The Dive Table The Dive Table

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 podcastsSend 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 podcastsSend 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 Week01:00 Sharks' Bad Reputation03:24 The Rarity of Shark Attacks06:07 Sharks' Behavior and Misunderstandings11:03 Human Threats to Sharks12:23 Sensationalism in Media: The Case of Shark Week14:37 Changing the Narrative: Showing the Real Side of Sharks23:11 Introduction and Talking to Kids about Sharks24:36 Myth #1: All Sharks are Big with Sharp Teeth25:53 Different Teeth Structures and Shark Diversity27:22 Myth #2: Sharks are Man-Eaters28:42 Myth #3: Sharks are Not Important29:48 Myth #4: Can Anything Hurt a Shark?31:21 Myth #5: Sharks Attack People Often33:00 Challenging Sensationalism and Advocating for the Truth35:19 The Low Rate of Shark Attacks37:41 Divers as Advocates for Sharks40:32 Get Involved in Shark Conservation42:02 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 podcastsSend 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 Introduction01:28 Myth 1: Certification Does Not Equal Expertise07:18 Myth 3: Blind Trust in Instructors31:29 Myth 5: Never Question Your Dive Buddy33:20 Debunking Scuba Diving Myths: Instructor Worship38:27 The Myth of 'I Don't Need More Training'45:20 The Fallacy of Relying on Equipment48:45 The Flexibility of Diving Techniques55:19 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 podcastsSend 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 Indonesia01:08 Diving in Indonesia: Challenges and Jet Lag03:55 Freediving and Different Dive Sites in Komodo07:47 Batu Balong: A World-Renowned Dive Site09:40 Manta Point: Drift Diving and Manta Ray Encounters10:39 Komodo: The Best Place for Dive Master Certification13:29 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone and Learning as a Diver16:19 Diver Safety: Underwater and on the Boat23:01 Personal Journey and Connections Made25:18 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 podcastsSend 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.