Episode 187 Maria Munn Award Winning Author & Underwater Photographer

The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Edward Askham Spencer.   Edward has a spirit for competition and adventure that has drawn him across the world and back again. His fiancé would say he is married to the sea. Before Ed deployed to Afghanistan as a Paratrooper in 2008 he went to Andark his local dive shop on the south coast of England to do his Padi open water. This ignited a passion for the sea that saw him defending ships from pirates and then to become a professional air and saturation diver. He is a coded wet welder, inspection diver, experienced subsea Burner, DMT, Rigger, Shipwright and joiner.   On top of that he is a professional speaker and after Dinner Entertainer.  His adventures continue….. Social Meda: https://youtu.be/O56FSWg7zpg?si=aGsBo2bt0GWHqdnk https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-askham-spencer-4a514a196/ Other items discussed in the podcast: Across the Maldives https://gofund.me/28d5e41e The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90.   “Beyond Technical”   Narked at 90    If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements  https://www.narkedat90.com/           There is currently a code for you to use for purchases and the code is  BIGSCUBA2024. We hope you have enjoyed this episode of The BiG Scuba Podcast.  Please give us ★★★★★, leave a review, and tell your friends about us as each share and like makes a difference.   Contact Gemma and Ian with your messages, ideas and feedback via The BiG Scuba Bat Phone    +44 7810 005924   or use our social media platforms.   To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: We are on Instagram                     @thebigscuba   We are on Facebook                      @thebigscuba   We are in LinkedIn                          https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian%F0%9F%A6%88-last-325b101b7/ The BiG Scuba Website                  www.thebigscuba.com Amazon Store :                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba Visit   https://www.patreon.com/thebigscubapodcast and subscribe - Super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   🎧You can listen to the BiG Scuba Podcast on all major podcast platforms including …. iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and Stitcher 😀.      ISSN Number 2752-6127

The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Sophie Heptonstall. Sophie was introduced to diving by her dad, grandad and uncle who were diving in the UK.  She did a PADI Discover Scuba abroad at twelve years old and then PADI Open Water Course at Stoney Cove. At university in Wales Sophie joined the university BSAC Club and continued her diver grade training and instructor training in the club with BSAC but completed other agency specialty courses with TDI and IANTD and worked as a PADI Divemaster in the UK at weekends for a few years. Sophie then had opportunities  to dive abroad – Caribbean, Red Sea, Maldives and Truk Lagoon. In 2004 Sophie became a BSAC Instructor Trainer and in 2005 was asked to be the Communications Advisor on the BSAC National Diving Committee and a few years later was elected onto BSAC Council.   In 2015 she was elected as BSAC National Diving Officer, the youngest person to hold the post. Sophie is a CCR Mod 3 diver and CCR Instructor and have also held the BSAC positions of Tech Lead, First Class Diver Chief Examiner and National Instructor Chief Examiner. All these previous roles were volunteer roles but in March 2024 her hobby became a full time job taking in the BSAC employed role of Head of Diving and Training. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-heptonstall-82a44925/ The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90.   “Beyond Technical”   Narked at 90    If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements  https://www.narkedat90.com/           There is currently a code for you to use for purchases and the code is  BIGSCUBA2024. We hope you have enjoyed this episode of The BiG Scuba Podcast.  Please give us ★★★★★, leave a review, and tell your friends about us as each share and like makes a difference.   Contact Gemma and Ian with your messages, ideas and feedback via The BiG Scuba Bat Phone    +44 7810 005924   or use our social media platforms.   To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: We are on Instagram                     @thebigscuba   We are on Facebook                      @thebigscuba   We are in LinkedIn                          https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian%F0%9F%A6%88-last-325b101b7/ The BiG Scuba Website                  www.thebigscuba.com Amazon Store :                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba Visit   https://www.patreon.com/thebigscubapodcast and subscribe - Super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   🎧You can listen to the BiG Scuba Podcast on all major podcast platforms including …. iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and Stitcher 😀.      ISSN Number 2752-6127

The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Aniela Martin.  Aniela Martin is a scuba diver and an offshore hydrographic surveyor, working as part of a large team out at sea mapping the seabed and collecting geological information.   Aniela has a deep passion for the underwater world that began after her first ever scuba dive whilst on holiday as a teenager. Having just finished high school she wasn’t sure what career path to take but her first adventure into the underwater world sparked a passion and strong curiosity for all things in the sea. Aniela  went on to study Oceanography at Southampton university and during her studies became a PADI divemaster, working the summer breaks at a dive centre in Southern Italy.   Aniela has been working as a hydrographic surveyor for three years now which involves mapping the seabed for various scopes such as scientific research, projects concerning green energy installations- wind farms, and communication links. Most of the projects she works on involve the use of ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) which use cutting edge technology allowing high resolution data, especially in deep water. Aniela’s passion, aside from the underwater world is communication - Being able to convey her love for the big blue. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniela-martin-634070171/ The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90.   “Beyond Technical”   Narked at 90    If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements  https://www.narkedat90.com/           There is currently a code for you to use for purchases and the code is  BIGSCUBA2024. We hope you have enjoyed this episode of The BiG Scuba Podcast.  Please give us ★★★★★, leave a review, and tell your friends about us as each share and like makes a difference.   Contact Gemma and Ian with your messages, ideas and feedback via The BiG Scuba Bat Phone    +44 7810 005924   or use our social media platforms.   To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: We are on Instagram                     @thebigscuba   We are on Facebook                      @thebigscuba   We are in LinkedIn                          https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian%F0%9F%A6%88-last-325b101b7/ The BiG Scuba Website                  www.thebigscuba.com Amazon Store :                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba Visit   https://www.patreon.com/thebigscubapodcast and subscribe - Super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   🎧You can listen to the BiG Scuba Podcast on all major podcast platforms including …. iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and Stitcher 😀.      ISSN Number 2752-6127

The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Georgina Miller.  Aquacity Freedivng is based at Porthkerris dive centre in Cornwall. It is run by UK freedive national champion Georgina Miller, who is an SSI FD instructor trainer and her husband Daan Verhoeven, a well-known freediving photographer. Facebook            https://www.facebook.com/aquacityfreediving Instagram            https://www.instagram.com/aquacityfreediving/ You tube              https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU4OkffdV-G9PyRkmYcNiDA Website               https://www.aquacityfreediving.com/   The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90.   “Beyond Technical”   Narked at 90    If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements  https://www.narkedat90.com/           There is currently a code for you to use for purchases and the code is  BIGSCUBA2024. We hope you have enjoyed this episode of The BiG Scuba Podcast.  Please give us ★★★★★, leave a review, and tell your friends about us as each share and like makes a difference.   Contact Gemma and Ian with your messages, ideas and feedback via The BiG Scuba Bat Phone    +44 7810 005924   or use our social media platforms.   To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us:   We are on Instagram                     @thebigscuba   We are on Facebook                      @thebigscuba   We are in LinkedIn                          https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian%F0%9F%A6%88-last-325b101b7/ The BiG Scuba Website                  www.thebigscuba.com Amazon Store :                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba   Visit   https://www.patreon.com/thebigscubapodcast and subscribe - Super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   🎧You can listen to the BiG Scuba Podcast on all major podcast platforms including …. iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and Stitcher 😀.      ISSN Number 2752-6127

In this episode join us at “Scoobs Scuba Shack”   We are on location at Diverstme Scuba Diving centre based at Spring Lakes in the UK.  We enjoy a dive at West Lake guided by John and Liam and then chat to Mark, John, Liam and Lou about all they offer at the Divers Time and what West Lake has to offer to all scuba divers.  We thoroughly enjoyed our day with the team who are so friendly, full of positivity and smiles.   For more information follow the links below and give them a follow and book in for a dive.   Website :            https://diverstime.com/ Facebook            https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100051090077846 Instagram            https://www.instagram.com/diverstime_springlakes/ Spring Lakes       https://springlakes.co.uk/   The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90.   “Beyond Technical”   Narked at 90    If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements  https://www.narkedat90.com/           There is currently a code for you to use for purchases and the code is  BIGSCUBA2024.   Please follow Narked at 90 on Facebook :  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065027019650   We are on Instagram                     @thebigscuba   We are on Facebook                      @thebigscuba   We are in LinkedIn                          https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian%F0%9F%A6%88-last-325b101b7/ The BiG Scuba Website                  www.thebigscuba.com Amazon Store :                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba   Visit   https://www.patreon.com/thebigscubapodcast and subscribe - Super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   🎧You can listen to the BiG Scuba Podcast on all major podcast platforms including …. iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and Stitcher 😀.      ISSN Number 2752-6127

In this episode join us in conversation with Maria Munn. Maria is a multi-award winning underwater photographer, author, journalist and shark stalker, who fell in love with whale sharks and the ocean whilst in hospital on the end-of-life pathway, after being run over for the second time and left with 15 fractures and life-changing injuries.  She launched the first ever underwater photography courses in 2005, ran PADI's first ever Digital Underwater Photography Course for beginners with Emperor Divers using compact cameras and over 20 of her guests have gone on to win prizes and become established writers and photographers.   She loves to chat to visitors about all things ocean, recycled plastics and teach youngsters about what can be found on our local beaches and about local marine life through snorkelling courses from her Ocean Studio in Swanage, Dorset where she also designs and creates personalised ocean gifts and canvas prints both from her own work as well as visitors.  She also has just launched a new book and the UK's first dedicated underwater photography school for beginners to show how beginners can also create beautiful imagery with both Phones and Go Pros as well as compact cameras.   Gemma and Ian also discuss what they have been up to recently too. Website   https://theoceanstudio.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/oceanvisionsphotography The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90.   “Beyond Technical”   Narked at 90    If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements  https://www.narkedat90.com/           There is currently a code for you to use for purchases and the code is  BIGSCUBA2024. Please follow Narked at 90 on Facebook :  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065027019650 We are on Instagram                     @thebigscuba   We are on Facebook                      @thebigscuba   We are in LinkedIn                          https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian%F0%9F%A6%88-last-325b101b7/ The BiG Scuba Website                  www.thebigscuba.com Amazon Store :                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba Visit   https://www.patreon.com/thebigscubapodcast and subscribe - Super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   🎧You can listen to the BiG Scuba Podcast on all major podcast platforms including …. iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and Stitcher 😀.      ISSN Number 2752-6127

In this episode join us in conversation with Dr. Laura Walton.  Laura is a UK-based clinical psychologist, scuba diving instructor, and the founder of Fit To Dive, an organization dedicated to promoting mental, physical, and psychological fitness for divers. With a background in both psychology and diving, Laura specialises in helping divers manage and overcome challenges such as anxiety, trauma, and phobias related to diving. I am an EMDR UK Accredited Practitioner, and uses approaches like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support divers in navigating their psychological barriers. Fit To Dive is about helping divers look after their physical, and psychological fitness for diving. There are a range of services, including therapy for those who have experienced distressing or traumatic diving incidents, coaching to overcome mental blocks, and courses aimed at enhancing diving skills and confidence. Instagram, instagram.com/fittodiveorg Facebook, facebook.com/fittodiveorg LinkedIn,linkedin.com/company/fittodive and linkedin.com/in/drlaurawalton-psychologist YouTube youtube.com/@fittodive Website address      www.fittodive.org The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90.   “Beyond Technical”   Narked at 90    If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements  https://www.narkedat90.com/           There is currently a code for you to use for purchases and the code is  BIGSCUBA2024. Please follow Narked at 90 on Facebook :  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065027019650 We are on Instagram                     @thebigscuba   We are on Facebook                      @thebigscuba   We are in LinkedIn                          https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian%F0%9F%A6%88-last-325b101b7/ The BiG Scuba Website                  www.thebigscuba.com Amazon Store :                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba Visit   https://www.patreon.com/thebigscubapodcast and subscribe - Super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   🎧You can listen to the BiG Scuba Podcast on all major podcast platforms including …. iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and Stitcher 😀.      ISSN Number 2752-6127

A slightly different episode. Ian, Gemma and Honey visited the Farne Islands for a 3 day diving trip in July 2024 and give  a review of their experiences.  The Farne Islands are in the North East of the UK and have numerous dive sites only a short distance from the mainland and the harbour and coastal town of Seahouses. Our trip was organised by our local dive centre, Christal Seas Scuba https://www.scuba4me.co.uk/ and Sovereign Diving https://www.sovereigndiving.co.uk/  looked after us over the weekend. We stayed at the best B&B we know called  Malabar https://malabar-seahouses.co.uk/ Here are links to the dive sites around the Farne Islands  https://www.sovereigndiving.co.uk/wreck-diving.html and here is a bit more information about the new dive site we visited, The Coryton  https://www.lindisfarne.org.uk/shipwrecks/3.htm We also enjoyed great food at Bamburgh Castle Seahouses,  https://www.inncollectiongroup.com/bamburgh-castle-inn/ and Italian food at Insieme   https://www.insieme-seahouses.co.uk/ and then amazing Italian food and service in Edinburgh at  Gordons Trattoria  https://www.gordonstrattoria.com/ If you would like more detailed information about our trip then do email or send us a DM and we have a PDF guide with more information. The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90.   “Beyond Technical”   Narked at 90    If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements  https://www.narkedat90.com/           There is currently a code for you to use for purchases and the code is  BIGSCUBA2024. Please follow Narked at 90 on Facebook :  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065027019650 We are on Instagram                     @thebigscuba   We are on Facebook                      @thebigscuba   We are in LinkedIn                          https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian%F0%9F%A6%88-last-325b101b7/ The BiG Scuba Website                  www.thebigscuba.com Amazon Store :                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba Visit   https://www.patreon.com/thebigscubapodcast and subscribe - Super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   🎧You can listen to the BiG Scuba Podcast on all major podcast platforms including …. iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and Stitcher 😀.      ISSN Number 2752-6127

In this episode join us in conversation with Sally Cartwright.    Saly started diving 1993 after an injury on a  mountaineering trip. After a bet with a local dive club and a successful try dive, Sally took up the challenge and a new life direction.  Early into her diving career she found herself using mixed gas and rebreathers.  Finding herself at the bottom of Dorothea Quarry  at 107m or scouring the seabed looking for new shipwrecks of the English Channel pretty much became a way of life for Sally as it does many others.   Sally became involved with diving agencies and then went back to school and qualified to teach TDI Inspiration rebreathers.  However, she decided that this career was not for her and started to investigate hyperbaric medicine. During the pandemic her ambulance work and diving world collided and she started working for Midlands Diving Chamber, firstly as a Chamber Attendant and progressed into management.   Sally has worked on some high-profile projects including the Bluebird Project that involved raising Bluebird, Donald Campbell’s water speed record boat and Donald himself from the depths of Coniston Water in 2001. Since then, the team have restored Bluebird and successfully ran her on the Isle of Bute in 2018.   Sally champions the diving industry’s support in all that she has achieved  The diving industry is not a rich one so any help just boosts morale and spreads the word what a wonderful sport we have, especially in the UK.   Sally is well known for organising social diving trips and now on the road to recovery after knee surgery is looking forward to getting back out in the deep again.   https://www.midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/sally.cartwright.568   The BiG Scuba Podcast is brought to you by Narked at 90.   “Beyond Technical”   Narked at 90    If you are thinking of moving across to tech diving or completely new to diving, Narked at 90 can advise and guide on the best equipment and set up for your personal or commercial requirements  https://www.narkedat90.com/           There is currently a code for you to use for purchases and the code is  BIGSCUBA2024.   Please follow Narked at 90 on Facebook :  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065027019650   We are on Instagram                     @thebigscuba   We are on Facebook                      @thebigscuba   We are in LinkedIn                          https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian%F0%9F%A6%88-last-325b101b7/ The BiG Scuba Website                  www.thebigscuba.com Amazon Store :                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thebigscuba   Visit   https://www.patreon.com/thebigscubapodcast and subscribe - Super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   🎧You can listen to the BiG Scuba Podcast on all major podcast platforms including …. iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and Stitcher 😀.      ISSN Number 2752-6127