About

The Journey

I first tried diving in 1995. It did not go well. I drowned, or came close enough that the experience stayed with me for a very long time.

In May 2024, I decided to try diving again. This site is about what happened after that: rebuilding confidence, learning properly, making mistakes, finding good instructors, improving as a buddy and gradually turning something that once scared me into something I love.

The journey has taken me from returning to the water, through recreational training and specialties, towards PADI Master Scuba Diver, and now into the bigger questions of whether I want to move into professional-level training, sidemount and technical diving.

Where I Am Now

My diving now includes UK inland sites, UK shore dives, UK boat dives and Red Sea diving from both shore and boat. I am building experience across different environments rather than only chasing easy conditions.

• UK diving: inland training sites, shore dives and boat dives in real UK conditions
• Red Sea diving: shore and boat diving, including SS Thistlegorm interior / wreck penetration experience
• Current direction: stronger buddy skills, calm decision-making and Divemaster development
• Next interests: sidemount, self-reliant diving, wreck skills, technical foundations and Tec-style progression
• Fitness: strength training and general fitness to support safer, calmer and more capable diving
• Long-term goal: become the diver people feel relaxed and safe diving with

My Approach

I take an analytical approach to diving. I like to understand not just what happened on a dive, but why it happened, what I could improve and how the same lesson applies to future dives.

That means looking at training, equipment, conditions, team communication, gas, task loading, decision-making and my own behaviour with the same level of curiosity.

• Honest notes: I would rather record useful lessons than pretend every dive was perfect
• Problem solving: I enjoy understanding systems, procedures and decisions properly
• Practical progress: small improvements beat collecting badges without building skill
• Human factors: decision-making, communication and task loading matter as much as kit
• Buddy focus: the goal is to be useful, calm and aware in the water

Gear Philosophy

I enjoy dive gear, probably more than is financially sensible, but I am trying to keep the focus on configuration rather than collecting shiny toys for the sake of it.

• Reliable first: kit should be familiar, serviceable and suited to the dive
• Progressive setup: choices should support future sidemount and technical development
• Real use: recommendations should come from actual dives, not box-opening excitement
• Review style: what worked, what annoyed me and what I would change next time

What I Share

This is a public site, so I share diving-related reflections rather than private family, travel or live-location details.

• Shared: dive lessons, site notes, training reflections, kit thoughts and post-trip learning
• Not shared live: private itineraries, accommodation details or personal travel movements
• Family privacy: family trips stay private unless there is a good reason to mention something after the event
• Future option: public dive days or group trips may be shared separately if they ever happen

Comments & Contact

I am happy for people to comment, ask sensible questions or share useful experience. I am not pretending to be the final word on anything; this is a learning journal, not a shrine to being right.

• Good comments: helpful advice, site knowledge, gear experience and constructive discussion
• Moderation: comments are moderated to keep spam, bots and nonsense out
• Tone: respectful disagreement is fine; drive-by internet goblin behaviour is not
• Purpose: learn more, dive better and keep building useful experience