The Scuba Diving Podcast

Latest Episodes:

S2: E5 | Split Fins vs Blade Fins - A conversation pitching two sides of the coin, making arguments FOR & AGAINST them. Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

Kenny and Mike grab lunch at a local taco shop to discuss scuba diving fins. We take a deep dive into the Atomic Split fins vs Mares, Scubapro Seawing Nova, and Jet Fins, with real word testing, use, and objective discussion. The actual, real, correct answer comes in at the very end.

Michael Kest is a jury trial attorney with his own practice, an active dive instructor with experience that ranges from working dive boats in South Florida to Hawaii, water safety at Sea World, Disney's Dive Quest, working for dive shops and teaching classes all over the world. He's also a father of three.

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kenny_dyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

S2: E4 | Checkout Dive locations for Scuba Certification - How important is it? Boat dives offshore vs freshwater locations. Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

Kenny Dyal and Michael Kest discuss & debate checkout dive locations for new scuba diver certifications. Should offshore boat dives be mandated or maybe even be a separate certification? Should the certification focus more on getting comfortable instead of where it is (aka, not romanticizing the location).

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kenny_dyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

S2: E3 | Landscaper goes all-in on buying Fantasy Lake Rock Quarry that's become a Scuba Diver's paradise. Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

Kenny Dyal interviews Daniel Cox, who recently purchased Fantasy Lake Rock Quarry near Raleigh, North Carolina. As the new owners, Daniel and his family are working hard to renovate and transform the rock quarry into a scuba diving paradise. This lake has a wild assortment of underwater attractions like sunken airplanes, a bus, platforms for training, freaky doll heads, cars, an old rock crusher, boats, and LOADS of fish, including large bass and even Koi. Most of the attractions are at such a shallow depth, divers can spend an extremely long time on the bottom and see the majority of the highlights on 1 to 2 tanks. Depths can reach nearly 90' at the deepest part, but nearly all of the attractions are shallower than 30'. Temps and viz are posted on their website daily. You'll love to hear all the future expansions and improvements Daniel has planned to happen really soon. Available here and all major podcast platforms. Fantasy Lake's official website: https://www.gofantasylake.comEmail: info@gofantasylake.com Phone: (919) 556-1803 Address: 3601 Quarry Road Wake Forest, NC 27587

Interview & Video by Kenny Dyal

Underwater Talent: Katie Reich

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kenny_dyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

S2: E2 | Dive Buddies & How to screen for good dive buddies, what makes a good or bad one, & do we really need them? Sep 18, 2022

Show notes

Kenny Dyal and Michael Kest debate and discuss the relevance of dive buddies. Red flags when doing a first dive with someone, ways to navigate around a not-so-ideal dive buddy, and where to draw the line. The topic of whether or not a dive buddy can actually help is also discussed in depth.

Michael Kest is a jury trial attorney with his own practice, an active dive instructor with experience that ranges from working on boats in South Florida to Hawaii, Sea World, Disney's Dive Quest and working for dive shops and teaching classes all over the world, and father of three.

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kenny_dyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

S2:E1 | How to get a job as a Dolphin Trainer & what it's ACTUALLY like working with them at a major aquarium. Sep 17, 2022

Show notes

Senior Dolphin Trainer Rachel Hudon sits down with Kenny Dyal in Atlanta, GA to discuss all things working with dolphin. She discusses what it's like physically working with marine mammals, doings shows, the competitive nature of the industry, and how to actually land that job. She lays out specific steps to get hired as a dolphin trainer, talks about other similar species you can work with, and common mistakes people make trying to get into the field. Rachel also talks about how to handle controversial activism (such as that sparked by Blackfish) and other issues facing the marine mammal and aquarium world. Rachel also offers an extensive set of teaching videos and content through her "Tursi Teach" channel: https://www.instagram.com/tursiteach/

Interview by Kenny Dyal

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kenny_dyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

28 | Everything to become a Mermaid | Returning Guest Olive Teague with the Seattle Mermaid School Jul 31, 2022

Show notes

Olive the Alchemist is a well-know Mermaid Instructor, founder of the Seattle Mermaid School, professional performer, & former Face Character at Disney World (lOve was REALLY good friends with Ariel the Little Mermaid. Olive tells us their backstory, what it takes to become a successful character performer, along with some truly helpful tips to become a real life mermaid. Interviewed by Kenny Dyal of Sweetwater Scuba.

If you'd like to help support this channel, please visit: https://www.sweetwaterscuba.com/membership

27 | How to Open a Dive Shop with NO $$$ before age 30... It's easier than you think! - Kenny Dyal Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

James Carbary of Sweetfish Media interviews Kenny Dyal on dive training, dive business, why he loves it, and what happens next.

Ken started a dive shop from scratch, built it to success, and sold it less than 5 years later, all before turning 35. He now hosts The Scuba Diving Podcast and Channel interview show & produces Down to 60 video series through the creation of Sweetwater Scuba, a dive media company. He is also the author of the kids books "How to Become a Scuba Diver" recently released (after this interview took place). It's available in select bookstores, dive shops, and Amazon.

Ken believes the industry could easily be MUCH larger, if only the public had better access to simplified information, and we make it easier for them to enter this world.

26 | Dive Charter Boat Captain on working the busiest offshore dive site on Earth -Southeast Florida Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

From shark diving to stormy weather, Captain Tony sees it all in the very busy West Palm Beach offshore dive scene.

He shares how to keep calm, keep an eagle eye out, and still enjoy it and have a blast amidst all the responsibility.

From full charters to hosting Shark Week two years in a row and counting, his boats are popular, busy, and always getting wet.

Tony shares all, and also what he does on his downtime for fun.

25 | With a MAJORITY of women Instructors & Boat Captains, Suzie MacDonald changes the game. Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

Suzie not only runs an operation that has more women than men, she runs one of the largest in the Tampa Bay Area. She also organizes and runs Training Workshops and Instructor programs for aspiring new instructors and boat captains. Suzie has so much to teach us about teamwork, hard work and organization, not to mention diving the Gulf of Mexico! A great interview on deck of one of her own dive charter boats in port.

24 | How to run multiple Dive Shops & dive locations at the SAME TIME. -with Barry Olson Dec 13, 2021

Show notes

Barry talks about his prior career managing not one, but THREE dive shops, a handful of pools, and what the recipe for success looks like. He also shares his thoughts on what makes a great dive shop and great instructor, vs one likely to fail.

Barry has since retired from that world, but still stays active in sports, ice fishing, and running the dive operations and Guest dive programs at Walt Disney World Resorts.

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