The BiG Scuba Podcast

Gemma and Ian chat to returning guest Jill Heinerth, one of the world's leading underwater explorers, filmmakers, authors and cave divers. Six years after her first appearance on The BiG Scuba Podcast, Jill joins us again to share what she has been up to, including extraordinary expeditions, historic shipwreck discoveries and her experiences filming Diving Into The Darkness. We explore the fascinating use of AI in underwater exploration, including the creation of AI Jill, and hear about her adventures in the Galapagos, her passion for cave and wreck diving, and her incredible journey back into diving following cancer treatment. Jill also shares some brilliant advice on managing fear underwater, preparing for challenging dives and stepping outside your comfort zone. There is plenty of inspiration, fascinating history, diving technology and a few practical tips along the way – including a little sidemount advice for Ian! Join us for another fascinating conversation with one of diving's most inspirational explorers.   . 🔗 Links mentioned in the episode Guz.Tech: https://www.guz.tech/ Jill Heinerth www.IntoThePlanet.com Diving into the Darkness https://divingintothedarkness.com/ Ocean Film Festival https://oceanfilmfestivalworldtour.com/ The BiG Scuba Podcast is proudly supported by Narked at 90 – "Beyond Technical." Whether you're new to diving or thinking about moving into tech, they can help guide you with the best kit and advice. 💬 We'd love your feedback! Leave us a ★★★★★ review, share with your dive buddies, and get in touch via our socials or at mailto:[email protected]   👉 Check out our affiliate links and stores:   Stream2Sea – use our code BIGSCUBA Circular & Co – use our code BIGSCUBA Insta360 Store – use our code BIGSCUBAWaterhaul link Stream to Sea McConks - use our code THEBIGSCUBA2026 Amazon Store Patreon – support the show and keep us diving!Auto-Trail - Discover the new collection from the UK's leading motorhome and campervan manufacturer.   📲 Follow us on socials: Instagram: @thebigscuba Facebook: @thebigscuba LinkedIn: Ian 🦈 Last 🌐 Website: www.thebigscuba.com   🎧 Listen to The BiG Scuba Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and all major platforms. ISSN: 2752-6127  

What does it take to turn a passion for diving into a career exploring the underwater world? In Episode 238 of The BiG Scuba Podcast, Ian and Gemma chat with Fran Hockley, Lecturer in Scientific Diving at the University of Plymouth, technical diver and experienced diving instructor. Fran shares her journey from joining a university dive club to teaching diving in Egypt and working with military personnel, before moving into her role helping to train the next generation of scientific divers. We explore the fascinating world of technical diving, rebreathers and deep wreck exploration, including Fran's experiences diving the Lusitania and a remarkable story involving a WWII B-17 bomber off the coast of Croatia. After photos from a deep dive on the aircraft were shared, Fran and her fellow diver Dom were contacted by the son of the original pilot. It is an extraordinary connection between underwater exploration, family history and the stories that lie beneath the sea. We also discuss the mindset required for rebreather diving, why checklists and procedures matter, and how teaching others can help experienced divers continue to develop their own skills. Fran explains how the University of Plymouth prepares students for careers in scientific diving, from marine research and underwater surveys to opportunities with organisations such as the British Antarctic Survey and Natural England. Plus, we talk about exploring previously undived wrecks with Darkstar, the importance of protecting historic wreck sites, and what to expect from Guz.Tech 2026. 🔗 Links mentioned in the episode Guz.Tech: https://www.guz.tech/ Ship Wreck Conference: https://shipwreckconference.org/ Plymouth University: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/school-of-biological-and-marine-sciences/marine-station/diving   The BiG Scuba Podcast is proudly supported by Narked at 90 – "Beyond Technical." Whether you're new to diving or thinking about moving into tech, they can help guide you with the best kit and advice. 💬 We'd love your feedback! Leave us a ★★★★★ review, share with your dive buddies, and get in touch via our socials or at mailto:[email protected]   👉 Check out our affiliate links and stores:   Stream2Sea – use our code BIGSCUBA Circular & Co – use our code BIGSCUBA Insta360 Store – use our code BIGSCUBAWaterhaul link Stream to Sea McConks - use our code THEBIGSCUBA2026 Amazon Store Patreon – support the show and keep us diving!Auto-Trail - Discover the new collection from the UK's leading motorhome and campervan manufacturer.   📲 Follow us on socials: Instagram: @thebigscuba Facebook: @thebigscuba LinkedIn: Ian 🦈 Last 🌐 Website: www.thebigscuba.com   🎧 Listen to The BiG Scuba Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and all major platforms. ISSN: 2752-6127

In this episode Gemma and Ian chat to David Strike. Originally from the UK, David Strike learned to dive with the B.S.A.C. in 1961, since when he has worked for a major London newspaper's editorial intelligence department, served with the Royal Navy, participated in ground-breaking oceanographic research and been a grave digger, a bodyguard and an offshore commercial diver in the North Sea gas and oil fields. Since immigrating to Australia with his wife and young family, he has had an active involvement in diving as a recreational and technical diving Instructor and Instructor Certifier. Qualified on open circuit, as well as rebreathers, surface demand, and standard diving apparatus, his diving credentials include certifications from ANDI, BSAC, IANTD, PADI and SSI, as well as the legendary diving company, Siebe-Gorman.   Establishing a successful, internationally-affiliated media representation organisation while simultaneously continuing to teach diving and study for an external university degree, he was one of the first divers in Australia to embrace Technical Diving – and the first to dive recreationally with Nitrox. Selling up his media company interests in 1991, he joined the embryonic Asian Diver magazine as its first Field Editor, since when he has: assisted in the 1995 launch of the first Asian Dive Exhibition & Conference (ADEC), and the first 'Tek-Asia' Conference; served as a Board member of Dive Australia – the country's former peak diving industry body; was the co-publisher and editor of, 'Professional Diver Journal' - a quarterly magazine for occupational, military and technical diving enthusiasts; authored the world's first book on Live-aboard dive vessels, as well as a crisis management manual; contributed to a number of other diving-related training manuals, and penned several hundred articles covering all aspects of diving that have appeared in newspapers and magazines around the world.   Having travelled and dived extensively throughout the European, Asian and Pacific regions for over six decades - and in a variety of roles - Strike continues to maintain his passionate interest in an activity that has dominated his life. Previously the organiser of the internationally acclaimed OZTeK Diving Conference and Exhibition, and Singapore's, TeKAsia Conference', he is the recipient of several, 'Lifetime Achievement Awards' and a Fellow of the Explorers Club of New York.   Web: www.nektonix.com   The BiG Scuba Podcast is proudly supported by Narked at 90 – "Beyond Technical." Whether you're new to diving or thinking about moving into tech, they can help guide you with the best kit and advice. 💬 We'd love your feedback! Leave us a ★★★★★ review, share with your dive buddies, and get in touch via our socials or at mailto:[email protected]   👉 Check out our affiliate links and stores:   Stream2Sea – use our code BIGSCUBA Circular & Co – use our code BIGSCUBA Insta360 Store – use our code BIGSCUBAWaterhaul link Stream to Sea McConks - use our code THEBIGSCUBA2026 Amazon Store Patreon – support the show and keep us diving!Auto-Trail - Discover the new collection from the UK's leading motorhome and campervan manufacturer.   📲 Follow us on socials: Instagram: @thebigscuba Facebook: @thebigscuba LinkedIn: Ian 🦈 Last 🌐 Website: www.thebigscuba.com   🎧 Listen to The BiG Scuba Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and all major platforms. ISSN: 2752-6127

In this episode Gemma and Ian chat to Nick Derutter. Nick Derutter is an award-winning underwater filmmaker, explorer, and technical diver from Belgium. Through his filmmaking and his DiveSAGA platform, he has spent the past decade documenting some of the world's most challenging caves, shipwrecks, and remote dive sites. His work combines technical diving, exploration, and cinematic storytelling to bring underwater environments to audiences who may never have the chance to experience them themselves. His films have reached millions of viewers through YouTube and social media, and he has worked with leading brands across the diving and underwater filmmaking industries. Nick also trains diving instructors and technical divers and is the creator of the DiveSAGA Underwater Filmmaking Masterclass, where he teaches divers and filmmakers how to turn their underwater footage into compelling cinematic stories. Based in Honduras but spending much of his time travelling for diving and filmmaking projects, Nick is passionate about exploration, storytelling, and showing the world what lies beneath the surface. www.divesaga.com   We also talk about Gemmas Freediving course with Aquacity Freediving Put GuzTech in your diaries and buy your tickets GuzTech Fancy diving around Lundy Island … Look up our friends at Lundy Diving   The BiG Scuba Podcast is proudly supported by Narked at 90 – "Beyond Technical." Whether you're new to diving or thinking about moving into tech, they can help guide you with the best kit and advice. 💬 We'd love your feedback! Leave us a ★★★★★ review, share with your dive buddies, and get in touch via our socials or at mailto:[email protected]   👉 Check out our affiliate links and stores:   Stream2Sea – use our code BIGSCUBA Circular & Co – use our code BIGSCUBA Insta360 Store – use our code BIGSCUBAWaterhaul link Stream to Sea McConks - use our code THEBIGSCUBA2026 Amazon Store Patreon – support the show and keep us diving!Auto-Trail - Discover the new collection from the UK's leading motorhome and campervan manufacturer.   📲 Follow us on socials: Instagram: @thebigscuba Facebook: @thebigscuba LinkedIn: Ian 🦈 Last 🌐 Website: www.thebigscuba.com   🎧 Listen to The BiG Scuba Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and all major platforms. ISSN: 2752-6127

In this episiode Gemma and Ian chat to Mark Walker, a former UK dive instructor now based in Thailand and the founder of Dive Admin. Mark shares his journey from learning to dive in Malta and becoming an instructor, to combining his diving experience with his background in technology to create software designed specifically for dive centres. We talk about the challenges of running a dive centre, going paperless, managing bookings, students, staff and boat lists, and how technology – including AI – could help make dive operations more efficient. Plus, Mark tells us about diving in Thailand, what gets him out of his comfort zone, and why he would fill a billboard with underwater footage to inspire the next generation of divers. A fascinating conversation combining diving, technology and the business behind the dive industry. Find out more about Dive Admin: diveadmin.com The BiG Scuba Podcast is proudly supported by Narked at 90 – "Beyond Technical." Whether you're new to diving or thinking about moving into tech, they can help guide you with the best kit and advice. 💬 We'd love your feedback! Leave us a ★★★★★ review, share with your dive buddies, and get in touch via our socials or at mailto:[email protected]   👉 Check out our affiliate links and stores:Circular & Co – use our code BIGSCUBA Insta360 Store – use our code BIGSCUBAWaterhaul link Stream to Sea McConks - use our code THEBIGSCUBA2026 Amazon Store Patreon – support the show and keep us diving!Auto-Trail - Discover the new collection from the UK's leading motorhome and campervan manufacturer.   📲 Follow us on socials: Instagram: @thebigscuba Facebook: @thebigscuba LinkedIn: Ian 🦈 Last 🌐 Website: www.thebigscuba.com   🎧 Listen to The BiG Scuba Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and all major platforms. ISSN: 2752-6127