Samir Alhafith, founder of The Sydney Project, and Navy Clearance Diver Lieutenant Rus Pnevski take us deep into one of NSW’s most enduring maritime mysteries — the rediscovery of the SS Nemesis. Built in 1880 by Thomas Turnbull & Sons in Whitby, England, the steamship was later used to haul coal between Newcastle and Melbourne and was tragically lost in a savage gale off Wollongong on the night of July 8–9, 1904, taking all 32 crew members with her.

For over a century, the location of the 73-metre iron-hulled wreck remained unknown. Debris and bodies washed ashore at Cronulla, but the hull eluded discovery — until May 2022, when Subsea Professional Marine Services stumbled upon it by accident while searching for lost shipping containers roughly 26 km offshore in about 160 metres of water.

Identification came after CSIRO’s RV Investigator conducted high-resolution seafloor mapping with multibeam echosounders and captured drop-camera footage of key structural features — including two of the ship’s anchors — confirming the wreck as the long-lost SS Nemesis.

Now the wreck lies upright on a sandy plain, with serious damage to its bow and stern. The storm appears to have overwhelmed the engine, and a massive wave struck before lifeboats could be launched, sealing its fate.

In this episode, Samir and Rus walk us through their historic dive — the first human dive on the wreck in over 120 years. We share video footage from the team, taking you deep into the thrill and discovery, the history that nearly vanished, and even the gear troubles they faced in 160-metre depths.

 

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Dive Travel with Nomadic Scuba
Everyone needs a solid travel buddy… Founded by Matt, Nomadic Scuba is an online booking agency for scuba divers. Chances are, Matt himself will sort out your trip - he’s a bit of a planning geek (and loves it!). Check out Nomadic Scuba today and Breathe life into your adventure!

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Today I’m joined by the incredibly talented Matt Krumins - a Melbourne-based professional photographer with over 15 years of experience across landscapes, wildlife, events, and underwater photography. 

 

A keen diver, he commenced his underwater journey over 2 decades ago and I’ve admired Matt’s work for several years, particularly his striking big animal imagery from South Africa and his captivating underwater shots from Tufi Resort - where I had the privilege of living for a year. 

 

Matt’s passion for nature and storytelling through imagery is unmistakable, and his journey back underwater is one I’ve been looking forward to. 

 

He was named an Olympus Underwater Ambassador back in 2016 and in 2022 took out the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year award in the Monochrome category. 

 

Beyond the accolades, Matt is a passionate educator who believes photography should be fun, creative, and accessible to everyone. 

 

Get ready for an inspiring chat with one of the most down-to-earth talents in the field. Let’s dive right in!

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Dive Travel with Nomadic Scuba
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In this episode of The Scuba GOAT Podcast, host Matt Waters is joined by marine surveyor Mick Uberti to take a deep dive into the realities of dive liveaboard safety—what’s working, what’s failing, and what needs to change. With over two decades of experience in maritime safety, Mick has worked with boat owners worldwide, including the UAE royal family and Richard Branson. As the founder of Maritime Survey Australia (MSA) and an AMSA-accredited Domestic Commercial Vessel (DCV) surveyor, he has conducted vessel surveys across the globe, including some of Egypt’s Red Sea liveaboard fleet. His expertise has led to a collaboration with Taucher.net, a leading German diving platform, which has publicly recommended that dive operators in the Red Sea undergo safety audits by Mick’s team at Maritime Survey International (MSI). This episode is part of a larger series on liveaboards, aiming to provide a 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 exploration of the industry. While many operators uphold and even exceed safety expectations, others fall dangerously short—often due to a complex web of contributing factors. Mick and Matt discuss legal loopholes, flag states with differing safety standards, lack of enforcement, financial pressures driving a race-to-the-bottom pricing model, inadequate crew training, and the role of divers themselves in demanding luxury at unsustainable costs. By learning from both the best and worst examples, this series aims to equip listeners with the knowledge to identify safe liveaboards and understand the broader challenges at play. Whether you’re a seasoned liveaboard diver or considering your first trip, this conversation will shed light on the unseen forces shaping safety standards in the industry. 🎧 Tune in now for an essential discussion on the future of liveaboard safety! 

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Dive Travel with Nomadic Scuba
Everyone needs a solid travel buddy… Founded by Matt, Nomadic Scuba is an online booking agency for scuba divers. Chances are, Matt himself will sort out your trip - he’s a bit of a planning geek (and loves it!). Check out Nomadic Scuba today and Breathe life into your adventure!

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A little over three years ago I interviewed Andre Borell, director of Envoy: Shark Cull, a hard-hitting documentary highlighting the archaic shark mitigation systems employed by the Australian government throughout Queensland and New South Wales. The doco, narrated by Eric Banna, was initially aired exclusively on Stan and three years down the line has a much greater global audience through many other popular media streams including Netflix. 

During today's episode, I grab an update from Andre and an excellent insight into his latest project, the Shark Stop wetsuit. Now, in its second round of funding, the Shark Stop wetsuits were originally designed by surfer Haydon Burford, who wanted to find a wetsuit similar to the impact protection for motorcyclists via Kevlar. Through his research and development, he created what we see now as the bite-resistant wetsuit Shark Stop. 

Tested by Flinders University on board the Rodney Fox vessel, Andre shares the impressive results and findings, so join me as we delve deeper into the creation, those results, the progress of the business, and the opportunities available for investors seeking to make a change. Please enjoy.

Links:

Watch on The Scuba GOAT Podcast: YouTube channel

Sharkstop website: https://sharkstop.co/

Investment details: Birchall website

Flinders University: Peer-reviewed report

Social links for Andre:

Instagram

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Dive Travel with Nomadic Scuba
Everyone needs a solid travel buddy… Founded by Matt, Nomadic Scuba is an online booking agency for scuba divers. Chances are, Matt himself will sort out your trip - he’s a bit of a planning geek (and loves it!). Check out Nomadic Scuba today and Breathe life into your adventure!

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Summary
In this conversation, Todd shares his journey as a dive instructor and underwater photographer, discussing his experiences in various diving locations worldwide, including the Galapagos and Thailand. He reflects on the changes in his life, including starting a family and writing a book about the best dive experiences globally. The discussion also touches on the beauty of cold-water diving and the thrill of encountering marine life, particularly Orcas. In this engaging conversation, Todd shares his extensive diving experiences across various global locations, highlighting each site's unique marine life and conditions.
From the seasonal dynamics of herring in Norway to the vibrant underwater ecosystems of Tubbataha and the Coolidge wreck in Vanuatu, Todd provides insights into the best diving practices and the importance of conservation. He also discusses the allure of blackwater diving, the majestic manta rays of the Maldives, and the thrilling shark encounters in Fuvahmulah. The conversation culminates with Todd's reflections on his most memorable dive locations and the upcoming launch of his book, Ultimate Dive Sites.

Todd's book is currently on sale at a 15% discount and can be purchased via this Amazon Link

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Nomadic Scuba - Your dive travel agency
Promoting liveaboards, Resorts, Group expeditions, Dive shops & hand-picked dive ambassadors.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Dive Travel with Nomadic Scuba
Everyone needs a solid travel buddy… Founded by Matt, Nomadic Scuba is an online booking agency for scuba divers. Chances are, Matt himself will sort out your trip - he’s a bit of a planning geek (and loves it!). Check out Nomadic Scuba today and Breathe life into your adventure!

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🎵 Music: Forever Young by the legend - AudioCoffee | AudioCoffee.net

Today I am thrilled to introduce you to Maxime Cheminard, a talented dive photographer who I first met at the inaugural International Underwater Photography Competition in Aqaba, Jordan, where he received an honorable mention at the award ceremony for his awesome image of the Cedar Pride.

Max's journey into the world of diving began during his time in the French military and after transitioning to civilian life, He pursued his passion as a dive instructor in Thailand. During this time, he found himself under the tutelage of Mikko Paasi, a dive shop owner and Thai cave rescue hero.

Together with Mikko and other diving legends, Max has explored Thailand's long-forgotten flooded mines and through the fantastic bottom line initiative, they've mapped kilometres of submerged tunnels, and created options for mine diving training. And revitalized tourism, boosting the local economy. Join me as I catch up with Max and dive deeper into his career, past, present, and future, please enjoy.

Listen here: Scuba GOAT website


Max's socials:

YouTube:  @MaximeCheminade 

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxime_underwater/ 

 

Website: https://www.maximecheminade.com/ 

 

Bottomline Projects: https://www.bottomlineprojects.com/ 

 

Divernet article, Underwater photography competition, Jordan: https://divernet.com/photography/aqaba-hosts-inaugural-international-underwater-photo-competition/ 

 

Koh Tao Divers website: https://kohtaodivers.com/

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Dive Travel with Nomadic Scuba
Everyone needs a solid travel buddy… Founded by Matt, Nomadic Scuba is an online booking agency for scuba divers. Chances are, Matt himself will sort out your trip - he’s a bit of a planning geek (and loves it!). Check out Nomadic Scuba today and Breathe life into your adventure!

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🎵 Music: Forever Young by the legend - AudioCoffee | AudioCoffee.net

In this captivating episode, award-winning film director Nays Baghai and legendary cave explorer Jill Heinerth discuss their collaborative journey in creating the film 'Diving into the Darkness.' They delve into the complexities of underwater filming, the importance of safety protocols, and the emotional depth of storytelling. The conversation highlights the challenges faced during production, the role of fear in diving, and the significance of sound design. Both guests share personal anecdotes, bloopers, and insights into the diving community, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and authenticity in filmmaking.

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Dive Travel with Nomadic Scuba
Everyone needs a solid travel buddy… Founded by Matt, Nomadic Scuba is an online booking agency for scuba divers. Chances are, Matt himself will sort out your trip - he’s a bit of a planning geek (and loves it!). Check out Nomadic Scuba today and Breathe life into your adventure!

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Growing up in the UK, Adrian Stacey decided that scuba diving might be slightly more adventurous than selling photocopiers. With that in mind, he embarked on a 13-year scuba travelling adventure that would catapult him around the world to explore many of the great dive destinations. 

Egypt, Oman, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Brazil, Saba, the Bahamas, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Palau, Vanuatu, and Fiji certainly is quite a list! Nevertheless, he has now settled down in Brisbane, Australia with his wife and kids, and as the Editor of Scuba Diver Magazine, he continues his passion vicariously through the reports within its covers. 

The Go Diving Show originates in the UK and we've previously discussed it with Mark Evans, Editorial Director of Scuba Diver Magazine. Adrian joins me today for a quick catch-up and overview of the show and the speakers that will be gracing the stage. 

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Nomadic Scuba - Your dive travel agency
Promoting liveaboards, Resorts, Group expeditions, Dive shops & hand-picked dive ambassadors.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Love the show?
Reviews help us grow and let us know you're listening - If you can spare two minutes, please leave a review here.

Want to be a guest on the show?
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Dive Travel with Nomadic Scuba
Everyone needs a solid travel buddy… Founded by Matt, Nomadic Scuba is an online booking agency for scuba divers. Chances are, Matt himself will sort out your trip - he’s a bit of a planning geek (and loves it!). Check out Nomadic Scuba today and Breathe life into your adventure!

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Diving Deep: Lissenung Island Adventures, Challenges, and Conservation EffortsIn this captivating episode, we journey to Lissenung Island in Papua New Guinea, where Ange Amon narrates the island's history after recalling a fall which resulted in a horrific leg-break injury! Moving on, Ange tells of how she met her husband Dietmar and how he became the island owner, and highlights transformation of this paradise into a sanctuary for turtles. Their conservation efforts reach beyond the island's...

Lyndi Leggett is a passionate scuba diving professional, and founder of The Scuba Gym Australia. A not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic scuba diving experiences for individuals with disabilities and challenges, both physical and cognitive. Alongside offering unique underwater therapy, Lyndi has expanded her outreach to include the Scuba Warrior program, specifically designed for first responders and veterans coping with post-traumatic stress. Her work not only emphasizes physical rehabilitation, but also environmental conservation efforts through local cleanup dives.

Episode Summary:

In this inspirational episode of the Scuba Goat podcast, I welcome Lyndi Leggett back on the show to discuss the transformative power of scuba diving for individuals with disabilities, cognitive difficulties and divers facing post-traumatic stress. Lyndi first appeared on the show in October 2022 during season 3.  We have a good catch-up and delve back into the exceptional work at the Scuba Gym, highlighting the therapeutic benefits of being underwater, where gravity no longer constrains the body, allowing for remarkable physical and cognitive exercises.  There has been a lot happening since we first heard from Lyndi, new divers, amazing experiences and even collaborating with the Sydney Aquarium where several lucky divers have now experienced lifetime goals and dived with the sharks therein.

Lyndi’s dedication to environmental stewardship shines through as she recounts the proactive cleanup drives she runs with her team, helping to remove significant debris like motorbikes and numerous plastic bags from oceanic waters. The stories shared by Lyndi are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the healing power of diving, showcasing how individuals like a former policeman now turned diving instructor have found a renewed purpose in life.

The Scuba Gym is actively seeking corporate financial support to continue its transformative work with individuals facing disabilities, cognitive difficulties, and post-traumatic stress. Potential corporate supporters can obtain all the necessary information to consider contributing to this impactfu

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Dive Travel with Nomadic Scuba
Everyone needs a solid travel buddy… Founded by Matt, Nomadic Scuba is an online booking agency for scuba divers. Chances are, Matt himself will sort out your trip - he’s a bit of a planning geek (and loves it!). Check out Nomadic Scuba today and Breathe life into your adventure!

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