Article written by Maria Shagina of ProTec Dive Center for The ProTec Dive Center Chronicles.

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A fascination with sharks would propel Marc Anderes into the underwater world. His first breaths in the aquatic environment came at the age of thirteen. A few years later while on vacation with his family in Thailand, he would earn his first certification. Diving was an enjoyable hobby for him for years before a last-minute trip with his sister ignited his passion for the sport. Soon after, he would find himself diving every weekend and eventually find himself moving full-time into the industry. Please enjoy.

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When Maria Shagina decided to pursue this new hobby of enjoying moments beneath the surface of the water, she traveled down a nontraditional route and approached the sport with a more technical-driven mindset and practice. Making her way to Mexico would introduce her to the beautiful caves of the Yucatan, Instantly, she knew this was where she needed to be. Finding a welcoming community, she settled in and made a new home, until an injury in a dry caving expedition would change her life and alter her course. Eventually, she would overcome this and find her way back to this place she calls home. Please enjoy.

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While training in Mexico, I kept running into Steve Crosby at many dive sites. After a few conversations, I invited him to the podcast. Within a couple of minutes, we would realize just how small the scuba industry is. After becoming certified at an early age, he knew diving would be more than just a fun activity. After moving into a professional role, he would travel throughout Southeast Asia before COVID brought him back to the U.S. Eventually finding his way to Mexico, he would choose ProTec Dive Center to further his career and personal diving. Please enjoy.

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Due to having asthma early in life, Skanda Coffield-Feith was turned away the first time he tried to enroll in a scuba course. Years later, while on a backpacking trip, he would find himself on Koh Tao experiencing his first breaths underwater. For a time, he enjoyed diving recreationally on holiday, until a random encounter introduced him to a dive club near his home in Australia. During a trip with the club, he found himself in Mt Gambier, here in the heart of the limestone coast, his journey into the overheard would begin. Please enjoy.

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In this Takeover Episode, Tamara Adame interviews Gaëlle Giesen as she prepares for her historic attempt to break the female depth record of two hundred meters while on a rebreather in open water. They speak about the challenges, logistics, special equipment, and most importantly the mentality required for such an attempt. Her early days of diving through her progression, her joy of going where humans are not meant to be, her recipe to succeed, and much more. Please enjoy.

Gaëlle Giesen
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https://www.instagram.com/gaelle.giesen/
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https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095601341531

Tamara Adame:
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https://www.facebook.com/cenotegirl?mibextid=LQQJ4d
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https://cenotegirl.com/

Aquatic sports always came naturally to Lilia Cabrera Gallaga. Growing up in Mexico City, she would search for ways to spend her free time in the water. Naturally, she would find her way to the world of scuba diving, which brought her to Playa De Carmen, where it was love at first visit. Here, she would progress through the sport becoming an instructor and avid cave diver. While continuing her education she would meet Vincent Rouquette-Cathala and eventually become invited to be a part of the Under The Jungle family. Please enjoy!

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https://www.instagram.com/mxscuba/
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Website:
https://www.mxscuba.com/
https://www.underthejungle.com/en/home/

The art of frustration is something that needs to be embraced when flirting or participating in exploration. Vincent Rouquette-Cathala, co-owner of Under The Jungle in Mexico is no stranger to exploration. Becoming obsessed with diving from an early age would eventually lead him down a path of searching for the unknown. At first, cave diving was a way to improve skills and pass the time until he could return to his love of wreck diving. With each dive, he would become more attracted to this environment that allowed him to improve, explore, create life-long friendships, and most importantly practice the art of frustration. Please enjoy.

Website:
https://www.underthejungle.com/en/home/

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https://www.instagram.com/vincent_rouquette_cathala/
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With a few lights, a model, and a flooded cave, Natalie Gibb captures moments and creates a narrative for viewers to explore. Images that give us a glimpse into a world that many do not see or dare go. Images that take us away momentarily from our daily lives. As co-owner of Under The Jungle, she has helped to establish her shop as one of the premier dive training destinations in the world. Designing a team that inspires, motivates, and mentors all of their students. A place where students return time after time to further their education and become future explorers. Film, photography, explorations, science week, future goals, and much more. Please enjoy.

Website:
https://www.underthejungle.com/en/home/

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https://www.instagram.com/underthejungle/

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Originally from Finland, Arya Hintsala made a quick detour to Bali while en route to Australia. What began as a surf vacation, led her to enroll in an Open Water Course. After a few skills, she knew this was something she needed to pursue. Leaving her job at the foreign ministry, she quickly immersed herself in this newfound passion traveling to different destinations teaching, and guiding. The complexity, skill, and challenging aspect of technical diving appealed to her, so naturally, she found her way to the Yucatan in search of a higher level of training. Here she would be introduced to Natalie Gibb and Under The Jungle and once again, her path would be altered. Please enjoy.

Ojamo Mine Update:
For many years Sami Paakkarinen and others have been working hard so that everyone can dive in Ojamo again and this summer they took a significant step towards it as they signed the land lease agreement between the city of Lohja and Ojamo Kaivosukeltajat ry, the cave diver's association formed to try and open Ojamo for everyone. There are still some details to finish up but Ojamo is open and we're busy diving it!!
More information is available here:
https://www.facebook.com/sami.paakkarinen/posts/pfbid022bUJKNp2atHq9UwLJD7vvN67LeS6cmokKs16zPc6zcDCK9MawhE3GRAghpQ9ebzzl


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https://www.instagram.com/arya.irmeli/
https://www.instagram.com/underthejungle/

Website:
https://www.underthejungle.com/en/arya-hintsala/
https://www.underthejungle.com/en/home/