Episode 206 Stuart Douglas Mine Clearance Diver
The BiG Scuba Podcast
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Stuart Douglas. Stuart is an experienced mine clearance diver who served in the Royal Navy from 1982 to 1997, initially as an electronics apprentice before becoming a Ship's Diver. He later became a Royal Navy Clearance Diver, specializing in explosive ordnance disposal and supporting UK Special Forces in maritime counter-terrorism roles. He tells us about being a PADI instructor and his up coming 209 mile ultramarathon across Iceland from North to South. The Great Norse Run that he is doing with his wife. He is raising money for The...
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Episode 205 Hollie Teggart Sidemount & Technical Diver
The BiG Scuba Podcast
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Hollie Teggart. Hollie currently studying Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton and will be finishing in September 2025. She has been an Instructor with RAID and BSAC for two years and PADI and SSI for one year. Hollie has been working at Diveshack Malta as a recreational and technical instructor so we hear more about diving in Malta too. Instagram: Facebook: Youtube: TikTok:...
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Episode 204 Dominic Robinson Deep Wreck Diver
The BiG Scuba Podcast
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Dominic Robinson. Dominic Robinson is a technical deep diver who specialises in exploration and in particular ship wrecks around the British Isles and he documents his adventures on his YouTube Channel.. YouTube Instagram Facebook 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...
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Episode 203 Emma Brian Dive Confident
The BiG Scuba Podcast
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Emma Biran. Emma is a PADI Staff Instructor, therapeutic counsellor and mental health professional. Emma has merged these professions into a unique program called Self Confident Diver, which has been endorsed by PADI as a distinctive programme. The programme offers coaching and counselling sessions specifically designed for individuals who experience anxiety or panic when scuba diving. Throughout her career, she has witnessed numerous individuals lose confidence in their diving abilities due to past experiences and anxiety. The...
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Episode 202 Rob Colley Thrival Instinct
The BiG Scuba Podcast
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Rob Colley. Rob Colley is a former Royal Marine and Specialist Military Unit (SMU) operator with over 23 years of elite experience leading and performing in some of the world’s most extreme environments on land and under the sea. Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for Gallantry, Rob spent much of his military career operating in high-pressure, high-stakes scenarios that demanded total focus, resilience, and leadership under stress. Following his transition from military service, Rob turned his attention to human...
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Episode 201 Simon Mills Inside the Britannic
The BiG Scuba Podcast
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Simon Mills. In August 1996, the wreck of HMHS Britannic was bought by renowned maritime historian, Simon Mills. Simon is a long-standing camera technician in the UK film industry. During his career he has also researched numerous documentaries on historical and maritime subjects, and is a published author on all three Olympic-class ships. 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...
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Episode 200 Rob Hinton Hold Fast Challenges
The BiG Scuba Podcast
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Rob Hinton. Rob Hinton is the founder of the Hold Fast Challenges, a unique, hugely exciting, and rewarding outdoor challenge experience, based on Rob's former career as a Royal Navy Mine Clearance Diver. A former competitive swimmer, he has spent most of his life in the water, or under it. Robs introduction to diving began in 1999 in South Africa, where he learnt to Scuba Dive in CapeTown. A 22 year career in diving, which saw him serve as a Royal Navy Mine Clearance and Bomb Disposal Diver, a Commercial Diver in the oil and...
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Episode 199 Osama Gobara Cave Diving Explorer
The BiG Scuba Podcast
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Osama Gobara. Originally from Austria, Osama has a profound passion for the subterranean realm and aquatic ecosystems It has driven him to pursue a career as a cave diving explorer and instructor as well as working offshore too. When not immersed in cave exploration or mentoring fellow cave divers, he extends his surveying expertise to offshore activities, specializing in deepwater ROV-based remote sensing and seabed mapping for offshore wind farm projects worldwide. Social media and website links. ...
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Episode 198 Last Breath The Directors Cut
The BiG Scuba Podcast
Gemma and Ian were invited to the pre-release press screening of Last Breath prior to its public release in late February 2025. It’s a heart-pounding film that follows seasoned deep-sea divers as they battle the raging elements to rescue their crewmate trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface. Based on a true story, Last Breath is an electrifying story about teamwork, resilience, and a race against time to do the impossible. Gemma and Ian then interviewed Alex Parkinson, director/co-writer and David Brooks, co-writer/producer about the...
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Episode 197 Lisa Blair Solo Sailor, Explorer and Climate Activist
The BiG Scuba Podcast
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Lisa Blair. Lisa is an Australian Adventurer, Climate Activist, Author, Speaker and Multi-World Record holding sailor. On May 25th, 2022, Lisa achieved her latest milestone by becoming the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around Antarctica, shaving 10 days off the previous record. During this record-setting journey, Lisa seized the opportunity to amplify her message of Climate Action Now and collaborated with a number of scientific organizations such as the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Institute of Marine...
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