexico, and her career in dentistry, particularly her collaboration with DAN to address dental health issues related to diving. The conversation underscores the importance of having proper equipment, training, and safety protocols in the diving community.Get your copy of Steve's Sidemount Fundamentals eBook here - https://www.sidemountpros.com/storeThanks to:Our Sponsor - https://www.xdeep.euAna Gonçalves -https://www.instagram.com/agoncalves.dds.dmoImage Credit: Rui Oliveira https://www.instagram.comruipaoliveira/Diving in Portugal - https://www.portugaldive.comAna will be attending Diving Talks Lisbon 17 - 19 October 2025 with the DAN Europe team. More info here - https://www.divingtalks.com

27 Aug 2h 6min

In this episode of Speaking Sidemount, brought to you by XDEEP, Steve Davis interviews Anand Chandra Sekaran, a PADI Course Director based in Malaysia, who shares his journey from a small town in Malaysia to becoming a diving instructor, sidemount and cave diver. Anand discusses his early fascination with underwater exploration, the transition to sidemount diving, and the importance of effective instructor training. The conversation takes us back to the roots of Speaking Sidemount, covering the essential aspects of sidemount diving, including equipment setup and fitting, sidemount entries and exits, correct weighting, buoyancy control, and posture and propulsion techniques, emphasising the need for continuous learning in sidemount diving.Steve and Anand delve further into the intricacies of sidemount diving, discussing various aspects such as cylinder types, gas management, the significance of proper buoyancy, weighting awareness, and the integration of tech diving principles into instructor training. The discussion also emphasises the need for instructors to be well-versed in sidemount techniques and the importance of continuous practice and adaptation in different diving environments.Massive thanks to:Our sponsor XDEEP - https://www.xdeep.eu/Anand Chandra Selaran - https://www.antigravitydiving.com/Chapters00:00 Introduction to Anand Chandra Sekaran05:52 Diving Journey and Early Experiences06:22 Transition to Teaching Diving11:19 Challenges and Growth in a Diving Career14:10 Finding Passion in Teaching Diving16:46 Reflections on Diving Experiences18:38 Getting into Sidemount Diving23:16 Sidemount to Cave Training24:12 Suggested Level of Experience to Start Sidemount Diving25:17 Foundational Skills for Sidemount Diving28:48 Equipment Setup and Fitting Techniques30:09 Stability & Finning Techniques32:26 Entry and Exit Techniques for Sidemount Divers33:05 Sidemount Skill Development in the Water40:17 Steve Martin - Sidemounting.com Video Training42:32 Why the Gas Sharing Drill is So Important44:16 XDEEP Exploration Support Program45:45 Sidemount Gas Sharing/Hose Stowing47:10 Sidemount Boat Exit Techniques50:13 Sidemount Gas Management51:20 Cylinder Trim - Sliding or Fixed D-rings?56:44 Innovative Teaching Techniques in Diving01:00:11 Integrating Technical Diving Principles into Instructor Training01:01:36 Challenges in Instructor Development Programs01:04:16 The Role of Neutral Buoyancy in Diving Training01:08:33 Understanding Weight Checks and Buoyancy Control01:16:18 Pathway to Becoming a Sidemount Instructor01:20:12 Travelling to Malaysia - Visit Anti Gravity Divers01:21:09 Avelo - Exploring New Diving Technologies and Systems

26 Juli 1h 25min

In this episode of Speaking Sidemount, brought to you by XDEEP, host Steve Davis welcomes Xavi P. Tapia, a cave diver and instructor from Ecuador, who shares his journey through the world of diving. From his beginnings in the Galapagos Islands to establishing his dive center, "The Art of Diving" in the Dominican Republic.Xavi discusses the philosophy behind The Art of Diving and the importance of mentorship and continuous learning in the diving community. The conversation also addresses the challenges of adapting to various diving conditions, particularly cold-water diving, and the importance of safety and proper training in the sport. Xavi shares his insights on the importance of learning in diving, the beauty and challenges of diving in the Dominican Republic, and the ongoing conservation efforts to protect the underwater environment. He emphasizes the need for divers to adopt a student mindset, the unique diving experiences available in the Dominican Republic, and the significance of maintaining safe diving practices and preserving the natural beauty of the caves.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background07:19 Diving Journey and Experiences12:34 Transition to Cave Diving and Instruction16:24 The Art of Diving and Personal Growth18:29 Diving as a Science and Practice20:22 Collaboration and Community in Diving22:57 Future Aspirations and Safety in Diving29:19 Practice & Building your Skills30:59 Navigating Cold Water Challenges34:59 The Art of Diving: Training and Philosophy38:44 XDEEP Exploration Support Program40:15 Learning from Diverse Instructors48:01 Exploring the Dominican Republic's Diving Paradise52:55 Cave Diving Challenges and Experiences01:05:38 Conservation Efforts in the Dominican Republic01:10:09 Reinforcing Cave Diving Safety01:15:25 Traveling to the Dominican Republic for Diving

27 Juni 1h 19min

It's great to bring you Episode 108 of Speaking Sidemount, the podcast dedicated to sidemount diving and cave diving—huge thanks to our show sponsor, XDEEP. In this episode, I interview Nick DeRutter, a Tech Instructor Trainer and the creator of the Dive Saga YouTube channel. We discuss Nick's diving journey, the ethos behind Dive Saga, and the exciting Bottom Line Projects Boh Yai Mine exploration, which is featured in an epic four-part series on Dive Saga. The conversation delves into technical diving, storytelling in underwater filmmaking, production quality, and the challenges of monetising dive content. Nick shares insights on the importance of collaboration with experienced divers and the future aspirations for Dive Saga, emphasising the need for continuous learning and growth in the diving industry. Enjoy :) SteveImage credit and thanks: Carolina Wells @divewells Thanks to Nick DeRutter  @DiveSAGA  and our sponsor XDEEP  https://www.xdeep.eu/Sidemount Fundamentals eBook - https://www.sidemountpros.com/store/sidemount-fundamentals-ebook

26 Maj 1h 17min

Hey, great to bring you Episode 107 with Stratis Kas and Lionel Wolowitz. Huge thanks to XDEEP for sponsoring Speaking Sidemount.In this episode, I catch up with Stratis Kas and Lionel Wolovitz. You may remember Stratis has been on the show twice before to discuss his cave exploration in Greece and his book "Close Calls". The latter proved somewhat prophetic, as Stratis recently experienced an Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE) following a series of "deepish", long-duration dives in Mexico. The incident was life-threatening, and Stratis credits his dive buddies, Lionel and Ruben, along with the medical teams in Playa del Carmen, with saving his life.In my conversation with Stratis and Lionel, we discussed the trip, the dives leading up to the incident, and the incident itself. Stratis recounts his thought processes, the mistakes made, and then reflects on the incident. He then hands over to Lionel, who gives his account of the rescue, what they saw, how they cared for Stratis, and the terrifying transfer to the hospital and medical/chamber treatment.Stratis and Lionel are incredibly open about the mistakes they made and why they feel these happened. They share the lessons learned and how we all can take something from this incident.As a postscript, following the recording of this episode, Stratis went to DAN Europe for testing and discovered he has a Type 3 PFO that will require surgery before he can return to diving. The PFO was likely causal in the DCI incident; now, questions remain around the other factors and how they may have contributed to the incident. More to come...Enjoy SteveThanks to Stratis and LionelImage Credit - Joram MennesOur Show Sponsor XDEEP - https://www.xdeep.eu/Sidemount Fundamentals eBook - https://www.sidemountpros.com/storeLionel mentioned the RescuEAN Pod, which would have made a significant difference in their rescue efforts - more here: https://www.rescuean.com/

26 Apr 1h 18min

In this episode of Speaking Sidemount, produced with the support of XDEEP, Steve interviews Maria Bollerup. Maria is one of the world's most passionate divers and explorers. Along with her dive partner Rannva Joermundsson, Maria heads Nixie Expeditions, an explorer group focused on combining dive exploration with conservation, science, and education.Steve and Maria discuss Maria's journey into diving, and her experiences with various expeditions, including the all-female Expedition Xunaan with Robbie Schmittner. They discuss the learnings from Xunaan Ha and how this was the genesis of the ambitious Expedition Buteng in Indonesia.This episode focuses on Expedition Buteng, how it was conceived, the planning and work that brought the expedition together, and the absolute"dream team" Maria and Rannva assembled. The conversation highlights the importance of mentorship, teamwork, community engagement, and the role of science in diving. Maria shares insights on the challenges of planning and executing large-scale expeditions, the significance of conservation efforts, and the need to inspire future generations of divers.Enjoy, Steve

28 Mars 1h 6min

In this episode brought to you by XDEEP, Ben Reymenants shares his extensive diving journey, from his early experiences in the murky waters of Belgium to becoming a technical diving instructor. He discusses the evolution of diving training and the risks associated with deep diving. The conversation continues with a reflection on the Thai Cave Rescue, where Ben played a significant role, highlighting the challenges and decisions faced during the rescue operation. Ben shares his experiences in cave diving and reflects on the lessons learned, including transitioning to cold water diving and the financial realities of a diving career. The discussion highlights the significance of community in diving and the personal growth that comes from pushing one's limits in the sport.Thanks & Image Credit - Pekka Tuuri

26 Feb 1h 25min