Dive Like A Girl: A Scuba Diving Podcast by Midwest Mermaids Scuba

Can spearfishing actually HELP an ecosystem? 🐠

In this episode of the Dive Like A Girl Podcast, Rachel is joined by Angie Fuller, an Instructor Trainer and invasive-species/lionfish spearfishing instructor, and Liz Anderson, a longtime diver and freshwater spearfisher on Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas.

We're talking about the side of spearfishing that many recreational divers may never have been exposed to: safety, ethics, conservation and responsible harvesting.

Why are divers actively removing lionfish from Atlantic and Caribbean reefs? What's the difference between hunting lionfish with a pole spear and hunting walleye with a pneumatic speargun? What skills should you have BEFORE you try spearfishing? And what does spearfishing look like in an Arkansas lake with limited visibility, thermoclines and underwater brush piles?

We also talk about training, buoyancy, backfinning, species identification, seasons and size limits—and why knowing when NOT to take the shot is part of being a responsible spearfisher.

Plus, Rachel admits she's much better at spotting lionfish than actually hitting a fish.

🎧 Follow the Dive Like A Girl Podcast for more conversations about SCUBA diving, travel, conservation and the underwater world.

💬 Would YOU try spearfishing?

⚠️ Spearfishing regulations vary by location and can change. Always verify current local rules and obtain appropriate training before participating.

Does cave diving look a little... intimidating? 😳

Rachel admits she's usually much more of a pretty-fish, warm-water diver, but after experiencing the cenotes of Mexico, she wanted to learn more about the world of caves and caverns.

This month, she's joined by Lilia “Lily” Cabrera, a full-cave and overhead-environment instructor based in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and Renee Wawczak, a cave-certified recreational diver from Chicago.

We're talking about what cave and cavern diving are really like, why the cave-diving community can sometimes feel intimidating from the outside, what skills matter before pursuing cave training, and why the number of dives in your logbook doesn't necessarily tell us how prepared you are.

We also get into buoyancy, trim, situational awareness, frog kicks, cenotes, fossils, haloclines, the intense cave-training process—and why Renee says cave training may be the most valuable dive training she's ever completed.

Plus: Rachel still can't frog kick properly... and if Lily sees a tarantula on the way to the cenote, Rachel is NOT getting out of the truck. 😂

Whether cave diving is on your bucket list or firmly in your “absolutely not” category, come explore it with us!

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💬 Would YOU try cave or cavern diving?

Interested in diving the cenotes with Lily? https://lilydive.com

Every experienced diver was once a brand-new diver—and most of us made a few mistakes along the way. 🤿

In this episode of the Dive Like A Girl Podcast, Rachel is joined by Bailey, an instructor from Conch Republic Divers in Tavernier, Florida, and Trista, an instructor from Louisville Dive Center in Kentucky to talk about some of the most common mistakes new SCUBA divers make—and how to avoid them.

We're talking overweighting, buoyancy struggles, blowing through your air, swimming with your hands, constantly reaching for your inflator, trying to keep up with experienced divers, being afraid to ask questions, and assuming a Divemaster or guide will always be there to take care of you.

Plus, we share plenty of our OWN beginner mistakes—because we've all been there!

The biggest takeaway? Open Water certification is just the beginning. Keep asking questions. Keep practicing. Keep learning. And stop comparing yourself to the diver next to you.

A huge thank you to Bailey and Trista for joining us!

🎧 Follow the Dive Like A Girl Podcast so you don't miss future episodes, and share this one with a new diver or dive buddy.

00:00 Welcome to Dive Like A Girl
00:29 Common Mistakes New Divers Make
01:08 Meet Bailey from Conch Republic Divers
01:40 Meet Trista from Louisville Dive Center
02:34 Overweighting & Finding the Right Weight
05:01 Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions
07:05 Weighting Is NOT a Competition
09:47 Wetsuits, Exposure Protection & Changing Weight Needs
11:08 Confidence, Ego & Being Willing to Learn
14:22 Air Consumption & Why New Divers Burn Through Air
16:11 Finning, Frog Kicks & Swimming with Your Hands
19:14 Learning REAL Buoyancy Control
22:22 Slow Down — Diving Isn't a Race
24:09 Stop Comparing Your Air Consumption
26:20 Breathing, Relaxing & Improving Air Consumption
30:00 Never Stop Learning
31:25 Your Dive Guide Isn't Responsible for Everything
32:38 Open Water Is Your License to Learn
34:48 Check Your Own Air!
35:33 Final Thoughts & Thanks

Is a liveaboard only for experienced divers? Can you book one without a dive buddy? What should you pack? And is it really just eat, sleep, dive, repeat?

In this episode of the Dive Like A Girl Podcast, Rachel and Tara are joined by Julie Haakenson for an all-about-liveaboards conversation designed especially for divers considering their first trip.

Julie shares how she took her first liveaboard trip as a newer diver and solo female traveler with fewer than 25 dives—and how that experience eventually helped change the direction of her life and led to working in the liveaboard industry herself.

We talk about choosing the right boat and destination for your experience level, traveling solo, finding dive buddies, sharing cabins, currents and certification requirements, packing light, bringing vs. renting dive gear, budget vs. luxury boats, gratuities and additional fees, dive and travel insurance, and why arriving early for an international liveaboard is always a good idea.

Plus, Rachel and Tara share some of the lessons they've learned from their own liveaboard experiences—including why multiple swimsuits, soft-sided luggage, a hooded towel and a warm boat parka might deserve a spot on your packing list!

A huge thank you to Julie for joining us and sharing her liveaboard expertise! 💙

All Star Liveaboards: https://allstarliveaboards.com/

DAN Dive Accident Insurance: https://apps.dan.org/join-dan/?rc=3267027DAN Dive Trip Insurance: https://www.dan.org/partner/3267027/trip

Midwest Mermaids Scuba Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midwestmermaidsscuba/
Midwest Mermaids Scuba Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwestmermaidsscuba/
Midwest Mermaids Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stlmidwestmermaids

Kahu Hooded Towels: https://midwestmermaids.myshopify.com/products/kahu-tribe-towel-ponchos
SurfFur Parkas: https://midwestmermaids.myshopify.com/products/surffur-the-original-waterparka-dive-parka

Disclaimer: All Star Liveaboards did not sponsor or pay for this episode. Information discussed is deemed accurate as of the recording date and is subject to change. Pricing, fees, itineraries, amenities, requirements, policies and other details vary by operator, vessel, destination and travel date. Please verify current information directly with the applicable provider before booking or traveling.

🎧 Follow the Dive Like A Girl Podcast so you don't miss our next episode, and share the show with a dive buddy who needs a little encouragement to book that liveaboard!

Every diver has experienced it: you plan the perfect dive trip, build it up in your mind, and then something unexpected changes the plan.

In this episode of the Dive Like A Girl Podcast, Rachel and Tara discuss why managing expectations is one of the most valuable travel skills a diver can have. From weather cancellations and changing water temperatures to currents, dive boats, destination research, and wildlife encounters, they share stories from recent trips to Belize and the Galápagos while offering practical advice to help you get the most out of every dive adventure.

Whether you're headed to Florida, Hawaii, Bonaire, Belize, or your local quarry, this episode will help you prepare for the unexpected—and remind you that sometimes the best dives are the ones you never saw coming.

Adaptive SCUBA diving is about so much more than equipment—it's about trust, teamwork, independence, and creating opportunities for everyone to experience the underwater world.

In Episode 4, Rachel sits down with adaptive diving instructor Hellen Armstrong and adaptive diver Jen Chaillie to discuss how adaptive diving works, what it's like from both the instructor's and diver's perspectives, and why more dive professionals and volunteers should consider getting involved.

From learning to dive after a spinal cord injury to making dive destinations more accessible around the world, this conversation is inspiring, educational, and a wonderful reminder of what makes the dive community so special.

Whether you're an instructor, an experienced diver, or just beginning your SCUBA journey, this episode will leave you with a new appreciation for the life-changing impact of adaptive diving.

A great dive buddy can make an amazing dive even better—and a bad one can make it unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.

In Episode 3, Rachel, Kat, and Tara talk about the qualities they look for in a dive buddy, what makes a great dive boat, and the little details that help divers stay safe and enjoy every dive.

Along the way, they recap Rachel's first liveaboard experience, discuss upcoming trips to the Galápagos and Belize, and share plenty of funny stories and lessons learned from hundreds of dives.

Whether you're newly certified or have years of experience, this episode is full of practical advice, relatable stories, and exactly the kind of conversations that happen after a great day of blowing bubbles.

In Episode 2 of the Dive Like A Girl Podcast, Rachel, Kat, and Tara talk all about getting Open Water certified — from classroom sessions and quarry dives to checkout dives in the Florida Keys and the reality of beginner SCUBA nerves.

The girls also talk liveaboards, shark anxiety, navigation fails, 100th dive traditions, and why you absolutely do NOT need to buy a garage full of gear before getting certified.

Basically… three mermaids talking about SCUBA diving with a little educational content and a lot of blowing bubbles. 🌊

#divelikeagirl #midwestmermaidsscuba #scubadiving #midwestmermaids #SCUBAcertification

What happens when a few women from the Midwest connect in the comments section of a Girls That Scuba Facebook post? Apparently… a dive community with 1,200+ members. 😂

In Episode 1 of the Dive Like A Girl Podcast, Rachel, Kat, and Tara share how Midwest Mermaids Scuba got started, funny dive stories, drift diving adventures, quarry chaos, shark encounters, and why more women should get certified to SCUBA dive.

Think of it as three mermaids talking after a dive trip — with a little educational content and a lot of blowing bubbles.

🌊 CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:35 What is Midwest Mermaids Scuba?
01:20 How Tara Got Into Diving
01:50 Kat’s Ocean Obsession
03:20 The Snorkeling Incident
04:45 How Rachel Started Diving
05:45 The Girls That Scuba Post That Started It All
07:10 Quarry Diving & Midwest Diving Myths
08:20 Gilboa’s Fish Tornado
09:00 Spoonbill Fish & Giant Catfish
10:10 Camping & Quarry Weekends
11:20 Women Dive Day at Pennyroyal
14:00 Belize Trips & Dive Buddies
14:30 Kat Always Gets the Nervous Diver
15:30 Proud Mom Drift Dive Moment
16:40 Tara Flooding Another Phone
18:10 Shark Fears vs Reality
20:30 Florida Bait Ball Story
21:30 Final Thoughts & Encouragement to Get Certified

#divelikeagirl #midwestmermaidsscuba #scubadiving #midwestmermaids #girlsthatscuba