"It’s not about warm water, crystal-clear visibility or sunbathing in the surface interval.
It’s about the challenge, the excitement of watching a shadow slowly resolve into a wreck, the pleasure of discovery."
- The British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC)
SCUBA Diving
Summary
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I am a Scientific Diver. Specifically, I hold the BSAC Advanced Diver certification (CMAS 3* equivalence) which is a HSE approved diving qualification for Scientific and Archaeological Diving and Media Diving under regulation 14 of the HSE Diving at Work Regulations 1997 ("DWR"). I am able to work as part of a commercial dive team in this capacity. I am also an experience diving instructor and I am always keen to pass on my skills to others, be it through theory lessons or practical instruction. I have recently passed my BSAC Advanced Instructor theory exam and I will be undertaking my BSAC Advanced Instructor practical assessments in due course.
My repertoire of scientific dives includes seagrass surveys, scallop surveys (including retrieval using lifting bags), and nudibranch surveys, as well as volunteer Seasearch dives (taxonomic identification). These have involved the use of quadrats, transect lines, photography equipment and lifting bags. I have logged over 250 dives with over 1'000 hours underwater. All dives have been carried out in temperate waters. I have extensive diving experience in challenging conditions including in extremely low visibility and in very tidal waters. I dive using technical equipment including twinsets and enriched gas stage cylinders for accelerated decompression. 95% of my dives have been carried out in cold waters and over 75% using a drysuit. Minimum temperature experienced: 2 degrees celsius. I have recreational underwater photography experience using DSLR cameras on approx. 80 dives. I have further photography experience using GoPros on approx. 40 dives. |
Conducting scallop surveys for Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Photo by Blaise Bullimore.
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Instructing and Dive Management
Overseeing buddy checks prior to a dive at the National Diving and Activity Centre (NDAC), Chepstow.
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I am an Advanced Instructor for Cardiff University Sub Aqua Club (CUSAC).
I was the Lead Instructor for Swansea University Sub Aqua Club (SUSAC) (BSAC Branch #9181). I was also SUSAC’s lead Powerboating Instructor. Between 2010-2023 I held numerous roles on the SUSAC Committee including Equipment Officer (2011-2012), Diving Officer (2012-2014), Chairman (2014-2016) and Boating Officer (2016-Present). I have been responsible for the management and supervision of recreational diving operations on numerous diving expeditions within the last decade. My level of responsibility has grown with my personal diving skills and instructor experience. Details of the key expeditions are listed in the table below. I have supervised diving operations for not only my own branch, but also for other clubs, including other university branches: Cardiff University, Loughborough University, and Aberystwyth University; and local clubs: Swansea Yacht and Sub Aqua Club, Loughour SAC and Cwmtawe SAC. In addition to managing diving and boating operations on specific expeditions, I instruct and manage diving operations on a regulary basis to local and more distant sites. These dives typically take place on weekends. I have extensive dive planning experience and I am proficient at teaching dive planning and management to students, including the use of chartwork and position fixing, interpreting weather forecasts and voyage/passage planning. |
Diving expeditions
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Dates
Summer 2018 Summer 2018 Summer 2017 Summer 2016 Easter 2016 Summer 2015 Easter 2015 Easter 2014 Easter 2013 Summer 2012 Summer 2012 Easter 2012 |
Destination and details
Isles of Scilly Diving expedition to the Isles of Scilly to undertake 2018 annual seagrass monitoring project. RIB diving. Standard SCUBA. Drysuit diving. Cornwall Recreational expedition to Falmouth for wreck diving from hard boat and RIB. 25 -40m depth range. Technical equipment: twinsets, stage cylinders, nitrox, ADP. Drysuit diving. Isles of Scilly Diving expedition to the Isles of Scilly to undertake 2017 annual seagrass monitoring project. RIB diving. Standard SCUBA. Drysuit diving. Cornwall Recreational expedition to Falmouth, Cornwall for wreck and reef diving from RIB. 25 -35m depth range. Technical equipment: twinset and nitrox. Drysuit diving. Pembrokeshire Recreational expedition to Pembrokeshire for wreck diving from RIB. 25 -40m depth range. Technical equipment: twinset, stage cylinders, nitrox, accelerated decompression procedures (ADP). Drysuit diving. Isle of Mull Recreational expedition to the Isle of Mull, Scotland for wreck diving from hard boat and RIB. 25 - 50m depth range. Technical equipment: twinset, stage cylinders and nitrox. Drysuit diving. Pembrokeshire Recreational expedition to Pembrokeshire for wreck diving from RIB. 25 -40m depth range. Technical equipment: twinset, stage cylinders, nitrox, accelerated decompression procedures (ADP). Drysuit diving. Pembrokeshire Recreational expedition to Pembrokeshire. Permanent coxswain. Pembrokeshire Recreational expedition to Pembrokeshire for wreck diving from RIB. 25 -35m depth range. Technical equipment: twinset, stage cylinders, nitrox. Drysuit diving. Ilse of Cumbrae Recreational diving undertaken around the Ilse of Cumbrae. Shore based diving. 15 - 20m depth range. Standard SCUBA equipment. Semi-dry diving. Cornwall Recreational expedition to Falmouth, Cornwall for wreck and reef diving from RIB. 25 -35m depth range. Technical equipment: twinset and nitrox. Semi-dry diving. Pembrokeshire Recreational expedition to Pembrokeshire for wreck diving from RIB. 20 -25 m depth range. Technical equipment: twinset, stage cylinders, nitrox, accelerated decompression procedures (ADP). Semi-dry diving. |
Roles and responsibilities
Scientific Diver | Open Water Instructor | Diver Coxswain | Dive Marshal Open Water Instructor | Diver Coxswain | Dive Marshal Scientific Diver | Open Water Instructor | Diver Coxswain | Dive Marshal Open Water Instructor | Boat Handling Instructor | Diver Coxswain | Dive Marshal Expedition Organiser | Open Water Instructor | Boat Handling Instructor | Diver Coxswain | Dive Marshal Open Water Instructor | Boat Handling Instructor | Diver Coxswain | Dive Marshal Expedition Organiser | Open Water Instructor| Diver Coxswain | Boat Handling Instructor | Dive Marshal Expedition Organiser | Assistant Diving Instructor | Diver Coxswain | Boat Handling Instructor | Dive Marshal Expedition Organiser | Assistant Diving Instructor | Diver Coxswain | Dive Marshal Dive Marshal Boat Handler | Dive Marshal Boat Handler | Assistant Dive Marshal |
Dive equipment maintenance
Soon after I started my diving career in 2010, I shadowed the Equipment Officer at my Sub Aqua Club (2010-2011) and gained hands on experience in the maintenance of the club’s equipment, including its regulators, BCDs and cylinders. Together we were responsible for ensuring that all equipment functioned correctly, adhered to its regular servicing schedule and was available when needed. I gained experience in basic equipment servicing and maintenance techniques including fixing stuck inflators and regulator diaphragms, checking and lubricating O-ring seals, cleaning salted over hose connectors (including through the use of a ultrasonic bath) and miscellaneous repairs on BCDs (e.g. fixing broken dump valves). I also trained as Compressor Operator and hence was responsible for the filling of cylinders for training events and diving expeditions. This involved the use of multiple banks (J-cylinders) and required that I keep compressor logs, as well as upkeep the general maintenance of the compressor.
The following year I took on the role of Equipment Officer (2012-2013) and was hence responsible for the above, as well as teaching these techniques to the new shadowing officer. I also took the opportunity to learn from more experienced individuals at recognised servicing centres when I took the club’s equipment for its annual service.
From 2013 onwards I took on more senior roles in the club’s committee, namely Diving Officer and Chairman, however I always provided supervision and advice to the standing Equipment Officer. Furthermore, I advanced my personal understanding in gas blending and completed a mixed gas blender course in order to assist with filling nitrox cylinders. This involved learning the use of booster pumps and O2-clean kit.
As an instructor I have maintained my personal standards of rudimental equipment maintenance over the years and I regularly pass on my knowledge to students. Whilst I do not hold a specific equipment maintenance and servicing qualification per se, I am confident in, and competent at, identifying and fixing the typical problems that arise with SCUBA equipment as required to ensure diving operations run smoothly. This includes cold water specific issues such as adjusting the sensitivity of regulators (2nd stage venturi levers) to prevent freeflow. I am also able to critically identify where equipment is malfunctioning beyond simple repair and hence when it must be sent for manufacturer’s servicing.
My current role as SUSAC's Boating Officer means more of my free time is spent maintaining the general upkeep and functioning of the club RIB, however I still advise the Equipment Officer on SCUBA kit and I am always on hand with a toolkit and spares during diving expeditions. Due to financial constraints I have not been able to invest in a rebreather and pursue this training yet, however I understand the mechanisms of rebreathers - indeed I teach the theory of rebreathers to Dive Leader and Advanced Diver trainees – and would be confident in my ability to attend to rudimentary maintenance on rebreather systems. I would be very interested in pursuing training to increase my knowledge in this area and fully intend to explore rebreather diving in the future.
The following year I took on the role of Equipment Officer (2012-2013) and was hence responsible for the above, as well as teaching these techniques to the new shadowing officer. I also took the opportunity to learn from more experienced individuals at recognised servicing centres when I took the club’s equipment for its annual service.
From 2013 onwards I took on more senior roles in the club’s committee, namely Diving Officer and Chairman, however I always provided supervision and advice to the standing Equipment Officer. Furthermore, I advanced my personal understanding in gas blending and completed a mixed gas blender course in order to assist with filling nitrox cylinders. This involved learning the use of booster pumps and O2-clean kit.
As an instructor I have maintained my personal standards of rudimental equipment maintenance over the years and I regularly pass on my knowledge to students. Whilst I do not hold a specific equipment maintenance and servicing qualification per se, I am confident in, and competent at, identifying and fixing the typical problems that arise with SCUBA equipment as required to ensure diving operations run smoothly. This includes cold water specific issues such as adjusting the sensitivity of regulators (2nd stage venturi levers) to prevent freeflow. I am also able to critically identify where equipment is malfunctioning beyond simple repair and hence when it must be sent for manufacturer’s servicing.
My current role as SUSAC's Boating Officer means more of my free time is spent maintaining the general upkeep and functioning of the club RIB, however I still advise the Equipment Officer on SCUBA kit and I am always on hand with a toolkit and spares during diving expeditions. Due to financial constraints I have not been able to invest in a rebreather and pursue this training yet, however I understand the mechanisms of rebreathers - indeed I teach the theory of rebreathers to Dive Leader and Advanced Diver trainees – and would be confident in my ability to attend to rudimentary maintenance on rebreather systems. I would be very interested in pursuing training to increase my knowledge in this area and fully intend to explore rebreather diving in the future.
