After 28 days isolated offshore, divers hit port with money in their pockets and weeks of pent-up energy. Dive schools teach you decompression tables - they don't teach you how to handle THAT.

This episode, I'm sharing two stories from my younger days:

Trinidad, 4am: Two locals convinced me and my deck foreman to get in their cars and tour the "real" Port of Spain. Dodgy bars, spray-painted unconscious people at gas stations, a sketchy market surrounded by locals. We genuinely thought we'd be robbed or killed. The twist ending? Listen to find out!

Aberdeen: A blood-soaked cabin, a knee split open, Big Paddy asleep with a lit cigarette and half a loaf of bread on his chest. And the client rep who caught us twice in one month. Spoiler: I got fired and went surfing instead.

These stories are entertaining. But they're also lessons about reputation, consequences, and how small this industry really is.

Now I'm the client rep dealing with guys like I used to be.

The diving world is tiny. One night can follow you for 10 years. Be smarter than I was.

Ever wondered what commercial divers really make? Forget the inflated numbers and half-truths you see online - this episode breaks down the REAL money in UK and North Sea diving.

I'm covering:

• Actual day rates from inshore diver up to offshore sat diver
• What rotations really mean for your annual income
• The brutal truth about taxes (spoiler: HMRC takes a massive bite)
• Hidden costs that eat into your earnings
• Why "high day rates" don't equal "rich"
• The golden handcuffs that trap experienced divers

Whether you're considering diving school or already in the industry, this is the honest financial breakdown nobody else is giving you.

No BS. Just real numbers from someone who's lived it.

Next episode: Run ashore stories you won't believe. Trust me, number 4 is way more entertaining then all these numbers!

From aimless post-military life to discovering diving in Oman, this episode covers my chaotic journey into commercial diving - including some extremely dangerous decisions, near-death experiences in underwater tunnels, and a disastrous first week offshore that nearly ended my career before it started."

In this episode, I share the story of a life-changing diving accident, the challenges that followed, and how it ultimately shaped my career.

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Welcome to Beyond The Surface. I’m Stu Sutcliffe — I’ve worked offshore as a diver, ropes access tech, NDT inspector, and now as a diving and ROV client rep.

This podcast is about the real offshore stories: diving, ROV, ropes, NDT, and the mental resilience it takes to thrive in the industry.

In this short trailer, I’ll share what the show is about, who it’s for, and what you can expect from upcoming episodes. Follow now and join me for Episode One: The Dive That Changed Everything.