The Great Dive Podcast

In a time where scuba was a bunch of sporting goods shops that started selling a new toy, The Aqualung, John Cronin had a vision of making it mainstream. The overbearing military approach to education was a roadblock in getting the masses into scuba classes and what would happen next was going to be the largest scuba diving education company, PADI. In 1995 aquaCORPS magazine published a cover story and interview with the scuba giant, John Cronin, titled “King Cronin- PADI Chief Bent on Acquiring New Divers” written by Michael Menduno. TDI has recently rereleased many of the old aquaCORPS interviews written by Michael in a collection of diving pioneers. You can find them here, including the Cronin interview: https://www.tdisdi.com/aquacorps/ Michael is still an active diver and writer. You will see him contributing to numerous sources in the dive community still as well as on facebook. We featured another article of his “Blueprint For Survival 2.0” back on our episode 15- Actually 14.1.

The boys get back to the early 90's in the scuba diving industry. A time where breathing Nitrox was pure evil. The Devil's Gas was banned by many and the scuba giant PADI did not embrace it. Ol' Jamesy tries to stay on course, Brando gets fired up... it's everything you've come to love about TGDP.

The Sandusky is a wooden sailing brig that wrecked in the Straits of Mackinac in 1856. Still lying on the bottom mostly intact with beautiful bowsprit and figurehead, it is a magical sight for divers. But diving a wreck like this is so much more than just blowing bubbles and taking pictures. James and Brando talk about the real essence of being in the moment underwater. The Zen of diving on this shipwreck and the perspective of the guy who discovered it, Chuck Feltner, and what it meant to him. Don't mess with the Great Lakes.

In a world where anyone can sue anyone else for virtually anything, is it a good idea to hold a Scuba Instructor responsible for a diving accident based on the "image" that instructor may have created for him/herself based on both his on duty and off duty behavior? Should Jamesy portray Jethro or Ellie May in the upcoming remake of "The Scuba Hillbillies"? Will Brando ever figure out what the heck he is ranting about now? Find out the answers to these and many more burning questions in this episode of The Great Dive Podcast!

The Deeper we go underwater the greater the risk begins to climb. Unlike other sports where pushing the limits is encouraged, with diving we are given a list of limits to begin with. James and Brando discuss whether diving should be considered a sport or an art. What is the difference? No two dives are the same, but what if you are twins?? https://www.scubadiving.com/why-is-130-feet-depth-limit-for-recreational-scuba-diving

In the fall of 1995, Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine published the most controversial article ever to hit the scuba industry, Cayman Cowboys. This article chronicled the secret life of your favorite dive masters living in island paradise. Well, your buddies, James and Brando dug it up and had a blast rereading it. So, stop checking your 401k report, who cares about your IRA, join us in our Big Escape from it all because nobody gets out alive. Oh, and don’t forget to tip your Dive Masters.

James and Brando take on the very touchy subject of “Sexism and Scuba Diving” just as the world celebrates International Women’s Dive Day. The boys found an article written by Jill Heinerth for Diver Magazine, “Sexism, Alive and Well in Scuba Diving!” The Hot Pink cover was hard to miss! With a little bit of the TGDP humor you’ve come to enjoy and a few “middle-schooler” jokes they eventually discuss and enjoy this well-written and intelligent “piece.” http://divermag.com/sexism-alive-and-well-in-scuba-diving/

The boys ramble on in an "off the cuff" conversation while rustling through Brando's library of ancient dive mags!! The more things change, the more they stay the same! A look into the future from 20+ years ago, before there was an Air McDoodle there was an Air Whopper and an Air Quarter Pounder! Diving Personal Ads looking for friendship, fortune, and love!! All part of this week's episode of The Great Dive Podcast!! Have a listen!!

Gather 'round fellow divers and shutterbugs as the boys once again get together and discuss the fine art of underwater photography! The tables have turned though as Jamesy takes on the role of Photographer (kind of... ya see, it's just a GoPro) and Brando is the model (kind of.. ya see he's an old man with a face for being behind the camera, not in front of it.) This episode we'll tackle wide angle photography underwater and also discuss a great article by Nirupam Nigam at www.underwaterphotography.com . Check out the article at http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/wide-angle-photography-low-light-conditions .

Is 500 feet the psychological and physical wall for air diving? Watson, Exley and Gilliam made that push beyond 400 feet and all realized their limitations on air. Join us a we wrap up our adventure.

It’s January of 1955 and Frederic Dumas, our beloved Didi, has denounced the quest for the depth record as “imbecilic.” The push beyond 300 ft has the next wave of record seekers shouting, “J’ai frole la mort!” and “Hoooooooo!”

As the men aqualungers begin to compete for depth, it doesn’t take long until we get our first fatality. What is it that lies in 50 Fathoms that we men yearn to see? Ah, but wait. It is not just the men that long for the deep.

What do you get when you mix Nitrogen, Oxygen, Jacques Cousteau, Fargues, Shatner, Picard and a little dash of Hope Root? Answer, the Deep Air World Record. Was it the guts? Was it the glory? Was it for science or for ego? Save your comments for later, Insults like that are only effective where emotions are present. Is this confusing? Don’t worry, Brando will explain.

What happens when you are so desperate for dive buddies that you decide to teach your wife to scuba dive? No, not us! We take a trip back in time and look at the ways women were viewed a few decades ago. Also, we have a special guest host this week!

Have you ever been caught whacking your mask off? Seriously? Have you ever seen a Gator? In the water? What does all this mean? It’s a metaphor. A metaphor for diving. Specifically, the Laws of Diving.

Brando and James catch up on life, Madagascar, Paris and a host of other off-topic topics. Eventually they discuss a few things in the scuba world that Brando missed while he was off traveling. AI’s… Artificial Intelligence? Alternate Inflators?? Tune in to find out.

Hey, let’s do a clips show. A highlights, best-of, collection of the last year or so and get a feel for what we’ve accomplished. Some of our favorite bits, funniest episodes and most informative dialog. Join us as we go back in time a take a small look at a bunch of different episodes. Thank you for the last 60 weeks!

Who are James and Brando? Well, they are just two fingers, wrapped in dry gloves, pointing to the moon, on dive boat… the dive boat of life. What the hell does that mean, you ask? Tune in your input mechanisms and join us for a look at the Inner Experience of Diving.

Get Groovy, this week with James and Brando as they take another trip back in time. This time to 1960’s and they explore the old scuba diver skill of Buddy Breathing. Join them as they discuss the ins and outs of shoving your thing in your buddy’s mouth.

This week the boy's get all spiritual up in this hizzy!! Listen in as they reflect on an article by Dillon Waters called "Scuba Diving: It's Just Not for Vacation". (https://www.tdisdi.com/scuba-diving-its-not-just-for-vacation/) This one's deep, so bring your pony bottles .... and your incense & mantras too! It's like chicken soup for the soul.... except it's Scuba Diving For The Soul!!

The Boys travel to Pompano Beach Florida for some much-needed ocean activities. What do a couple of scuba diving podcasters do when King Neptune shakes his trident into the wind? They sit by the pool during happy hour and answer life’s important questions. Like… Does size matter? Who has Marker Bag envy? What is “Pulling a Lang?” With the help of a great article from Scuba Diving Magazine from 2006: https://www.scubadiving.com/training/basic-skills/weather-stinks-now-what James and Brando dive into the age-old question, “What do you do when the sea is angry?”

The boys try to get away with some spiked ppN2's. This week they discuss an article detailing tips, hints, and methods to help alleviate those nasty narcosis problems associated with deep diving on air. Relax and enjoy this deep dive into narcosis.

On this week's episode the boys review a video that was posted on FB's Scuba Accident Forum ( https://youtu.be/GFpAKYbDKx8 ) centered around a deep dive to 76 meters on air. Pros & cons of deep air diving, The Outsiders, and even some Christopher Walken are all part of the circus in this episode!! C'mon in and have a listen! https://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/why-its-not-a-good-idea-to-use-hose-protectors.440166/ http://forum.scubatoys.com/archive/index.php/t-21414.html http://www.yorkshire-divers.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-137628.html http://ukdivers.com/threads/removing-hose-protectors.4851/ http://scubasg.com/regulators-gauges/hose-protector-or-not/

Even more underwater photography for the budding underwater photographers out there listening to TGDP!! This week the boys dive deeper into strobes. Listen in while they follow along with an excellent article from "Diver" Magazine. (http://divermag.com/) and add their own unique commentary and info. Enjoy!

The boy's get back to a fan favorite, underwater photography! This time they begin their exploration of underwater strobes with a great article written by Brent Durand in "Scuba Diving Magazine"(https://www.scubadiving.com/underwater-photography-tips-for-strobe-positioning). Wide angle shots, macro shots, making you vision a reality... even Matthew McConaughey will sweet talk this episode.

Are the boys doing another DAN Episode? You’re God DAN right they are. Tune in as they finish up the 2018 Annual Report with talk about injuries like barotrauma, Skin bends, DCS Type 2 and more. They also discuss a moral question of when is the right age to get your toddler rebreather certified, before or after they start kindergarten?

The boys continue (yet again for another week's episode) their commentary on DAN's recent accident report & analysis. This week they (continue to) go through the report and examine even more of the various accidents detailed in DAN's report as well as discuss accident triggers and contributing factors. Relax, listen, and learn from the accident analysis on the week's episode of The Great Dive Podcast!

The boys continue their commentary on DAN's recent accident report & analysis. This week they go through the report and examine a few of the various accidents detailed in DAN's report. Relax, listen, and learn from the accident analysis on the week's episode of The Great Dive Podcast!

The boys examine an article (https://www.deeperblue.com/dans-top-10-wanted-improvements-scuba-diving/amp/) resulting from DAN's most recent accident report and analysis. Are the boys on track with what DAN's survey and analysis show? Take a listen and decide for yourself!!

Does a cautionary dive tale lose it's efficacy if the author sells it as true but then proceeds to take certain 'artistic liberties' with the facts in order to liven up the story? You decide as the boys review an article about an instructor with too much ego and not enough training, experience, nor sense takes an AOW student inside a shipwreck and only one diver comes out.

As National Cave Diving Month draws to a close, the boys venture into the roots of cave diving with our Big Fish, Ol' Jacques Yves Cousteau!! Listen as they recount the tale of Jacques Cousteau's expedition into the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse in France. A near death experience and heart pounding diving action are all part of this weeks wrapup of National Cave Diving Month!!

A teaser from this coming Friday's Podcast Episode wrapping up TGDP's celebration of National Cave Diving Month!!

This week the boys examine the parallels between cave diving training and open water diver training. Can an open water diver glean any benefit from cave diver training or is it that "open water diving open water diving, and cave diving is cave diving, and never the twain shall meet"? Find out in this weeks episode of The Great Dive Podcast!!

It's National Cave Diving Month and your buddies at TGDP are continuing their exploration into the writings of the famous cave diver and explorer, Sheck Exley. They'll also review a recent accident in the same Florida cave explored and written about by ol' Sheck. Join them in this cave diving, tobacco spittin', 3 watt underwater light diving adventure into Eagle's Nest!!

Blueprint for...Revival??? Has the dynamic Scubaduo gone completely overboard?? Have they backrolled into bananas?? Find out for yourself when you tune in to this week's episode as they discuss how the recreational Scuba diver can gain insight from Sheck Exley's cave diving classic, "Blueprint For Survival". Have the boys gone mad? Are they just passionate and misunderstood? Insane or genius? You decide...

The boys dive into a recent story about a DCS-Bends incident that is gaining a lot of discussion online. Listen in as they discuss both sides of the story. Even though only side has been released, but that doesn’t stop them or anyone else from jumping to conclusions.

Listen in as the boys discuss an article in Scuba Diving Magazine covering 21 popular New year's resolutions for Scuba Divers for 2018! We hope you all had a fantastic New Year's Eve and wish you all a very prosperous and memorable 2018!!

The boys continue their ice diving junket as they check out a few ice diving videos from YouTube. They'll examine a few different ways they approach ice diving based on the environment, equipment, training, and experience. Chill out and and grab a cold one while you listen to these cool dudes talk some more about ice diving!!

In celebration of the Ice Diving Season that is upon us, the boys visit an old article in Skin Diver Magazine from 1969 covering the "Ten Commandments of Ice Diving!" Also, we want to know your feelings on the BEST Ice Diving song! Check out our website and give us your choice!!

The boys become introspective and philosophical while they examine yet another "I Learned About Diving From That" article out of "Skin Diver Magazine" circa the '90's. This one seems to show how the more things change, the more they stay the same... or maybe not much has changed.... so was anything really learned?? I mean, If an accident happens underwater and there's nothing learned from it, did it really happen? Wait, what does it all mean? What's the point? Wait, just buy some more equipment and carry more gas...oh, and reels too.... and learn to tie knots faster... wait, where's my buddy, he might be able to help? He's checking his weighting?? Wait, maybe that should have been done before jumping into a 120' dive inside a shipwreck in the Great Lakes... it doesn't matter, I have a new drysuit so I'm good to go...

We've all heard about them and some have even been part of one. The stories of this deadly practice are only whispered of in diving circles for fear of retaliation from "El Diablo de Buceo"! This week, the boys toss superstition aside and dive into just one true story of "El trío de buceo de la muerte"...or The divers threesome of death!! Enjoy!!

In this second part of a two part series, the boys finish up the review of the Gear Guide article in Sport Diver Magazine's Nov./Dec. 2017 Issue. This is a must listen episode for the holiday season shopping for the SCUBA diver in your life!!

Just in time for Black Friday Christmas shopping for the SCUBA Diver in your life, our review of the Gear Guide Article for this Christmas season! In this 1st part of a 2 part series, the boys take a look at the picks for the Gear Guide article in Sport Diver Magazine's Nov./Dec. 2017 Issue and give a their "thumbs down" picks of this year's lot.... "thumbs down" being a positive review meaning "let's dive it!!" in our case. So take a listen and get caught up on the gear picks this season per Sport Diver Magazine!

James and Brando continue their discussion of equipment selection for SCUBA Diving in cold water environments. This is part 2 of their ? part series covering cold water diving. This episode addresses drysuit types and accessories. Relax, listen, and enjoy!!

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee....AND this episode of The Great Dive Podcast. Now that the skies of November have turned gloomy, the boys dedicate this episode to the sinking and diving of the iconic Great Lakes shipwreck.... The Edmund Fitzgerald... the legendary singer Gordon Lightfoot with his ballad "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" has immortalized this shipwreck for both non divers and divers alike. On this 47th anniversary of the sinking of The Fitz, the boys discuss some of the circumstances surrounding the tragic sinking in 1975 and the diving of the Fitz 20 years later in 1995 by Terrence Tysall and Mike Zee. Sit back and listen to the tales of tragedy of the sinking and the incredible accomplishment of a legendary dive!

The boys dive into the subject of cold water diving in this 1st of a several part series on the subject. Today's discussion focuses mainly on the debate between thick (7mm) wetsuit vs. drysuit... what are pros and cons of each and things to take into consideration when undertaking cold water diving. Listen in as the boys begin this series with a major piece of equipment used for cold water diving!

Join James & Brando for a haunted dive through the spookiest dive stories on the Internet. Underwater ghosts, sea creatures, alien humanoid monsters, and the things that are lurking in the deep just waiting to get you. Keep your dive lights on, this episode might scare the doo-doo out of you.

James reads from a classic book about Great Lakes Shipwrecks to celebrate this stormy time of year on our inland seas. The Great Storms of October and the November Gales have taken many ships and made for our very own "Flying Dutchman" on The Great Lakes. James uses the middle initial "E." as written by Radigan although we all know her as the "Cornelia B. Windiate". Enjoy this fun little episode with tales of many Ghost Ships throughout the Great Lakes.

While cleaning the attic, James and Brando came across an old Playboy magazine with Scuba Diving right on the cover. They had to look! Listen in as the boys give a tribute to the late Hugh Hefner and read from this 1971 article “Scuba-Do!” It’s not all naked ladies, the boys manage to joke about Jaws and John Wayne and even recap the history of dive equipment along the way. Join us for this Great Dive!

The boys review the survey results from an online questionnaire asking listeners about underwater photography. Join along as James discusses the ins and outs of his Iphone while the photographers get into the nitty gritty of the wonderful world of underwater photography!