The Great Dive Podcast

Episode 152 - Forced Perspective

21 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The boys get back to a fan favorite, underwater photography. What do you do when the dive changes? Maybe it’s because of the weather, maybe it’s b...

Episode 151 - The Cone of Stones

14 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In 1960, America’s Greatest Diver was lost inside of a cave near Cassis, France. The search for Conrad Limbaugh included the French and U.S. Navy, d...

Episode 150 - The Day The Dive Line Disappeared

07 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The alternate title of this episode was going to be, “19 Inches of Silt.” Johnny Cash wrote a song about it. Today, Jamesy and Brando dig up a sto...

Episode 149 - Looking Up

01 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As a diver who do you look up to? Your Instructor? A buddy or a mentor? Who do they look up to? Chances are, no matter how good you are or how much ex...

Episode 149 - Looking Up

31 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As a diver who do you look up to? Your Instructor? A buddy or a mentor? Who do they look up to? Chances are, no matter how good you are or how much ex...

Episode 148 - All I Ever Really Needed To Know I Learned In Cave Diving Class

24 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

They knew it 25 years ago and yet, much has not changed. Can the recreational scuba diving world learn anything from the cave diving world? Tune in to...

Episode 147 - Opinions Are Split On This One

17 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week the boy's tackle the most divisive topic within the Scuba Community. No matter which side of the aisle your particular mindset has you pitch...

Episode 146 - Breathless, Running Out Of Air

10 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the year 2020 divers have so many resources to inform them about their amount of remaining gas, however out-of-airs still happen. Why? Join Jamesy ...

Episode 145 - Getting Fit For Scuba Diving

03 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2020 and a new year for a new you. Many divers will start off the year with a fitness plan and a fresh awareness of their health. But what is t...

Episode 144 - 2019 Year In Review

27 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The boys sit down and have a rap about all the fun stuff and shenanigans from 2019. The highs, the lows, the good times and the bad. We remember our f...

Episode 143 - Lost Under The Ice

20 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What were you doing in January of 1992? Brando was playing volleyball, James was still in High School and our subjects of today’s show were diving i...

Episode 142 - A Friday The 13th Cold Water Diving Lesson

13 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ok, now I realize that this could happen any day of the year not just Friday the 13th so the title is totally not accurate....or IS IT? Today is Frida...

Episode 141 - It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Scubamas

06 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for what has become a most treasured holiday tradition at the TGDP households around the globe, the annual Christmas Wishlist!! Have a liste...

Episode 140 - The Sinking of the Daniel J Morrell

29 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The 29th of November, 1966 was another horrendous day out on Lake Huron. Hurricane winds and towering waves crashing in from multiple directions took ...

Episode 139 - Diving The Daniel J Morrell

22 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The boys start off this week catching up about Jamesy’s recent trip to Orlando for the dive industry DEMA show, all the cool people he met and where...

Episode 138 - Drysuit Myths

15 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Don't get left out in the cold. The boys discuss Drysuit diving and some of the different myths about using them.

Episode 137 - The Great Storm of 1913

08 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join your favorite dive buddies, the November Galiest Jamesy and the Ol’ Winter Warlock Brando for this look at the worst storm ever to hit the Grea...

Check Out Gareth - Interview 1

01 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Back in the spring we released our first interview, privately to Patreon members. Now it is available to everyone. These Check Out interviews will giv...

Episode 135 - A Deep Dive Into The Diver's Psyche Part II

25 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The boys continue their deep dive into the psyche of the diver. Listen as they wrap up their discussion to discover if divers are truly crazy or has d...

Episode 134 - A Deep Dive Into The Diver's Psyche

18 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Soooo, tell me vhot vuzz zee velatshunsheep viss yuer muzzer liyek? Grab your notebooks and pens and take notes as the boys dive into the psychoanalys...

Episode 133 - Price of Arrogance

11 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The boys really get into character on this episode as they look at the dangers of taking your earthly problems underwater with you. Fixating on a goal...

Episode 132 - Taking Responsibility

04 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Going scuba diving means you are one of the people who get off the couch and really live your life. You are not content to sit back and watch life thr...

Episode 131 - Skindivemanship

27 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This is probably the most important episode of The Great Dive Podcast ever produced. If you have ever wanted to pretend to be a diver or find out how ...

Episode 130 - A Pirate's Life

20 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If schooners, islands and maroons, and Jasmine incense are your thing… then this episode is for you, me boy! Join the bootie-seeking, scallywags of ...

Episode 129 - Eardrum Injury

13 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After a weekend of weather changes and allergies, the boys ran into a few divers with ear clearing troubles. Equalizing the ears is an overlooked art ...

Episode 128 - Sealab 3

06 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This time on Sealab, things don’t go so well. 100 Fathoms below the surface, when you are at 600fsw and you have problems it’s never a good day. J...

Episode 127 - Sealab 2

30 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Leaving the warmer waters of Bermuda, Jamesy and Brando join Scott Carpenter and the other aquanauts 205 feet underwater off Scripps Canyon near La Jo...

Episode 126 - SeaLab I

23 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After George Bond’s famous Blow and Go from Episode 125, he started working on a new project that would have Americans living and working on the bot...

Episode 125 - Blow and Go

16 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join your buddies from TGDP as they take a twilight zone trip with Papa Topside to make an Emergency Swimming Ascent from 300FSW. If you don’t laugh...

Episode 124 - 10 Photo Mistakes

09 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Be honest, have you ever made any of these photography mistakes? James and Brando even admit to a few. Plus the boys discuss other photography crimes ...

Episode 123 - Shark Tales

02 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join James and Brando as they continue to celebrate "Shark Week" with a "Lesson For Life" that comes from a chance encounter with (as you would expect...

Episode 122 - Wild Weekend

26 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Shark Week starts tomorrow and TGDP kicks it off with a big bite! We take a trip to the land down under to jam with the Thunderbirds and take a swim w...

Episode 121 - 333m

19 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What is the #1 way divers die? Is it a skill issue? A mental issue? Ego? What is the difference in the mindset of a diver who dies while attempting to...

Episode 120 - Scubastrology 101

12 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hey divers!! We have a fun one this week! Join Jamesy & Brando as we get in touch with our inner hippies and talk about astrology and scuba diving! We...

Episode 119 - Panic Prevention

05 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Breathe Deep… Even the most skilled divers can fall victim to panic. Jamesy and Brando recall a couple of their own moments of panic underwater and ...

Episode 118 - A Whole New World

28 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Coming from the land of the ice and snow, Jamesy and Brando plunge into a dark dive that leads to a sad fatality for a father and son dive team. What ...

Episode 117 - Summer BBQ Survival

21 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Summer is finally here, and we have your Scuba Catastrophe Survival Guide ready for your listening pleasure. Panicked Buddy! Getting Lost! Trapped! Yo...

Episode 116 - To Pee Or Not To Pee, That Is The Question...

14 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This one is pure gold.... sit back and let this week's stream bathe your ears like a warm waterfall of relief. We tackle the always important yet rare...

Episode 115 - Are The Dive Tables Obsolete?

07 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After sharing their congratulations from PADI for 20 years of service, the TGDP boys get into a discussion about the dive tables. Are they obsolete? I...

Episode 114 - Old Green Boots

31 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Keeping up to date on current affairs, the boys have a talk about the recent deaths at the top of Mt. Everest. There are many similarities to diving a...

Episode 113 - Up Your Mental Game

24 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The boys jump into a long-awaited topic and discuss an article by Gareth Lock, author of the new book Under Pressure. This episode takes a deeper loo...

Episode 112 - Oh, Hal No!

17 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If the boys at TGDP had $1 for every time they heard this story, TGDP would be living the sweet life down in the islands and broadcasting from the bea...

Episode 111 - A Brave New (Scuba) World or 1984 in 1975 Pt 3

10 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week we wrap up our three part series on how the scuba community nearly became yet another bureaucratic tax driven revenue system controlled by o...

Episode 110 - A Brave New (Scuba) World or 1984 in 1975 Pt 2

03 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

To quote George Santayana, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." So listen and learn and keep your freedom! The boys contin...

Episode 109 - A Brave New (Scuba) World or 1984 in 1975

26 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As divers, we've all been taught that here in the US, Scuba is a "self regulated" sport and the government does not really oversee how we train and di...

Episode 108 - Planet Rx

19 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As Earth Day approaches, the boys try something different on TGDP. This week they look at the ecological side of diving; cleaning up the litter and sa...

Episode 107 - Double Trouble

12 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The boys respond to a negative comment about TGDP and then they discuss the problems with the buddy system. Join them as they take a look back at near...

Episode 106 - A Proper British Website For Proper British Divers

04 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The boys take a look at BSAC's very comprehensive "Safe Diver's Guide" on their website. Have a listen!!

Episode 105 - 2018 BSAC Diving Incident Report Pt 2

29 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

James and Brando continue their dive into a few incidents included in the 2018 British Sub-Aqua Club Diving Incident Report. See what we can learn fro...

Episode 104 - 2018 BSAC Diving Incident Report

22 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

James and Brando dive into some information from the 2018 British Sub-Aqua Club Diving Incident Report. We take a break from the nonsense talk and get...

Episode 103 - Oh The Profanity!!

15 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There comes a time in every divers life that they'll confront at least one of these 7 types of inconsiderate diver behavior and sometimes civil discou...

Episode 102 - A 12 Step Program For Scuba Diving?

08 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ok, we've all been there... when your diving is bleeding into all aspects of your life. But when is it "too much"? Listen as James & Brando come to t...

Episode 101 - Buffoonus-Aquarius

01 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join us as the true sons of the fathers of diving, Jamesy and Brando, explore the wide world of archetypical diving personas. Beware of the Buffoonus-...

Episode 100 - Our 100th Episode Episode

22 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join Ol' James and even Older Brando as they celebrate their 100th episode!! They'll pop the bubbly and share this momentous occasion with their 2 big...

Episode 99 - The Incident at Indian Springs

15 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The boys look at another side of underwater tragedy. In 1991, in northern Florida, a cave was being explored. After a successful dive, deep and long, ...

Episode 98 - Cave Divers Die

08 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Right in the middle of our National Cave Diving Month, the boys find a story about two cave divers who died as the result of many bad decisions. Altho...

Episode 97 - Clan of the Cave Divers

01 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Cave diving is not for everyone. However, all divers can learn a lot from the lessons learned in the overhead environment. Whether you are ready to jo...

Episode 96 - The Impenetrable Cave

25 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This is an early look back into the first days of cave diving. A perspective from today and a particularly close look at one of the very first cave di...

Episode 95 - History of Diving Part 2

18 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

From Siebe to Scuba, the boys discuss the inventions and disasters all along the way. Self-Contained freedom was a dream for our early underwater adve...

Episode 94 - The History of Diving Part 1

11 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

TGDP hits the old history books and brings you a historical look at diving, without the help of any research assistants. Lacking any unpaid interns, t...

Episode 93 - Diving Facts

04 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The boys get a Happy New Years gift in the mail and then take some time to discuss some Old School Diving Facts. Bridging the gap between the last 25 ...

Episode 92 - Nice Divers

28 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are you an ice diver? A nice diver? Do you know the difference?? Have you ever written a letter to the editor? Are you a member of the NRA?? Your budd...

Episode 91 - So... You Wanna Dive The North Pole, Eh?

21 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Your favorite dive buddies from TGDP try to get to the bottom of the first dive up at the North Pole. Turns out, it’s 14,000 FSW. With the help of a...

Episode 90 - Oh the Humanatee and 10 Health Benefits of Diving

14 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If this is the first episode you’ve heard from us, we’re sorry about the graphic nature of this week’s podcast. It is not politically correct an...

Episode 89 - The Backplate Special

07 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

LMAO! You need to listen to this episode ASAP. Jamesy and Brando get into a real SNAFU talking about BPW's. Are you still diving a BCD? BCV? BCJ?? LOL...

Episode 88 - Animal Savvy... You Either Have It Or Ya Don't.

30 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel like you may be "that guy" on the dive who just doesn't seem to be able to see all those cool critters that the other divers are seeing? I...

Episode 87 - 2018 Christmas Wishlist

23 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ho! Ho! Ho! Thanksgiving is over and Black Friday is upon us and as with tradition here at TGDP, we have a review of The Scuba Holiday Wishlist giving...

Episode 86 - More Zenny Diving

16 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

More Zenny Diving talk from your favorite dive podcasting duo. James & Brando discuss a book called "Zen Guitar" by Philip Toshio Sudo and how it's ap...

Episode 85 - Why We Dive

09 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is it for the C-card, the recognition and admiration, the ego or do we dive to make us more human? To return us to the elements and to learn something...

Episode 84 - The World Would Be A Better Place

02 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 7 something in the morning and your favorite dive buddies are deep into a philosophical conversation that most people rarely enjoy this early i...

Episode 83 - Halloween 2- The Erie Board of Trade

26 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

James and Brando dive into a classic Great Lakes ghost story. This story about the Erie Board of Trade is chockablock full of skullduggery. So hold on...

Episode 82 - Catastrophe Cake

19 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The boys take on a touchy subject this week that most shops and instructors are hesitant to discuss. It involves the F word! Yes, the one you’re thi...

Episode 81 - Disaster Lasagna

12 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What do you get when you mix 2 cups of Jamesy, 2 parts Brando, 3 tablespoons of Skin Diver Magazine and a dash of Near Death Experiences? BAM! You get...

7 God Dan Mistakes

05 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The boys get back to some serious talk about helping you prepare to be a better diver. They found a Smart Guide to Safe Diving, put out by the Divers ...

Episode 79 - Underwater Photography (Again)

28 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Hey all You Sexy Thangs! It's getting a bit chilly out there and may be time for some Hot Chocolate!! If you're interested in underwater photography (...

Episode 78 - Cocky or Confident??

21 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of fateful diver. That started from an Open Water course, then he wanted to dive a mighty ship. T...

Episode 77 - Cronin 2- A Tough Son of a Bitch

14 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 2 of Menduno’s interview with Cronin, we get into who he was when he first started diving. The frustration with the industry, a vision of th...

Episode 76 - The King Cronin

07 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In a time where scuba was a bunch of sporting goods shops that started selling a new toy, The Aqualung, John Cronin had a vision of making it mainstre...

Episode 75 - The Devil's Gas

31 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The boys get back to the early 90's in the scuba diving industry. A time where breathing Nitrox was pure evil. The Devil's Gas was banned by many and ...

Episode 74- Zen and the Sandusky

24 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Sandusky is a wooden sailing brig that wrecked in the Straits of Mackinac in 1856. Still lying on the bottom mostly intact with beautiful bowsprit...

Episode 73 - Scuba Instructors: Can An Image Kill?

17 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In a world where anyone can sue anyone else for virtually anything, is it a good idea to hold a Scuba Instructor responsible for a diving accident bas...

Episode 72 - 130Ft Depth Limit

10 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Deeper we go underwater the greater the risk begins to climb. Unlike other sports where pushing the limits is encouraged, with diving we are given...

Episode 71 - Cayman Cowboys

03 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In the fall of 1995, Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine published the most controversial article ever to hit the scuba industry, Cayman Cowboys. This ar...

Episode 70 - No Bimbos

27 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

James and Brando take on the very touchy subject of “Sexism and Scuba Diving” just as the world celebrates International Women’s Dive Day. The b...

Episode 69 - A Dive Down Memory Lane

20 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The boys ramble on in an "off the cuff" conversation while rustling through Brando's library of ancient dive mags!! The more things change, the more t...

Episode 68 - Freaky Friday's Photography Episode

13 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gather 'round fellow divers and shutterbugs as the boys once again get together and discuss the fine art of underwater photography! The tables have tu...

Episode 67 - Deep Air 4

06 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is 500 feet the psychological and physical wall for air diving? Watson, Exley and Gilliam made that push beyond 400 feet and all realized their limita...

Episode 66 - Deep Air 3

29 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s January of 1955 and Frederic Dumas, our beloved Didi, has denounced the quest for the depth record as “imbecilic.” The push beyond 300 ft h...

Episode 65 - Deep Air 2

22 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As the men aqualungers begin to compete for depth, it doesn’t take long until we get our first fatality. What is it that lies in 50 Fathoms that we ...

Episode 64 - Deep Air 1

15 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What do you get when you mix Nitrogen, Oxygen, Jacques Cousteau, Fargues, Shatner, Picard and a little dash of Hope Root? Answer, the Deep Air World R...

Episode 63 - Teaching The Wife To Dive

08 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when you are so desperate for dive buddies that you decide to teach your wife to scuba dive? No, not us! We take a trip back in time and ...

Episode 62 - Gatorland Guys

01 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been caught whacking your mask off? Seriously? Have you ever seen a Gator? In the water? What does all this mean? It’s a metaphor. A m...

Episode 61 - Brando's Back

25 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Brando and James catch up on life, Madagascar, Paris and a host of other off-topic topics. Eventually they discuss a few things in the scuba world tha...

Episode 60 - The Complete Works of James and Brando of TGDP

18 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Hey, let’s do a clips show. A highlights, best-of, collection of the last year or so and get a feel for what we’ve accomplished. Some of our favor...

Episode 59 -The Inner Experience of Diving

11 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Who are James and Brando? Well, they are just two fingers, wrapped in dry gloves, pointing to the moon, on dive boat… the dive boat of life. What th...

Episode 58 - Mate Up For Safety

04 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Get Groovy, this week with James and Brando as they take another trip back in time. This time to 1960’s and they explore the old scuba diver skill o...

Episode 57 - Soul Diving

27 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week the boy's get all spiritual up in this hizzy!! Listen in as they reflect on an article by Dillon Waters called "Scuba Diving: It's Just Not ...

Episode 56 - The Sea Was Angry That Day, My Friend

20 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Boys travel to Pompano Beach Florida for some much-needed ocean activities. What do a couple of scuba diving podcasters do when King Neptune shake...

Episode 55 Outsmarting Narcosis

13 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The boys try to get away with some spiked ppN2's. This week they discuss an article detailing tips, hints, and methods to help alleviate those nasty n...

Episode 54 - Stay Golden Pony Bottle

06 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode the boys review a video that was posted on FB's Scuba Accident Forum ( https://youtu.be/GFpAKYbDKx8 ) centered around a deep di...