The Truth About Liveaboard Safety, Part 1: Marine Surveyor - Mick Uberti
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! Do you have feedback or an opinion to share with us? SMS us now. Support the showLove 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? GREAT! - use this link, drop your details & let's get chatting. 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!ShoppingScuba GOAT Amazon Shop - Click here to viewAdvertisingInterested in advertising on the show? Sponsoring an episode or partnering with us? Get in touch today for more details on how we can work together. 🎵 Music: Forever Young by the legend - AudioCoffee | AudioCoffee.net
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1:29:41
Andre Borell: Shark Stop wetsuits
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 channelSharkstop website: https://sharkstop.co/Investment details: Birchall websiteFlinders University: Peer-reviewed reportSocial links for Andre:InstagramDo you have feedback or an opinion to share with us? SMS us now. Nomadic Scuba - Your dive travel agencyPromoting 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 showLove 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? GREAT! - use this link, drop your details & let's get chatting. 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!ShoppingScuba GOAT Amazon Shop - Click here to viewAdvertisingInterested in advertising on the show? Sponsoring an episode or partnering with us? Get in touch today for more details on how we can work together. 🎵 Music: Forever Young by the legend - AudioCoffee | AudioCoffee.net
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53:11
Todd Thimios - Ultimate Dive Sites
SummaryIn 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 LinkDo you have feedback or an opinion to share with us? SMS us now. Nomadic Scuba - Your dive travel agencyPromoting 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 showLove 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? GREAT! - use this link, drop your details & let's get chatting. 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!ShoppingScuba GOAT Amazon Shop - Click here to viewAdvertisingInterested in advertising on the show? Sponsoring an episode or partnering with us? Get in touch today for more details on how we can work together. 🎵 Music: Forever Young by the legend - AudioCoffee | AudioCoffee.net
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1:25:44
Maxime Cheminade - Exploring Mines & Wreck Photography
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 websiteMax'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/Do you have feedback or an opinion to share with us? SMS us now. Support the showLove 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? GREAT! - use this link, drop your details & let's get chatting. 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!ShoppingScuba GOAT Amazon Shop - Click here to viewAdvertisingInterested in advertising on the show? Sponsoring an episode or partnering with us? Get in touch today for more details on how we can work together. 🎵 Music: Forever Young by the legend - AudioCoffee | AudioCoffee.net
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1:14:34
Jill Heinerth & Nays Baghai: Diving into the Darkness
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.Do you have feedback or an opinion to share with us? SMS us now. Support the showLove 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? GREAT! - use this link, drop your details & let's get chatting. 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!ShoppingScuba GOAT Amazon Shop - Click here to viewAdvertisingInterested in advertising on the show? Sponsoring an episode or partnering with us? Get in touch today for more details on how we can work together. 🎵 Music: Forever Young by the legend - AudioCoffee | AudioCoffee.net
The Scuba GOAT Podcast delivers unfiltered insights into the world of scuba diving, marine conservation, and underwater exploration. Host Matt Waters, a seasoned dive professional and founder of Nomadic Scuba, brings you deep dives with marine scientists, conservation leaders, dive industry pioneers, and underwater photographers from across the globe. Discover exceptional dive destinations and meet the passionate operators who make underwater adventures possible. From marine biology discoveries and ocean protection initiatives to first-hand experiences at world-class dive locations, each episode combines expert knowledge with authentic discussions. Whether you're a novice diver or a seasoned professional, discover practical diving tips, conservation success stories, and insider knowledge about the best diving destinations worldwide. Join our growing community of ocean advocates and dive enthusiasts for informative, entertaining conversations that blend expert insights with a splash of light-hearted humour.
Australia