The BiG Scuba Podcast
by The BiG Scuba Podcast
The BiG Scuba Podcast is a new, independent podcast dedicated to all things diving and ocean related. Its hosted by two friends, Ian, and Gemma.Our aim is to provide a light hearted podcast for all levels of divers and also non-divers with a view to encouraging the non-divers to consider entering the water.We hope to bring you current dive and marine related news and information with the added BIG twist.Give us a listen and get inspired about all things scuba.
Episodes
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Episode 239 Jill Heinerth Caves, Shipwrecks & Artificial Intelligence
Gemma and Ian chat to returning guest Jill Heinerth, one of the world's leading underwater explorers, filmmakers, authors and cave divers. Six years after her first appearance on The BiG Scuba Podcast, Jill joins us again to share what she has been up to, including extraordinary expeditions,...
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Episode 238 Fran Hockley – Scientific Diving & Technical Exploration
What does it take to turn a passion for diving into a career exploring the underwater world? In Episode 238 of The BiG Scuba Podcast, Ian and Gemma chat with Fran Hockley, Lecturer in Scientific Diving at the University of Plymouth, technical diver and experienced diving instructor. Fran shares…
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Episode 237 David Strike Six Decades of Diving!
In this episode Gemma and Ian chat to David Strike. Originally from the UK, David Strike learned to dive with the B.S.A.C. in 1961, since when he has worked for a major London newspaper's editorial intelligence department, served with the Royal Navy, participated in ground-breaking oceanographic...
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Episode 236 – Nick Derutter DiveSAGA - underwater filmmaker, explorer & technical diver
In this episode Gemma and Ian chat to Nick Derutter. Nick Derutter is an award-winning underwater filmmaker, explorer, and technical diver from Belgium. Through his filmmaking and his DiveSAGA platform, he has spent the past decade documenting some of the world's most challenging caves…
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Episode 235 – Mark Walker of Dive Admin
In this episiode Gemma and Ian chat to Mark Walker, a former UK dive instructor now based in Thailand and the founder of Dive Admin. Mark shares his journey from learning to dive in Malta and becoming an instructor, to combining his diving experience with his background in technology to create...
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Episode 234 Autumn Blum Stream2Sea
In this episode of The BiG Scuba Podcast, Gemma and Ian catch up with a former guest, Autum Blum. She is the founder of Stream2Sea and a passionate diver, cosmetic chemist and ocean advocate. Autumn shares the story behind Stream2Sea and the moment a dive in Palau made her question what we were...
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Episode 233 UK Diving: Norfolk to Northumberland, there and back again by Ian and Gemma
This week Gemma and Ian take you on location for a proper UK diving adventure! We kick things off with a shore dive at East Runton on the North Norfolk coast, exploring the famous chalk reef in around 20°C water, before heading north to the Farne Islands for three days and six dives. Join us in…
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Episode 232 Scoobs Snorkel Fest 2026
In this episode of The BiG Scuba Podcast, Gemma and Ian head to Scoobs Snorkel Fest 2026 at Divers Time, West Lake, Long Eaton, for a fantastic day celebrating snorkeling, scuba diving and the incredible UK diving community. From meeting fellow divers and exploring the lakeside festival…
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Episode 231 Nicholas Harvey USA Today Bestselling Author
What happens when a fear of the ocean turns into a passion for scuba diving, a life in Grand Cayman and an eighteen-book adventure series? In Episode 231, we chat with Nicholas Harvey, indie author, scuba diver and former NASCAR engineering manager. Nicholas shares his journey from being nervous…
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Episode 230 Dave Mason Cave Crawler
Ian and Gemma are joined by David Mason, a passionate recreational diver, experienced caver and long-time listener of the podcast. David takes us on a fascinating journey from exploring some of the UK's most impressive cave systems to discovering the incredible world of scuba diving. He shares…
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Episode 229 Emma Millen The Geordie Shores Diver
Ian and Gemma are joined by Emma, better known as @TheGeordieShoresDiver on TikTok. Emma is a freelance podcast producer and BBC radio presenter from the North East, but above all she's a passionate scuba diver. Having initially dived exclusively around the UK coastline, she quickly became...
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Episode 228 David Swain Beyond on Bar
In this episode, we sit down with David Swain, owner of Beyond One Bar — a family-run scuba diving business based in Leiston, Suffolk. And yes, we recorded on location at Sizewell beach from inside the Auto-Trail Expedition 68XL campervan overlooking the North Sea! David has been teaching people…
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Episode 227 Rod Macdonald Author & Shipwreck Explorer
In this episode, we chat with Rod Macdonald. Rod is an internationally renowned Scottish shipwreck explorer, undersea adventurer, maritime historian, TV personality and best-selling diving author with 13 books about shipwrecks and naval history, the culmination of a lifetime of diving. His...
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Episode 226 Dan Frolec Author of "The Cave"
In this episode, we chat with Dan Frolec — diver, adventurer, entrepreneur, and author of The Cave, a gripping true story that blends scuba diving with real-life tragedy and injustice. Dan has been diving for over 30 years, exploring oceans across the globe. But one trip in 2002 to Croatia…
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Episode 225 Mark Greaney No.1 New York Times Bestselling Author
The Big Scuba podcast, hosts Ian and Gemma are joined by Mark Greaney. What happens when a world-class thriller writer hits the water? In this episode, we sit down with Mark Greaney, the man behind The Gray Man and the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan series. We discuss his transition from tactical firearms...
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Episode 224 Will Appleyard & Núria Paré Soldevila
In Episode 224 of the Big Scuba podcast, hosts Ian and Gemma are joined by Will Appleyard and Núria Paré Soldevila. Will Appleyard is the creative eye behind Amphibious. His background spans a wide range of hands-on work, shaped by years of experience in diving, outdoor projects and…
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Episode 223 Miranda and Ollie Krestovnikoff
In Episode 223 of the Big Scuba podcast, hosts Ian and Gemma are joined by TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff and her son, Ollie, to discuss the dynamics of a "diving family." The conversation explores how diving became a central part of their household, with Miranda's daughter, Emily, recently...
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Episode 222 The Go Diving Show 2026
This week on The BiG Scuba Podcast are on location at The Go Diving Show 2026. We carry out a number of ten minute interviews in our Auto-Trail Campervan, the Expedition 68 XL as well as carrying interviews out around the exhibition halls and we have a couple of voice mails from some friends we…
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Episode 221 Narked at 90 Brent Hudson & John Routley
This week on The BiG Scuba Podcast, Gemma and Ian chat to John Routley and Brent Hudson, the names behind Narked at 90. Brent and John are the founders of Narked at 90 and discuss their transition from hobbyist divers to leaders in the technical diving industry. They describe a history of...
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Episode 220 Sea-changers
This week on The BiG Scuba Podcast, Gemma and Ian chat to Helen Webb MBE and Rachel Lopata MBE. Both are British marine conservationists and co-founders of Sea‑Changers, a volunteer-led UK charity supporting marine protection projects. Helen founded the organization in 2010 with Rachel Lopata....
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Episode 219 Project Seagrass
This week on The BiG Scuba Podcast, Gemma and Ian chat to Leanne Cullen-Unsworth. Leanne is an interdisciplinary marine scientist with over 20 year's experience working collaboratively with people and communities to help conserve and restore nature. She plays a pivotal role within Project…
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Episode 218 Reflections of 2025
In this special year-end episode, The BiG Scuba Duo — Gemma and Ian — look back on everything that made 2025 an unforgettable year. They share impressive podcast milestones, including how many countries around the world the show has been downloaded in and highlight the amazing guests who joined...
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Episode 217 Jason Pritchard
This week on The BiG Scuba Podcast, Gemma and Ian chat to Jason Pritchard. Adventure has always been at the heart of who Jason is. Ever since His first dive back in 2009, he has been captivated by the mysteries of the ocean — from uncovering hidden wrecks to exploring the unknown. What started as...
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Episode 216 Midlands Dive Chamber
This week on The BiG Scuba Podcast, Gemma and Ian visit the Midlands Diving Chamber and experience a 40 meter Dry Dive in the Chamber. They also sit down with Sally Cartwright, Chamber Manager and Carolyn Peel, Chamber Hyperbaric Doctor and hear more about what happens at the Midlands Dive…
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Episode 215 West Coast Diving Scott Divitt
This week on The BiG Scuba Podcast, Gemma and Ian sit down with Scott Divitt, owner of West Coast Diving in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. His whole life has been about the water. It started as a kid, messing about with boats and sailing, which led him straight into the Royal Navy after secondary...
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Episode 214 James Soos Dive with Jimmy
This week on The BiG Scuba Podcast, Gemma and Ian sit down with James Soos — British Army veteran, technical diving instructor, and founder of Dive With Jimmy, a thriving dive centre based in Bedfordshire. James has led teams during his military career and has dived all over the world. As an...
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Episode 213 Nick Schiller – Sidemount Diver and WW2 Whaleback Boat Recovery
This week, the BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Nick Schiller. Nick is a keen lover of being on and under the water. He is a sidemount diver and an assistant BSAC instructor. He has dived extensively in the UK as well as Egypt, Iceland, Mexico and Tobago. He loves diving with a scooter and is...
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Episode 212 Jo Moseley
Episode 212 Jo Moseley Paddleboarder, Diver and Author This week, the BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Jo Moseley. Jo Moseley, 60, is a bestselling award winning author of three books about paddleboarding.. At university in Scotland she also learned to dive, becoming her university club…
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Episode 211 Diving in the Farne Islands
This week, the BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian bring a roving report from their Sept 2025 trip to Seahouses and diving around the Farne Islands off the North East coast of the UK. Our local dive centre Christal Seas Scuba Norwich organised the trip using the dive boat services of Sovereign Diving.…
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Episode 210 Our adventures in Lundy & under Swanage Pier
Episode 210 – Our Adventures in Lundy and Under Swanage Pier This week, the BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian, along with Scuba Honey, head to Ilfracombe to board the Barbara B with Lundy Diving for some unforgettable underwater adventures with the playful seals of Lundy Island. You can find out more...
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Episode 209 The BiG Auto-Trail road trip and diving adventures
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian report live from their road trip to Seahouses, Northumberland and diving adventures around the Farne Islands with Serentiy Farne Island Boat Tours https://farneislandstours.co.uk/ They also visit https://diverstime.com/ and catch up with Scoobs at the Dive Shack…
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Episode 208 Barry McGill Technical Diver & Deep Wreck Photographer
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Barry McGill. Barry McGill is a deep wreck photographer and CCR instructor trainer with Indepth Technical. His main area of focus is exploration of deep-water shipwrecks around the Irish coastline, and he has been fortunate enough to discover and explore...
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Episode 207 James Neal Technical Diver & Brand Ambassador
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to James Neal. James has been passionate about scuba diving and the aquatic realm since childhood, having grown up watching Jacques Cousteau on TV, along with Robinson Crusoe, Stingray and such like. He suffered a subarachnoid Haemorrhage, grade 4 bleed on…
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Episode 206 Stuart Douglas Mine Clearance Diver
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...
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Episode 205 Hollie Teggart Sidemount & Technical Diver
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...
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Episode 204 Dominic Robinson Deep Wreck Diver
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 https://www.youtube.com/@D33pUK Instagram...
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Episode 203 Emma Brian Dive Confident
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…
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Episode 202 Rob Colley Thrival Instinct
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...
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Episode 201 Simon Mills Inside the Britannic
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…
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Episode 200 Rob Hinton Hold Fast Challenges
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...
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Episode 199 Osama Gobara Cave Diving Explorer
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...
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Episode 198 Last Breath The Directors Cut
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...
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Episode 197 Lisa Blair Solo Sailor, Explorer and Climate Activist
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...
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Episode 196 Luke Bullus Diving Officer at Fathoms Free
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian chat to Luke Bullus. Luke Bullus is the Diving Officer and a trustee of the marine conservation charity Fathoms Free. Fathoms Free is a group of experienced volunteer divers and skippers committed to protecting marine wildlife and the environment. They focus on...
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Episode 195 Sports Financial Services - Specialists in arranging life insurance for active sports and hazardous occupations
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian visit Sports Financial Services to discuss the importance of Life Insurance for scuba divers as well as anyone else. We chat to Harvey and James about the business and their bespoke and personal service for anyone wishing to discuss Life Insurance, Income…
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Episode 194 The BiG Scuba Reflections
The BiG Scuba Duo, Gemma and Ian reflect on their year of 2024. They discuss some stats of the podcast like how many countries the podcast is downloaded in and the most popular episodes. Gemma and Ian talk about their watery adventures of 2024 both on the water and under the water, dive sites...
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Episode 193 Edward Askham Spencer Commercial Diver and Magician
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…
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Episode 192 Sophie Heptonstall BSAC Head of Diving and Training
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...
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Episode 191 Aniela Martin – Offshore Hydrographic Surveyor and Scuba Diver
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…
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Episode 190 Georgina Miller UK Freedive National Champion
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....
About this show
The BiG Scuba Podcast is a new, independent podcast dedicated to all things diving and ocean related. Its hosted by two friends, Ian, and Gemma.Our aim is to provide a light hearted podcast for all levels of divers and also non-divers with a view to encouraging the non-divers to consider entering the water.We hope to bring you current dive and marine related news and information with the added BIG twist.Give us a listen and get inspired about all things scuba.
Hosted by
The BiG Scuba Podcast