My diving career has been a baptism of fire only starting in early 2016 after a chance meeting with someone who has now become a great friend (Steve Kirkman – Episode 1 & 2 of the podcast).
He invited me to Fuerteventura on a military Scuba diving expedition. In that first 18 months I qualified right through the BSAC syllabus to Advanced Diver and Open Water Instructor. Passed as a military sports diving supervisor and completed TDI Twinset, Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures.
The following years I assisted and lead expeditions to Gibraltar, the Canaries and Malta. I went on to get the normal boat handling and O2 quals before switching to Sidemount with Garry Dallas and take up UW photography with the help of Nick Robertson Brown and Adam Hanlon.
Through the podcast I’ve decided to try and make my hobby and passion into something that pays. Several delays because of COVID meant it was December before I completed the TDI CCR MOD1 on the JJ-CCR with Kieran Hatton and now I’m halfway through the HSE Scuba.
My Podcast speaks to more and lesser known divers that interest me, those with personality and a tale or message to tell. I’m less interested in those that have been on every show because we have all heard them 100’s of times but there are some real good people out there trying to do good things and I want to have a brew and get to know them, hopefully learning something at the same time. I pride myself on the research and post production that I see other podcasters miss out on. 10,000 downloads for season 1.
Related: Season 2 of the “Are You a Scuba Diver – Fancy a Brew?” Podcast Starts 1st February 2021
My YouTube is a mix of diver tutorials, dive site guides, memories, self shooting presenter lead experiences you name it. It recently got monetised with 1500 Subscribers and 4500 download hours, its doing better than expected in little over 12 months.
Who am I? Andy Clark married to Ali (The Northern Mermaid). She’s a a twinset diving BSAC Sport Diver and forensic biologist and I run a small property maintenance and pest control business. I turned 40 during the first lock down and I have 3 daughters all now left school. I’ve served 15 years in the Army and seen action in Afghanistan in 2008.
I have a genuine thirst for adventure and passion to share that with anyone who will listen.