E094 Florian Symoens - "Transitioning to a Full Time Instructor"

In this week's episode sponsored by XDEEP, I share my experiences sidemount diving at Truk Lagoon with Pete Mesley's Lust4Rust. I cover: History of Truk Lagoon and Operation Hailstone My planning to complete sidemount trimix dives in tropical conditions Using Michur's XDEEP Stealth 2.0 Dual Bladder configuration for managing trim Travelling to Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia Our base and the dive facilities at Blue Lagoon Resort The wrecks, dive planning, decompression planning and executing our dives My personal favorites of the Truk wrecks Planning for a sidemount group to join the June 2020 trip  and much more.... Featured in this episode: Sponsor: XDEEP - https://www.xdeep.eu/ Pete Mesley's Lust4Rust - https://www.petemesley.com/lust4rust/  If you like the podcast, please share with your friends and consider leaving us a 5-star review.

20 Dec 201829min

In this week's episode sponsored by XDEEP, I speak with Phillip Lehman, acclaimed graffiti artist, musician and music producer... but more to the point... amazing cave explorer and sidemount diver :)! We cover: How Phillip got into sidemount and cave diving  His cave exploration partnership with Patrick Widmann The DRSS and safety issues re untrained divers being guided in the cave zone DRSS exploration projects The importance of practice in building sidemount skills Phillip's equipment including; XDEEP Stealth 2.0, video cameras, housings, lights and editing software Advice for aspiring underwater videographers and much more.... Featured in this episode: Sponsor: XDEEP - https://www.xdeep.eu/ DRSS - https://www.dr-ss.com/  If you like the podcast, please share with your friends and consider leaving us a 5-star review.

12 Dec 201841min

In this week's episode, I speak with good friend and Kiwi cave explorer Tom Crisp. Tom has built a brilliant resume based on him just getting out there and finding projects that excite him and this has lead to the discovery of new caves in New Zealand as well as collaborations with the Wet Mules cave diving team. We cover: How Tom got into sidemount diving His use of sidemount for cave exploration Cave diving projects in New Zealand and Canada The benefits of using Sidemount CCR for cave exploration and much more.... If you like the podcast please share, comment and leave us a five star review :)!

4 Dec 201840min

Less than four months ago the world held its collective breath as a team of amazing divers from around the world supported by thousands accomplished the impossible, and rescued 12 boys and their coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand. In this episode, Erik Brown shares his experiences of his involvement in the rescue, the scene that greeted them, the organisation, long days, how the rescue plans were developed, and meeting other members of the rescue team...  This is an brilliant story, please share the podcast with your friends.

18 Nov 201840min

In this week's episode sponsored by XDEEP, I speak with Patrick Widmann on the DRSS Madagascar Cave Exploration project. We cover: How Patrick joined the DRSS His cave exploration partnership with Phillip Lehman How the Madagascar project came about The logistics of exploring in remote locations The hard work that goes unseen Finding a body in the cave Interesting uses for the XDEEP Stealth 2.0 Classic BCD Sidemount CCR and much more.... Featured in this episode: Sponsor: XDEEP - https://www.xdeep.eu/ Protec Dive Centres - http://www.protecdiving.com/ DRSS - https://www.dr-ss.com/  If you like the podcast, please share with your friends and consider leaving us a 5-star review.

13 Nov 201824min

In this week's episode kindly sponsored by XDEEP, I am joined by cave explorer and designer of the XDEEP Stealth 2.0, Patrick Widmann. Together we discuss sidemount diving and do a deep dive into this very popular sidemount system. We cover: Patrick's background, his beginnings in sidemount and cave exploration The explosion in sidemount diving How his relationship with XDEEP began The thinking behind the Stealth 2.0 design Key features of the Stealth 2.0 and why they are important How customer feedback has contributed to continued innovation in the Stealth 2.0 system Diving the Stealth 2.0 with different cylinder types and sizes and much more.... Featured in this episode: Sponsor - XDEEP https://www.xdeep.eu/ Protec Dive Centres - http://www.protecdiving.com/    If you like the podcast, please share with your friends and consider leaving us a 5-star review.

6 Nov 201846min

In this week's episode, I start with a very special announcement... XDEEP will be joining us as the first sponsor of Speaking Sidemount. I have been diving the XDEEP Stealth 2.0 for the past five years and absolutely love this system. I am very appreciative of the support which will help me to continue developing Speaking Sidemount. In this episode on: Sidemount Fundamentals - Equipment, I cover: Considerations in selecting a sidemount harness Setting up and fitting your harness Steel or aluminium cylinders? Selecting cylinders and valves Cylinder hardware Sidemount regulators and hose routing and much more.... Featured in this episode: Sponsor - XDEEP https://www.xdeep.eu/ Garry Dallas Loop Bungee Slipknot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4J6uIOx0Cc&t=34s   D-Luxe Bands - https://dluxedivegear.de/  If you like the podcast, please share with your friends and consider leaving us a 5-star review.

30 Okt 201824min

This week I interview my good friend Audrey Cudel. Splitting her time between her base in Gozo and Yucatan Mexico, Audrey is an amazing Sidemount and Cave Instructor and an absolute "ninja" in the water. In this episode we discuss: Audrey's beginnings in sidemount Her experiences with a variety of sidemount harnesses Adapting sidemount to different environments Audrey's approach to sidemount and cave training Choosing a sidemount instructor The limitations of sidemount Using dry gloves with sidemount Audrey's underwater photography and much more.... If you like the podcast, please share with your friends and consider leaving us a 5-star review.

23 Okt 201851min