Meet the team

Steve Hills

Age and occupation?
42, 2DiVE4 co-owner
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Rhodes, 1992. Was on a 'boys holiday' and decided to take the plunge. Still have the original photos with all the old kit on.... Shocking!
Why did you learn to dive?
Something I always wanted to do. Wish I would've started earlier
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI Staff Instructor, TDI Trimix Instructor, SDI Solo Diving Instructor, EFR Instructor, DAN O2 Instructor
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain? -
Interested in taking the cave diving route and possibly rebreather
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
1,500+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Scapa Flow. Fantastic wreck diving. The best in the world!
How many dives have you completed overseas?
500+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Blue Hole, Dahab, Red Sea. Very deep, but the best view ever from the bottom looking up!
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Galapagos Islands for the shear diversity of marine life. Truk Lagoon for the wrecks
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
How long have you got!

Laura Pretlove

Age and occupation?
25, Accountants Assistant
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Sardinia, 2002
Why did you learn to dive?
Persuaded by my boyfriend, Connor. Always wanted to do it though
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI OWSI Instructor
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
PADI Staff Instructor
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
185
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Not really into UK pleasure diving but like teaching at Stoney Cove
How many dives have you completed overseas?
50
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Red Sea
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Cayman Islands
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Haven't had any!

Dan McMillan

Age and occupation?
26, Management Consultant
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Capernwray - cant remember exactly - but I think it was about 2001
Why did you learn to dive?
A friend of mine was doing his Divemaster in Liverpool. I was working up in Warrington a lot with work, and instead of getting drunk in the hotel bar as normal, he invited me to do a try dive. The try dive was in a grotting swimming pool, which was part of a school. It had more rubbish in it than a land fill site and the changing rooms had more water in it than the swimming pool - thank your lucky stars we have John Warner!
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Er...OW, AOW, RD, DM, OWSI, Speciality Instructor in Multi-Level Diving, Dry Suite, Deep, Wreck, Nitrox.
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain? -
Not really sure - I enjoy diving, so I am looking to just do more of that...being an instructor is a bit of a buzz...you see people arrive all nervous and end up being really confident, good divers...so more of that is a good thing.
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
Over the 250+ mark, although (naughtly) I stopped logging them...so can give you an exact number
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
I really like Wales - they have some fantastic diving there, trefor pier is a fav...it is very sallow (circa 5m) but it is teaming with life..and if you are lucky you can take a bag with you, collect fishing hooks and sell them back to the guys fishing off the pier..
How many dives have you completed overseas?
Over the 150 mark I think...
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
You cant beat Egypt for price, the diving or the time on the plane...although the dive I remember the most was on honey moon, in Bora Bora - I was about 5 meters away from a pregnant lemon shark and tiger shark in a full feeding frenzy....not a fraid to say that I was scared - but an awsome experience
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
For me I have two extremes...I would like to do Ice diving - the quality of the water is brilliant; and I would also love to do the Maldives..something I haven't yet managed...lets add to the list.
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Dont think I have one...do I? answers on a postcard.

Laura Greene

Age and occupation?
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Malta, 1995
Why did you learn to dive?
Ex boyfriend invited me on a holiday
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI Staff Instructor, Instructor for 14 Specialities, SDI Instructor (Inc Solo Diver), EFR Instructor Trainer, DAN O2 Instructor, Full Cave and Trimix Diver
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain? -
Maybe rebreather when I can afford one
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
300 ish I think
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Farnes or Scapa
How many dives have you completed overseas?
1000+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Sipadan
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Truk – has just about everything. (Caves in Mexico come a close second – but already dived there)
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?

Julia Staples

Age and occupation?
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Why did you learn to dive?
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
How many dives have you completed overseas?
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?

Nikki Rocker

Age and occupation?
40 dive instructor
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Sydney Harbour, Australia 1996
Why did you learn to dive?
Because my boyfriend made me!
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI MSDT, Specialities.... all of 'em i think! TDI Adv Nitrox & Deco procedures, IANTD Full Cave
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
IDC Staff, Rebreather, IANTD Tech Cave
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
100+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Farne Islands
How many dives have you completed overseas?
400+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Maldives, Mexico Caves and South Africa with Great Whites
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Truk Lagoon for the wreck diving, Galapagos for the wildlife, Ningaloo Reef for the Whale Sharks
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Don't have one

Richard Brown

Age and occupation?
35, Sales Engineer
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Cairns, 2005
Why did you learn to dive?
Got bored on the beach
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI Divemaster, TDI Trimix Diver
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
PADI Instructor and cave rebreather
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
250+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Scapa Flow
How many dives have you completed overseas?
50+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Great Barrier Reef
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Galapagos
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?

Stuart Williams

Age and occupation?
36 year old. Automotive design engineer
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Leybourne lake Kent in May 2004
Why did you learn to dive?
Myself and Julie wanted a hobby that we could both do together and that neither had done before. We also wanted something to do whilst on holiday / honeymoon since we are not keen on sun bathing
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Divemaster with Discover Scuba Diving Leader rating
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Cave diving / overhead enviroment qualification
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
110+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Farne Islands
How many dives have you completed overseas?
85+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Egypt Red Sea specifically the area of St Johns Reef
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Sipadan island in Malaysia because the area is supposed to have the most abundent wildlife to see
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Jumping in the sea with my mask on the back of my head

Julie Williams

Age and occupation?
32. Quantity Surveyor
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Leybourne lake, Kent in May 2004
Why did you learn to dive?
Stu and I wanted a hobby that we could both share
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Divemaster with Discover Scuba Diving Leader rating
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Cave Diving
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
110+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Farne Island. Capernwray is good too
How many dives have you completed overseas?
85+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Red Sea - Deep South
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Sipadan island. They say it's the top dive destination in the world so it's gotta to be worth checking out.
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Can't actually think of one, although I was witness to Steve jumping in without your fins on!

Chris Shorter

Age and occupation?
48, Business Development Director
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Tobago 1997
Why did you learn to dive?
Tobago 1997
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Because I loved snorkeling and wanted to see more
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
BSAC Assistant Instructor, boat handler p1, diver coxn. PADI Divemaster. TDI Advanced Nitrox & Decompression Procedures
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
200+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Not found it yet
How many dives have you completed overseas?
200+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Bonaire
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Truk Lagoon - From the information i have read and divers i have spoken to its one of the big 10 in the worlds dives to do
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
I recently jumped off a boat in full kit including two stage bottles without my fins !!!!!!!!!

Andrea Harrison

Age and occupation?
43, Consultant
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Halkadiki, 2005 on holiday to Greece
Why did you learn to dive?
Loved the sea and was brought up on Jaqcues Cousteau documentaries, wanted to explore the seas for myself.
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Currently on PADI Divemaster Internship, DAN O2 Provider
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Divemaster and eventually Instructor
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
22
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Only dived Gildy, Newhaven , off Eastbourne, and Cornwall - so far Cornwall tops with a John Dory on the end of my nose! With Farne Island in October this may change.
How many dives have you completed overseas?
142
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Greece, Malta & Gozo, Egypt Red sea, Jordan Red Sea, Lanzarote & Fertuventura
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Galapogos, remoteness, diversity and sheer volume of marine life
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
First holiday with boyfriend (AOW) on first ever dive together, looking to me as the experienced one, and at 10m ,5 mins into check dive my cylinder blows..he thinks I am testing him with a drill! But comes up trumps giving me his Octo so we abort the dive and safely, slowly ascend. A couple of days later I get into a rib without my fins, one of the egyptian deck hands speaks to me and I don't realise until he physically gives me my fins...doh! my excuse what do you expect at 7.00am in the morning!

David Ford

Age and occupation?
39, Mobile Network Consultant
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Devon, 1981
Why did you learn to dive?
There was a BSAC club at school
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI Rescue Diver, Nitrox, Equipment Specialist, Digital Photography
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Adv Trimix CCR
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
200+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Anywhere in the UK
How many dives have you completed overseas? -
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
None
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Wooky Hole
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Suffering from sea sickness

Dan Holmes

Age and occupation?
30
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Cairns on the barrier reef 1997
Why did you learn to dive?
Did a try dive, and then was determined to get my open water
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Currently doing Divemaster Internship
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Will be happy to leave it at that for the time being
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
100+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Farnes and channel on the south coast
How many dives have you completed overseas?
150+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Maldives for the mantas and currents, Egypt though too many to list!!
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Galapagos and isla Guadalupe
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Too many to list!

Alistair Robson

Age and occupation?
44 (but look 24), Doctor
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Mexico, 2003
Why did you learn to dive?
So I could eat bacon butties while avoiding goose c**p at Gildenburgh.
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Currently (still) doing DM
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Instructor and some Tech diving stuff
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
Not sure. Probably only around 70
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Cornwall
How many dives have you completed overseas?
90
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Red Sea, or Belize’s blue hole
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
To live on a liveaboard on the Red Sea
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Forgetting to do my dry suit up….er, on three separate occasions. I blame my buddy.

Scott Smith

Age and occupation?
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Why did you learn to dive?
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
How many dives have you completed overseas?
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?

Kevin Phillips

Age and occupation?
38, Signs, Displays, Graphics and Print
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Marsa Shoni Kabir, Marsa Alam
Why did you learn to dive?
I was 10 year old, my dad bought me my first Mask, Snorkel and fins, in Majorca. With great Viz warm water lots of fish I was hooked. Always wanted to be a diver, but, then, with the only local dive club/School being a BSAC club that wasn't advertising to instruct divers I never learned. I became a self taught Free Diver, got good at it too. Got married to someone who had a fear of water, I so wanted to be a diver but the opportunity never knocked, had a daughter got busy with life stuff. We separated and I saw a travel program in Sky about Sharm el Sheik and Red Sea diving. It was my dad, again, who said to me, 'you've wanted to do that most of your life, go and do it' . So I did, Bitten by the bug. It's eaten me lol.
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Currently on PADI Divemaster Course
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Divemaster, maybe Instructor, Various TDI qualifications
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
40+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Haven't made my mind up yet
How many dives have you completed overseas?
65+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
St Johns was great and also Yolanda... Both Red Sea
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Gildenburgh lol. Would have to be an Ice dive. I just want to see how good the viz really is.
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
It's just too rude to say

Nikki Boost

Age and occupation?
34, 2DiVE4 co-owner
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Lakeside, Essex. 1999
Why did you learn to dive?
A friend badgered me into trying it
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI Staff Instructor, EFR Instructor & DAN O2 Instructor
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
PADI Course Director
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
Hmmmm lost count
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Farne Islands
How many dives have you completed overseas?
300+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Maldives
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?

Ali Bull

Age and occupation?
40+ Architect
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Bequia in the Grenadines – loved, loved, loved it.....
Why did you learn to dive?
The underwater world had always fascinated me and diving in Bequia only fuelled that. However, being transferred to Geneva and subsequently Brussels curtailed my onward progression. Once back in the UK, I joined a local BSAC club and became a Sports Diver before crossing over to PADI and completing Rescue, Divemaster, Instructor and then Staff Instructor. I still remember my first dive and I still LOVE diving!
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI IDC Staff Instructor, Emergency First Response Instructor, O2 Instructor, HSE First Aid at Work Instructor.
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Course Director.
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
300+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Tobermory on the Isle of Mull (scallops Yum!), Farne Islands in Northumberland (seals Ahh!) and Stoney Cover, Leicester (students Yea!)
How many dives have you completed overseas?
Umm...stopped counting a while ago – sorry!
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Maldives, West Coast Australia and of course the Red Sea (especially St John’s – it’s fabulous)
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Galapagos. The diversity of the marine life must be amazing and I really hope to get there one day.
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Not long qualified & still a very green Sports Diver, we were on a liveaboard around the island of Elba, Italy. The guide on the boat briefing the dive informed us that a large glass ‘bell’ had been sunk as a natural habitat and was the subject of intense secret scientific study. He, however, had special dispensation to take divers to this undisclosed location and we should count ourselves very lucky. The ‘bell’ was very fragile and he would inform us when we were near by using a ‘ringing bell’ signal. We were to outstretch our hands so that if we did make contact, only our fingers would touch the glass and we should endeavour to keep a respectable distance so as to not damage the ‘bell’ or scare the marine life within.... Yep, I believed every word he said and, not only that, I thought I touched it!

Fiona Buchan

Age and occupation?
26, Vet
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Gildenburgh with 2DiVE4, 2004
Why did you learn to dive?
Always fancied it, managed to convince my dad to do it and when he said he'd pay, it was too good to be true.
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI OWSI
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Staff Instructor
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
80
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Farne Islands
How many dives have you completed overseas?
120
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Red Sea
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Maldives - Manta Rays
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Having a hole in my dry suit in a slightly embarrassing place so it looked like it'd had an accident every time i took it off, not a good look.

Laurie Boost

Age and occupation?
38, Bookmaker
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Stoney Cove, 1999
Why did you learn to dive?
Because I had a Great Barrier Reef holiday planned
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI OWSI Instructor
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
For the foreseeable future I am happy with the level I am at.
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
150+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Diving with the seals off of the Farne Islands
How many dives have you completed overseas?
150+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Maldives
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Galapagos Islands to dive with the hammerhead sharks and the other abundant marine life.
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
A slight hiccup with my navigation on a dive in Bonaire, I blame the faulty compass !

Pete Skyrme

Age and occupation?
44
Where and when did you do your first dive?
2005
Why did you learn to dive?
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI Divemaster
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
How many dives have you completed overseas?
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?

Alison May

Age and occupation?
40, Driver
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Gildenburgh Water, 2004
Why did you learn to dive?
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Rescue Diver
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
How many dives have you completed overseas?
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?

Chris Evans

Age and occupation?
51
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Gildenburgh Water, '70's
Why did you learn to dive?
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI Assistant Instructor, TDI Adv Nitrox & Deco Procedures
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
How many dives have you completed overseas?
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Truk Lagoon
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?

Rachel Harris

Age and occupation?
29, run a project management office
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Menorca when I was about 15
Why did you learn to dive?
Because I enjoyed my try dive so much and I loved snorkelling when on holiday
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Just waiting to have my medical so I can send off my DM
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Happy to be a DM
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
About 50 maybe
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
The Farne Islands.... Also like Stoney Cove
How many dives have you completed overseas?
About 40
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
The Red Sea... Of course!
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Maldives, it looks so beautiful!
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Erm falling over at the swimming pool after telling many students to be careful as it was very slippy and then giving myself a good dose of concussion! Practice what I preach maybe????

David Flanders

David Flanders Profile

Age and occupation?
53, Piano Tuner
Where and when did you do your first dive?
1st dive Stoney Cove June 1973 yes 1973
Why did you learn to dive?
SAA central London then BSAC walthamstow branch
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI Assistant Instructor
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
OWSI Instructor
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
300-400
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Hope Cove
How many dives have you completed overseas?
100-150
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Red Sea
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Maldives
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Stoney Cove (open zip on DRY SUIT)

Julia Rhodes

Age and occupation?
38, Wind Farmer … Engineer by trade, currently responsible for managing an electricity generation business, all the electricity coming from 15 wind farms across the Uk & Ireland.
Where and when did you do your first dive?
I did a try dive in a pool in Glasgow in the ‘90s but didn’t follow up until deciding to get away for Christmas in 2003 … the decision being to head for somewhere that didn’t celebrate Christmas. Egypt it was, found Sharks Bay via the interweb and did my Open Water and Advanced in a week with Essam, a fantastic instructor. Snorkelling in Borneo 6 months beforehand had awakened the curiosity.
Why did you learn to dive?
Was a water baby in the tropics as a kid, have always felt very comfortable in the water, it was a natural progression.
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI MSD, and loved every minute of it.
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Focussing on the DM at the moment, more for a personal satisfaction than for a professional outlook. The thirst for qualification will probably get the better of me one day though.
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
About 30, only 4 in salt water though … can’t handle the choppy seas of the UK.
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Scapa Flow was cool, but I got seasick. The best novelty dive though was the Submarine Escape Training Tower in Gosport, the only dive site you’ll take the lift to.
How many dives have you completed overseas?
Nearly 150. Mostly in Egypt, but also Kenya, Spain, Mexico, Belize and Brussels (NEMO33)!!
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Difficult one. Belize had an unfathomable amount of flora/fauna – and having 4 huge sharks swimming about you in the Blue Hole will not be forgotten. Egypt as always, but Mexico has to be the place that gave me the most epiphinal moment in a dive. Diving Cenote Tajma Ha, just me and the dive guide, we entered a cavern that probably hadn’t had anyone in there for 4 or 5 days. The halocline was perfectly suspended in the centre of the inky black space. Playing the torch beam above and below the halocline bounced beams in all directions, and when shone flat along the halocline, the beam flashed like lasers across the cavern. I could have stayed there mesmerised for hours.
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Sipadan. I was born round the corner from there in Brunei, lived there until I was nearly 6. Apart from the fact that it is probably the best location for diving in the world, I’d be able to get those childhood memories back (tropical rain steaming off hot tarmac, the blast of hot air and aviation fuel as you step out of a twin otter on some remote airstrip …).
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Probably forgetting to put my reg in when trying to quietly slip under and become a ‘victim’ for a rescue course … the coughing and splurting kinda gave the, ahem, secret location away.

Mat Henderson

Age and occupation?
32, Sales & Marketing Director, Teeone Ltd
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Thailand 2004
Why did you learn to dive?
Stumbled out of a bar and the dive shop was open, it’s a bit of a haze after that.
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
OW, AOW, RD, WRECK, DEEP, NITROX, EQUIPMENT
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Divemaster
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
100 or so
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Scapa Flow
How many dives have you completed overseas?
50 or so
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Moorea, French Polynesia
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Truck Lagoon – it’s like Scappa but in warm clear water.
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
One too many Bakewell tarts resulted in a bottom exposure whilst kitting up on a UK dive boat

Adrien Collovray

Age and occupation?
30, Insurance
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Turkey, 1999
Why did you learn to dive?
Love the water and was frustrated that I couldn't spend more than a minute underwater
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Nearly complete on DM with PADI and Advanced Nitrox and Deco with TDI
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
PADI Instructor
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
50+
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Gildy ... Not really, Plymouth is great for Variety of Wrecks
How many dives have you completed overseas?
50+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Cayman Islands are great
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Anywhere with wrecks and fish and Sun!
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Being silly sitting on a chair at the skybus to fill in some mapping notes in Gildy not realising that I'd sat on my Octopus which was purging behind me, my buddy couldn't get near. Needless to say the dive was shorter than planned

Geoff Wood

Age and occupation?
22, Emergency Medical Technician for Essex Ambulance Service
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Dunmow Pool, 2006
Why did you learn to dive?
To conquer the fear of water
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI Rescue Diver, Currently on PADI Divemaster Internship
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
PADI Divemaster, TDI Adv Nitrox & Decompression Procedures
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
40
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Stoney Cove
How many dives have you completed overseas?
60+
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Red Sea Liveaboard
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Scapa Flow & Maldives
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
There have been so many! probably falling from top to bottom of a ladder on a liveabord landing smack bang in the middle of the dive briefing!! Not good.

Tara Strachan

Age and occupation?
35, Office Manager in London
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Swimming pool in Chiswick... followed by Sharm-el-Sheik. Having been soooo excited about diving in the Red Sea I went down the shot line and the first thing I saw was a giant purple clam... I then stopped and didn't move for 5 minutes while staring at it. My instructor thought it was going to be a VERY long dive... then I saw a fish and started chasing them about and he realised that, given my air consumption, it would be a very short dive. After that I focussed on doing the skills and getting my Open Water certificate.
Why did you learn to dive?
I'd always wanted to dive but never had a convergence of time, money and opportunity until 2007.
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
PADI Rescue Diver (currently doing my Dive Master training). I have also done the TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Theory courses.
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
PADI Dive Master and TDI or IANTD Tri-Mix certifications. I would also like to learn to cave dive and also get a rebreather
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
Around 120
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Anywhere there are fish and wrecks that I can take pictures of!
How many dives have you completed overseas?
Around 70
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
I'll let you know when I've dived everywhere I want to and can compare properly ;-)
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
The wreck of the Britannic because of it's history and the chance to see something that very few people ever get the chance to.
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
It hasn't happpened yet ;-)

Ian Buchan

Age and occupation?
Retired
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Gildenburgh Water 2004
Why did you learn to dive?
Fancied it after snorkeling in the Carribean
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
MSDT / Currently on PADI Divemaster Course
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
Divemaster
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
Around 80
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
Farne Islands
How many dives have you completed overseas?
20
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Red Sea
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
I don't know enough about dive sites to know yet
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
None that I'm willing to admit

Keith Thompson

Scuba Profile

Age and occupation?
52, Sales Director
Where and when did you do your first dive?
Gildy, 4 years ago
Why did you learn to dive?
Always wanted to
What diving qualifications have you obtained?
Divemaster
What diving qualifications are you looking to obtain?
None
How many dives have you completed in the UK?
40
Where is your favourite UK dive destination?
None. Too bloody cold
How many dives have you completed overseas?
150
Where is your favourite overseas dive destination?
Maldives
Where would be your ‘dream’ place to dive and why?
Galapogos, because its relatively untouched
What’s your most embarrassing moment while diving?
Jumping in without my fins (twice!)

Scuba

'Scuba' is our black labrador shop dog and is the newest member of the 2DiVE4 team. He has already become the centre of attention at our Stansted Dive Centre and has all our team members and customers alike drooling over him (he also returns the compliment by dribbling over them!).

Scuba is Mr Accident Prone! Since he has been with us he has constantly been in in the vets with a variety of problems mainly caused by him eating things he shouldn't and general tomfoolery.

If you are are at Stoney Cove or Gildenburgh Water and see Scuba there, be careful! He has been known to pick up the odd mask and computer that's been laying about!

If you're passing then pop in to say hi to him but be prepared to stay a while as he is so infectious. Where did we get the name from???........ Beats me!

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