In this episode we go inside the hyperbaric chamber, and ask everything you’d ever want to know about actually going in! Or, as owner and operator Mitch Hall puts it, “going down”. The hyperbaric chambers are used not only to treat scuba diving related injuries, but heal wounds and have other benefits to your health. He explains what it all means, how they work, and has some very surprising stories about some past divers that got into trouble (and a cautionary tale to those cavalier divers...

Divers Alert Network’s (DAN) marketing director Steve Jamroz gives us a peek behind the curtain of the world’s most famous SCUBA organization. DAN helps develop treatments, preventions, best practices and insurance for diving related accidents, illnesses, and even trip or business losses. They research prevention on everything from equipment safety to Decompression Sickness (DCS), as well as new training techniques. DAN also has a free Medical Services department you can call anytime to ask...

In this showcase episode of the Buddy App, we go after the CORE reason the dive industry struggles to produce income earners: connection. The top question I get is “where do you suggest I go?” or “where can I learn to dive in my area?” or “who has dive trips around that area?” Despite all of the search engines on our smartphones and apps, this question is still going strong. This feature of the buddy app let’s dive shops, charters, resorts and even Independent Scuba Instructors create their...

There’s been a longstanding rift between Technical Diving and Recreational Diving in some circles, but does it have to be like that? Not according to Chris Foisey aka "The Modern Diver" -host of one of the largest scuba equipment review channels on the internet. He explains the importance of learning proper finning, trim and buoyancy, but also gets the value of fun (HINT: It’s the whole reason we do this) Chris is easily the most relaxed, educated, and easy-to-listen-to gear critic out there,...

Strong opinions, confusion, and being overwhelmed with getting started are all part of this beast… The good news is we have an absolute GAME CHANGER: Once and for all, the dive gear dilemma of not knowing where to go, who to talk to, or where to even start is OVER. Alexis Jabbour, founder of The Buddy App, talks about how dive gear is now connecting people through sharing. Anyone can add gear to their dive log (even if it’s rental) so nothing gets lost. Dive buddies can see what their...

Alannah Vellacott is truly a creature of the Caribbean Waters, in every possible sense. She's been famously dubbed "The Real Life Little Mermaid" by many notable figures, and for good reason. Aside from freediving, scuba diving, working on several Shark Week episodes, and simply living the Island Life we all dream about… she actually works to preserve and rebuild the very world that sustains her lifestyle (and the planet, for that matter!) Land Based Coral restoration with Coral Vita is a...

Ellie is as charming as she is talented, with more big scuba names under her belt than… maybe anyone. Known by her screen name as “Scuba Ellie”, she’s responsible for connecting Scuba Diving with the rest of the world in profound way. She works using brilliant visual photography, videography, editing, and just being awesome at diving. She creates content for the dive industry full-time, she’s a Scuba Instructor, and dives everything from the tropics to drysuits, aluminums to doubles. Ellie...

Ed Rasmussen is part of the Scubapro Team, including the Deep Elite Global Team, a Scubapro global government manager. Ed was also an active Navy Seal, who went on regular deployments. He is now a Divemaster, helping to liaison the recreational dive industry with defense departments, law enforcement, and emergency services. Ed is a big supporter of those who served in the Armed Forces. He’s received an avalanche of subscribers to his now-iconic Instagram page @ ecrazz -loaded with facts and...

Kenny sits down with the founder of Deeper Blue, the world’s largest community for scuba divers. Stephan is larger than life, throwing the number one party to be at during the number one scuba diving gathering on the planet. His love of the ocean flows like a perfect cocktail. Always upbeat, hilarious, and seems to be close friends with the entire worldwide scuba industry (I’m kind of not kidding). He explains what DeeperBlue does, how it got started, the future, and what he would love to...

Chef Anton is an Award-winning magician who can actually teach and certify a PADI scuba specialty course using underwater magic! He uses magic to help make scuba diving concepts easier to understand, relieve anxiety, and foster better learning. Further, it helps paint a better picture of concepts like nitrogen buildup, compression and expansion, and all those core fundamentals that can be tough to grasp for new divers. Aside from making learning easier, underwater magic makes everything a...

A fixture in the Daytona Beach area, Don Bouer has one of the most unusual takes on just about anything water related. He’s a master of aquatics, spending decades protecting swimmers & tourists in one of the busiest beaches in Florida, which also happens to be the home of the shark attack capital of the world, New Smyrna Beach (Ponce Inlet). It’s also known as a dangerous area for swimmers due to the currents, waves, rip tides and tidal changes, combined with such a high number of annual...

This is the only app that verifies and works for ALL agencies. So any active professional can verify any diver, on any dive. The other big thing that caught my attention was the fact that in books- a signature or stamp leaves with the diver or student- so there’s no way for that professional to show how many logs they’ve verified, and they both lose contact as soon as that book closes. I’m 100% all for these, vs paper that can get lost, destroyed, and doesn’t keep that connection on both...

"OMGitswicks" tries scuba diving with Kenny and the Sweetwater Crew, and lives to sit down and talk about it! Not only do we talk about that first experience scuba diving, but what it’s like running a social media personality with millions of followers, and making content everyday. In fact, some swimmers down at a remote freshwater spring in Florida immediately recognized him while we were getting ready to dive. Wicks is just as funny in person as he is with his sketch comedy, and wild...

Kenny was invited in-studio to interview the host of Scuba Radio, Greg “The Divemaster” Holt. Founded in 1997, Scuba Radio is the oldest (and only) nationally syndicated terrestrial radio show for scuba divers (that’s like OG radio on the dial!) His interpretation of why people go scuba diving gives some serious food for thought. We discuss motivations for going scuba diving, why people tune into his show, golf vs scuba, some issues facing the dive industry, and even the late Jimmy...

In my continuing showcase series of the Buddy App, we talk about Social Media and the integration of the “Sharebuilder” feature. While the app’s ability to integrate with social media accounts might seem like a meager topic on the surface - social is now the bloodline of Scuba Diving interest, and is indispensable for attracting new divers. We discuss the importance of social (for all its flaws) in diving, due to its visual nature. Alexis and her Buddy team did not overlook this critical...

After reading a highly compelling blog by Independent Scuba Instructor Taylor Schott, I had to have her as a Guest on the show.  We’ve seen this argument before, but not so eloquently explained. In fact, her blog was so well-written that I tracked her down and actually convinced her to come talk to me about it.  The pros and cons are laid out in an unbiased, friendly way, and nobody is being “put down” or lambasted for having a different opinion than Taylor. That vibe (and temperament) is...

The Sweetwater crew ran into Crosskix VP Mike Beverly, and decided this was worth the interview. His company makes a washable, high-end shoe that works in water AND in your dive fins. It keeps debris out, can be hosed down, and drains in an almost entertaining way. These are THE shoes used by major cruise lines like Norwegian and Carnival, waterpark and resort staff, and even Universal Studios.  Mike let us ransack his booth, took the time to walk us through the details, and might have...

Autumn Blum started Stream2Sea in 2015, in rural Florida. Her factory opened in 2019, just before the pandemic. She almost lost her business due to the sudden halt of orders from cruise lines and recreation, but found a creative way to save her business, and grew it even bigger (the full story is toward the end of the interview, so make sure to stick around for the epic solution! HINT: Orange peels) Stream2Sea is now the gold standard of eco-minded (and healthy) sunblock and skin products in...

Yasmin talks about artistic inspiration for everyone’s favorite underwater art! Fin Pin Shop is officially the center of the universe at every trade show (Shark Con and DEMA to name a few) and of course they’re in popular dive shops and ocean-themed gift shops from sea to shining sea! This isn’t just a scuba diver wonderland of art and trinkets, Fin Pin is made and supported by Marine Biologists (like Yasmin and Jaclyn), conservationists and artists. They have a massive online and social...

RJ is the fiancé to owner and creator of Spacefish Army (Morgan Oughton). However, RJ was there from the beginning, behind-the-scenes, offering support, labor, and rolling with the wild turns of life. From a secret relationship on a live aboard charter (for NINE months!), to launching a clothing line, and now helping with trade shows, RJ explains how they both work so well together, stay happy, and continue to grow everyone’s favorite outerwear brand.  – Make sure to watch (or listen to)...

In this showcase series we talk about the most innovative integration into a dive app ever created - the Discover Feed.  This is truly a hub, newsfeed, and showcase for scuba divers to get a pulse on the community, dive industry, and most importantly, what their buddies are doing. I just keep getting more excited about this app every time a new update drop. If you’d like to contribute, submit your own story, or maybe even write for Buddy, go directly to their website, or click here:...

***To donate directly to the MAUI FIRES FUNDRAISER, please visit this page: https://ilimanator.com/maui/ *** Founder of @deepseamagazine Jeff Scott has launched so many locally-focused brands that I had trouble keeping up. In fact, I really wanted to know HOW he found time for them all, and do it so seamlessly. That was one of many questions I had the honor of asking him throughout the interview, but the main focus was on the new DeepSea Magazine channel. DeepSea channel has featured...

The Fin Pin Shop is officially the center of the universe for fun grabs at every trade show (Shark Con and DEMA to name a few) and of course they’re in popular dive shops and ocean-themed gift shops from sea to shining sea! This isn’t just a scuba diver wonderland of art and trinkets, Fin Pin is made and supported by Marine Biologists, conservationists and artists. They have a massive online and social media presence, donate to a MULTITUDE of wildlife and aquarium charities, plus use smart...

Scuba Diving ALAS has a company supporting the entire sport, including both recreational, professional and social media enthusiasts. Like many other outdoor sports and recreational activities, the Dive with buddy team is catching scuba diving up. This interview takes place with the mastermind behind the Buddy App, Alexis Jabbour. With the 2023 launch happening as we speak, Buddy is quickly making waves throughout the industry as a disruptive platform. It’s changing the landscape for scuba...