Full Episode - Underwater Archeology with Greg Wolf | S2E11

In this episode, Jay and Sarah discuss their journeys into tech and cave diving. They share their experiences and the challenges they faced along the way. They also discuss the different mindsets and motivations behind tech diving, including the appeal of exploring unique environments and the importance of humility in the diving community. They emphasize the need for continuous learning and skill development in order to safely enjoy the benefits of tech diving.

They explore the importance of considering future paths and not rushing into teaching or new diving styles. They emphasize the need to slow down and take time to learn and develop different skills. They also highlight the mental game of technical diving and the importance of critical thinking and decision-making. The conversation delves into the choice between side-mount and back-mount configurations and the advantages and disadvantages of each. They stress the importance of progressive training and choosing the right tool for the dive and the conversation concludes with a discussion on the passion and philosophy of technical diving.

We hope you enjoy our latest episode!

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

1.  Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;

2.  Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts;

3.  Send the link to the show; thedivetable.com to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.

4.  Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say howdy.

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

Sarah Miller

www.azulunlimited.com

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Dad Jokes

02:40
Background on Tech Diving

06:09
Sarah's Journey into Tech Diving

10:28
Jay's Journey into Tech Diving

15:00
The Appeal of Cave Diving

21:07
The Mindset of Cave Diving

24:32
The Humility of Tech Diving

28:48
Refreshing Tech Diving Skills

35:37
The Ego in Tech Diving

44:23
Considering Future Paths

46:59
The Importance of Slowing Down

50:57
The Mental Game of Technical Diving

53:20
Critical Thinking and Decision Making

55:12
Choosing Between Sidemount and Backmount

01:00:07
Progressive Training and Building Skills

01:04:45
Considering Individual Limitations

01:07:19
Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Configurations

01:14:22
The Goal of Redundancy

01:17:31
Taking the Right Tool for the Dive

01:21:48
The Passion and Philosophy of Technical Diving

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Sarah sits down with long time friend and PADI Instructor (currently not teaching), Camila Quiñones to talk about their scuba diving experiences together in Mexico.

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In this episode, Jay and Sarah discuss their journeys into professional level courses. Jay shares his journey to becoming a professional instructor, including the challenges he faced and the support of his spouse. They also discuss gender representation in UTD and the importance of reading the room as an instructor.  In this part of the conversation, Jay and Sarah discuss the importance of experience and understanding in scuba diving. They also talk about the value of slowing down and being patient in the learning process. 

Sarah shares her recommendations for choosing a dive master course and highlights the challenges and rewards of teaching scuba diving. They also touch on the topic of imposter syndrome and building self-esteem in the industry. 

Jay and Sarah discuss the importance of trust and apprenticeship in dive training and the qualities of a good role model in the diving industry and the importance of professionalism. They emphasize the need for continual learning and growth as a dive professional and the value of exploring different opportunities. They also share their experiences of being professionals and the challenges and rewards that come with it. They highlight the importance of teaching as a calling and finding your own path in the industry. Finally, they encourage divers to take breaks when needed and to embrace diving as a hobby, whether or not they choose to become professionals.

Takeaways

1.  Rain can have a significant impact on diving, and it is important to wait for the recommended time after a rain event before getting back in the water.

2.  Becoming a professional instructor requires dedication, perseverance, and a passion for teaching.

3.  Having a supportive spouse can make a big difference in pursuing a career in diving.

4.  Gender representation in the diving industry should be a focus, and efforts should be made to encourage more women to become instructors.

5.  Reading the room and understanding the dynamics of a group is an important skill for instructors. Experience and understanding are crucial in scuba diving.

6.  Taking the time to slow down and be patient in the learning process is important.

7.  When choosing a dive master course, consider factors such as the culture of the team, the location, and the number of dives included.

8.  Teaching scuba diving can be challenging but also rewarding.

9.  Imposter syndrome is common in the industry, especially for women, and building self-esteem is important.

10. Trust and apprenticeship play a significant role in dive training.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Small Talk
01:46 Desire to Go Diving
03:12 Impact of Rain on Diving
07:12 Transition to Professional Level Courses
08:14 Jay's Journey to Becoming a Pro
14:44 Supportive Spouse
19:35 Evaluation and Challenges
27:22 Gender Representation in UTD
36:36 Further Instructor Training
38:29 Reading the Room
39:56 The Importance of Experience and Understanding
46:13 The Value of Slowing Down and Being Patient
55:47 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dive Master Course
01:01:09 The Challenges and Rewards of Teaching Scuba Diving
01:14:59 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome and Building Self-Esteem
01:23:08 The Importance of Trust and Apprenticeship in Dive Training
01:23:44 Becoming a Role Model
01:24:27 The Importance of Professionalism
01:25:27 Continual Learning and Growth
01:26:23 Exploring Different Opportunities
01:27:23 The Experience of Being a Professional
01:28:19 Teaching as a Calling
01:29:28 Finding Your Path and Taking Breaks
01:30:52 Assisting Others on Their Journey
01:31:20 Embracing Diving as a Hobby

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;

Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts;

Send the link to the show; thedivetable.com to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.

Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say howdy.

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

Sarah Miller

www.azulunlimited.com

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

Visit Azulunlimited.com to find out more!

Sarah sits down with PADI Course Director, Aitor Diaz to discuss how they met, how they started a dive shop in Komodo and what they did after COVID said, "Nah," to that business venture.

Visit Azulunlimited.com to find out more!

Welcome to Season 3 of The Dive Table Podcast, introducing Sarah Miller from Azul Unlimited!

As per tradition, the inaugural episode of each season brings up the question, 'Is Scuba Diving Still Special, and Why?'

In this episode, Jay and Sarah reflect on the past year and how diving has brought them closer to their communities. They also explore the sense of connection and awe that diving provides, as well as the importance of preserving the underwater world. 

The conversation highlights the team and community aspect of diving, as well as the continuous learning process involved in the sport. Overall, diving is seen as a way to connect with nature, build relationships, and experience the wild. They highlight the importance of engaging in conversations, learning from others, and being open to different perspectives. They also explore the evolution of diving philosophy and the diversity of training and belief systems in the diving community. The conversation emphasizes the need for inclusivity and the importance of diversifying the scuba diving community. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Excitement for the New Season
03:11 Is Scuba Diving Special? Reflection on the Past Year
16:50 The Importance of Community in Diving
23:43 Diving as a Connection and Catalyst for Building Community
27:02 The Team and Community Aspect of Diving
29:15 Diving as a Connection to the Wild and Clarity of Mind
35:27 Personal Experiences of Awe-Inspiring Dives
41:10 The Unearthed Wagon Wheel and the King Tides
43:26 Geeking Out on Diving Gear and the Never-Ending Learning Process
44:52 The Value of Learning and Community
46:17 Different Approaches and Opinions in Diving
47:44 The Evolution of Diving Philosophy
48:34 The Meaning of 'Stroke' in Diving
50:48 Understanding Different Training and Belief Systems
52:40 Embracing Different Perspectives in Diving
55:37 The Importance of Effective Communication Underwater
57:53 Diversifying the Scuba Diving Community
01:00:07 Expanding the Narrative of Scuba Diving
01:04:05 The Journey of Self-Discovery in Scuba Diving
01:07:05 The Passion and Purpose of the Podcast
01:10:00 Engaging with the Dive Table Community

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

1. Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop.
2. Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts;
3. Send the link to the show The Dive Table to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor, or anybody you want to get hooked on scuba.
4. Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or Say Howdy!
5. Visit Jay at Gardner Underwater
6. Also visit us at Fish Dive Surf, Inc., for big picture conservation news in the fishing, diving and surfing communities.

Visit Azulunlimited.com to find out more!

After taking their Essentials of Recreational Diving course (UTD), "Hosts" Steven and Paul sit down with their "Guest," instructor Jay, to discuss what they thought about the class as well as how Jay performed as an instructor.

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This episode is a crossover episode of the UTD Scuba Diving Podcast.  We are sharing their podcast because they are officially announcing that Jay Gardner is their new Director of Development.  Jay has been doing his best to keep it under wraps and he's finally allowed to discuss his new position and what it means to the agency that he has been training with almost from the beginning of his scuba journey.

Enjoy!

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This year, Jay is joined for The Reef of Horrors, Vol. 2 by friend of the show, Jack Der.  Jack is a CA native and regular dive buddy with Jay.  While they don't share any common scary stories, they do have a few that will make you think twice about eating certain foods before diving or before diving when you know specific creatures are nearby. 

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Jay sits down with the Training Director of United Team Diving (UTD) Ben Bos to discuss the designing of scuba training for adults and designing a scuba training curriculum that revolves around what divers really need and not what they think they need.  Ben has been a professional diver for 24 years and self-admittedly in a previous life was in marketing and sold everything from, "sofas, stereos, cars, copy machines, coffee and paper and everything in between...everything except houses and boats."  

Ben was only 12 years old when he started diving and more than 30 years later, diving is a way of life.  He has worked all over the world as a scuba diver including running a dive center for over 12 years.  He is currently the Training Director for one of the world's most progressive Scuba Organizations, ‘United Team Diving, ‘(UTD).  

Ben has not only made diving his passion, but also his living and has contributed to some of the industry's most groundbreaking innovations. The re-development and evolution of Ratio Deco into Ratio Deco 3.0 as well as the DIR compatible side mount configurations are but two examples. 

​

Ben is happiest when he is exploring unknown places deep in a Chinese jungle, abandoned mines or inside old shipwrecks.  The thrill of teaching both novice and experienced divers is what drives him to never stop learning and expanding his own knowledge.

UTD - United Team Diving

www.utdscubadiving.com

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

• Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;

• Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts;

• Send the link to the show; thedivetable.com to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.

• Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say howdy.

Visit Azulunlimited.com to find out more!

Gareth Lock sits down with Jay to discuss all things, 'Human Factors.'

Gareth Lock is a retired senior officer in the RAF, having spent 25 years flying Hercules transport aircraft, involved in flight trials and R&D, and a Systems Engineer/Requirements Manager. 

He left the RAF in 2015 setting up the Human Diver to bring human factors knowledge and practice from aviation, oil & gas, healthcare and academia into the sports, military, scientific and commercial diving domains. He has since taught more than 500 people face-to-face, 2000 people online, published a book, and produced a documentary, all about applying human factors, non-technical skills and a Just Culture to diving. 

He provides HF advice to the British Diving Safety Group and co-chairs the Natural History Dive Safety group which advises on diving safety to the UK media sector. In terms of diving, he was trained primarily through GUE up to Tech 2, CCR 1, and was the head of QC for the organisation for a number of years.

Gareth Lock

https://www.thehumandiver.com/

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

• Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;

• Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts;

• Send the link to the show; thedivetable.com to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.

• Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say howdy.

Visit Azulunlimited.com to find out more!