Yes, this is our very final episode.  We are sorry to see it go.  We had an amazing time discussing scuba topics and meeting new people.  More is explained in the episode.

In this episode, Jay and Sarah explore the topic of parenting and diving with their guest, Laura Pohjanen, from Dark Side Divers. The discussion covers considerations when balancing diving and parenting, the unique experience of being a diver and a mom, the physical and mental challenges, and the importance of support from partners and the diving community. They also touch on introducing children to swimming and water sports, language barriers in parenting, and the societal expectations around parenthood.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

• Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;
• Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts
• Send the link to the show, ‘divetable.com,’ to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.
• Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say,’Howdy!’
• Join us on our Facebook group, www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable 

Laura

DarkSide Divers on Instagram

DarkSide Divers

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

The Dive Table Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable

Instagram

@thedivetable

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

Sarah Miller

www.azulunlimited.com

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

Greg Hamman, owner of Gayscuba.com, discusses his experience as a queer person in the diving industry and the importance of creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ divers. He highlights the role of LGBTQ+ scuba clubs in providing support and resources for divers and the progress that has been made in some destinations. Greg also addresses the challenges of homophobia and discrimination that still exist in the industry and the need for allies to speak up and take a stand. He emphasizes the importance of situational awareness and listening to the concerns of marginalized divers to ensure their safety and comfort.  Greg also discuss the challenges that still exist in the industry and the importance of individual conversations and relationships in promoting understanding and acceptance.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
03:02 Challenges Faced by LGBTQ+ Divers
07:54 The Role of Allies in Creating Safe Spaces
13:04 Progress and Challenges in the Diving Industry
22:51 Situational Awareness and Diver Safety
28:13 Introduction and the Equality of Diving
32:58 The Importance of a Welcoming Environment for Divers
39:07 Welcoming LGBTQ+ Divers in Destinations
44:16 Creating a Safe Learning Environment for Divers
48:57 Challenges and the Role of Allies in the Diving Community
53:19 Looking Towards the Future and Advocating for Change

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

• Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;
• Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts
• Send the link to the show, ‘divetable.com,’ to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.
• Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say,’Howdy!’
• Join us on our Facebook group, www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable 

Greg Hamman

https://www.gayscuba.com/

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

The Dive Table Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable

Instagram

@thedivetable

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

Sarah Miller

www.azulunlimited.com

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

Note:  I apologize for the technical difficulty that Jay's microphone was experiencing.  It is rectified at the 18:50 minute mark.

In this conversation, Jay, Sarah, and Ara discuss the lack of diversity in the scuba diving industry and the impact it has on different communities. They explore the experiences of being a person of color in the diving world, the stereotypes and discrimination faced by divers from different backgrounds, and the role of marketing and representation in perpetuating these biases. 

They also touch on the financial barriers that prevent many individuals from marginalized communities from accessing diving opportunities. The conversation covers topics such as the lack of access to diving for Filipinos due to financial constraints, the importance of localizing diving and making it accessible to all, the need for awareness and empathy when traveling to different cultures, the presence of casual racism in the diving community, and the importance of being an ally and speaking up against racism. The conversation also highlights the significance of supporting businesses that treat their employees well and have fair practices. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
08:16 Race and Identity in Scuba Diving
15:12 Stereotypes and Discrimination in the Diving Community
25:37 Financial Barriers to Diving Opportunities
30:45 Promoting Inclusivity in the Dive Industry
30:55 Lack of Access to Diving for Filipinos
35:02 Cultural Awareness and Empathy
38:12 Addressing Casual Racism in the Diving Community
41:38 Being an Ally and Speaking Up
56:34 Supporting Businesses with Fair Practices
01:00:26 Join the Diver Bliss Community and Dive in the Philippines

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

• Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;
• Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts
• Send the link to the show, ‘divetable.com,’ to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.
• Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say,’Howdy!’
• Join us on our Facebook group, www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable 

Ara

@diverbliss

www.diverbliss.com

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

The Dive Table Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable

Instagram

@thedivetable

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

Sarah Miller

www.azulunlimited.com

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

Being an independent scuba instructor involves managing various aspects of running a small business, serving students, and handling logistics. This includes finding students, defining the target audience, and understanding their needs. It also involves managing the logistics of teaching classes, such as gas fills, dive sites, rentals, and pool access. Building a support system is crucial, including service, retail sales, and knowledge resources. The closure of local dive shops can present challenges, requiring improvisation and finding alternative solutions. Jay shares his experience and invites other independent instructors to share their stories and insights.

The Scripps Pier underwater camera was donated by DeepSea Power & Light and proved HD live streaming video from ~4m (13ft) water depth.
The Scripps Pier Underwater Camera

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

• Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;
• Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts
• Send the link to the show, ‘divetable.com,’ to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.
• Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say,’Howdy!’
• Join us on our Facebook group, www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable 

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

The Dive Table Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable

Instagram

@thedivetable

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

Sarah Miller

www.azulunlimited.com

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

We here at the dive table are excited to announce our new diversity in diving series.

If you've been involved with the scuba diving community in any capacity, you have probably noticed a lack of diversity. Although this is changing as younger people get into the sport with the help of social media, the general diving population consists of white, middle -aged, straight men. And while we love all the people who keep this sport alive, here at the dive table, we want everyone to feel represented in the sport. So we're creating this series to talk about the different challenges people face.

Our purpose is to raise our collective consciousness around diversity and diving and be a part of the continuing evolution of the sport we are all so passionate about. We recognize fully that this topic may be controversial for some. We hope that you'll stick around and learn with us on this journey as we step into other people's shoes. These conversations are important to have out loud and in the open so we can grow together.

Throughout the rest of this season, we will be sprinkling in episodes from this series, including the topics of culture, race, sexual identity, and gender. Be sure to subscribe to get the latest episode and join the conversation in our Facebook group. That's Facebook.com forward slash groups forward slash the dive table.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

• Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;
• Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts
• Send the link to the show, ‘divetable.com,’ to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.
• Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say,’Howdy!’
• Join us on our Facebook group, www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable 

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

The Dive Table Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable

Instagram

@thedivetable

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

Sarah Miller

www.azulunlimited.com

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

Sharks have a bad reputation, mostly due to sensationalism and fear, however, they are important for the environment and play a vital role as apex predators. 

Shark attacks are rare, with the odds of being bitten or killed by a shark being extremely low and in fact, you're more likely to be struck by lightning.  We think it goes without saying, but Humans are the biggest threat to sharks through overfishing, fear-based killings, by-catch and of course being only partially used for shark fin soup. 

Sensationalized media, like Shark Week, perpetuates negative stereotypes about sharks, but social media influencers and conservationists are working hard to show the real side of sharks and their importance to the ecosystem. 

In this conversation, Sarah and Jay discuss common myths and misconceptions about sharks. They debunk the idea that all sharks are big and have sharp teeth, emphasizing the diversity of shark species and their different tooth structures. They also address the misconception that sharks are man-eaters, highlighting that most sharks eat fish or invertebrates. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Sharks and Shark Week
01:00 Sharks' Bad Reputation
03:24 The Rarity of Shark Attacks
06:07 Sharks' Behavior and Misunderstandings
11:03 Human Threats to Sharks
12:23 Sensationalism in Media: The Case of Shark Week
14:37 Changing the Narrative: Showing the Real Side of Sharks
23:11 Introduction and Talking to Kids about Sharks
24:36 Myth #1: All Sharks are Big with Sharp Teeth
25:53 Different Teeth Structures and Shark Diversity
27:22 Myth #2: Sharks are Man-Eaters
28:42 Myth #3: Sharks are Not Important
29:48 Myth #4: Can Anything Hurt a Shark?
31:21 Myth #5: Sharks Attack People Often
33:00 Challenging Sensationalism and Advocating for the Truth
35:19 The Low Rate of Shark Attacks
37:41 Divers as Advocates for Sharks
40:32 Get Involved in Shark Conservation
42:02 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

• Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;
• Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts
• Send the link to the show, ‘divetable.com,’ to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.
• Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say,’Howdy!’
• Join us on our Facebook group, www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable 

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

The Dive Table Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable

Instagram

@thedivetable

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

Sarah Miller

www.azulunlimited.com

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

In this episode, Jay and Sarah discuss the top 10 student myths for scuba divers. They address misconceptions such as the belief that paying for certification guarantees expertise, the idea that scuba diving is challenging, scary, and always expensive, and the notion that instructors should always be trusted without question. They also touch on the importance of choosing the right instructor and questioning your dive buddy if necessary. They also cover the importance of experience, the need for communication, the value of ongoing training and refreshers, and the fallacy of relying solely on equipment. They emphasize the importance of being open-minded, adaptable, and constantly learning in order to become better divers.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:28 Myth 1: Certification Does Not Equal Expertise
07:18 Myth 3: Blind Trust in Instructors
31:29 Myth 5: Never Question Your Dive Buddy
33:20 Debunking Scuba Diving Myths: Instructor Worship
38:27 The Myth of 'I Don't Need More Training'
45:20 The Fallacy of Relying on Equipment
48:45 The Flexibility of Diving Techniques
55:19 The Journey to Mastery in Scuba Diving

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

• Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;
• Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts
• Send the link to the show, ‘divetable.com,’ to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.
• Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say,’Howdy!’
• Join us on our Facebook group, www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable 

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

The Dive Table Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable

Instagram

@thedivetable

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

Sarah Miller

www.azulunlimited.com

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

In this episode, Sarah shares her experience diving in Komodo and other places in Indonesia. She discusses the challenges of traveling to Indonesia, the strong currents in Komodo, and the different dive sites in the area. Diving in Komodo is not just for advanced divers and she highlights the beauty and diversity of the marine life. She also talks about the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and learning from new experiences.  She shares her personal journey and the connections she made during her trip.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Return to Indonesia
01:08 Diving in Indonesia: Challenges and Jet Lag
03:55 Freediving and Different Dive Sites in Komodo
07:47 Batu Balong: A World-Renowned Dive Site
09:40 Manta Point: Drift Diving and Manta Ray Encounters
10:39 Komodo: The Best Place for Dive Master Certification
13:29 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone and Learning as a Diver
16:19 Diver Safety: Underwater and on the Boat
23:01 Personal Journey and Connections Made
25:18 Conclusion and Call to Connect

If you enjoyed this episode and want to be a part of this growing community, you can join us in a couple of ways: 

• Subscribe to the podcast so you get notified when new episodes drop;
• Leave a rating wherever you listen to your podcasts
• Send the link to the show, ‘divetable.com,’ to a dive buddy, your dive team, or your last scuba instructor.
• Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a voicemail here on our website or say,’Howdy!’
• Join us on our Facebook group, www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable 

The Dive Table

https://www.thedivetable.com/

The Dive Table Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedivetable

Instagram

@thedivetable

Gardner Underwater

https://gardnerunderwater.com/

Sarah Miller

www.azulunlimited.com

Fish Dive Surf, Inc.

https://fishdivesurf.com/

While on a dive expedition with Azul Unlimited, Sarah took the time to ask her fellow divers how they felt about the environment, marine life and the conditions that they encountered.