Free Descent

Dive 43: Learn Scuba Chicago, Nonprofit Dive Shop, w/ Sam Guess

Have you ever heard of a nonprofit scuba diving shop? Myles and Walter hadn't until connecting with Learn Scuba Chicago. Sam Guess, instructor and board member at Learn Scuba Chicago, comes on this episode to tell our community all about what it's like being a volunteer divemaster and scuba instructor in the Midwest. She also dives deep into her own scuba story and tells us about the mental health benefits that scuba provides for her and her students. To learn more about how to get involved in the programs at Learn Scuba Chicago, visit their website, Learn Scuba Chicago or their Instagram, @learnscubachicago. 
 
~Reminder~Free Descent is intended as entertainment only and should not replace formal dive instruction. Always follow the direction of your divemasters and instructors and remember to dive within the limits of your training and experience. Stay safe and have fun out there!

Dive 42: Wandering the World through Scuba Diving and Yoga w/ Taylor @the.wanderingblonde

Have you ever tried pigeon pose in yoga? Next goal: try it underwater! In this episode, we hear from Taylor, @the.wanderingblonde, on how she brings her two passions together through Scuba+Yoga retreats. She tells all about her mental health journey and the role the scuba diving and yoga played for her in her teens and 20s. The health benefits of both of these activities are immense, and more interconnected than some might think. Want to learn more about Taylor, and join one of her retreats? Check out her new page and website: @the.mindfulmvmnt // The Mindful Mvmnt
 
~Reminder~Free Descent is intended as entertainment only and should not replace formal dive instruction. Always follow the direction of your divemasters and instructors and remember to dive within the limits of your training and experience. Stay safe and have fun out there!

Dive 41: Scuba Diving in Turkey w/ Kelsey McDonald @souldivers_

Have you ever wondered about scuba diving in the Aegean Sea? Most people turn their nose up to the European dive scene, but we've brought Kelsey McDonald from @souldivers_ to prove them all wrong! Kelsey tells our community all about her time diving in Gallipoli, Turkey (Türkiye) with @goturkiye and @go_canakkale. Listen in to hear all about her advice for diving the Aegean Sea and exploring Turkey on land. Wrecks, nudibranchs, massive meals, and so much more!
 
~Reminder~Free Descent is intended as entertainment only and should not replace formal dive instruction. Always follow the direction of your divemasters and instructors and remember to dive within the limits of your training and experience. Stay safe and have fun out there!
 

Dive 40: Coffee, Bananas, and Open Water Scuba Diving Courses

Walt is back! Grab a coffee, tea, and a banana (if you're not on a boat) and join Myles and Walt for a deep dive into diving habits, superstitions, and teaching PADI Open Water courses around the world. Walt tells all about the differences and similarities between his time in Hawaii, Florida, Thailand, and Honduras, while Myles compares this to her work in Southern California. Listen in to the conversation, and share your thoughts on Instagram at @FreeDescentPodcast and @Sweendogscuba
~Reminder~Free Descent is intended as entertainment only and should not replace formal dive instruction. Always follow the direction of your divemasters and instructors and remember to dive within the limits of your training and experience. Stay safe and have fun out there!
 
 

Dive 39 - Finding Time to Dive: Teaching, Travel, and 9-5 Jobs

Myles and Jake do a dive into a topic that's been top of mind for the podcast for a while, how to keep diving while balancing a 9-5 job, travel, and teaching! Listen in to the conversation, and share your thoughts on Instagram at @FreeDescentPodcast
~Reminder~Free Descent is intended as entertainment only, and should not replace formal dive instruction. Always follow the direction of your divemasters and instructors, and remember to dive within the limits of your training and experience. Stay safe, and have fun out there!
 

Dive 38- Rannvá Jørmundsson from Fourth Element and Nixie Expeditions

Myles is back from Europe and not only brought home memories, but new friends! In this interview we catch up with Rannvá Jørmundsson, head of sales at Fourth Element and co-founder of Nixie Expeditions. Rannvá is an experienced tech diver and avid adventurer, and she's only seeking to move forward from here. Listen in as we discuss how she got to where she is now, where she's going from here, and her purpose in diving. 
 
~Reminder~
Free Descent is intended as entertainment, and should not replace formal dive instruction. Always listen to your instructors and divemasters, and dive within the limits of your training and experience. Stay safe, and have fun out there!

Dive 37 - Blue Therapy Project with Tom Sloan

Welcome back from summer break Free Descent Community! We're kicking things off "therapeutically" with Tom Sloan, the mastermind behind the newly launched Blue Therapy Project. We chat all things dive marketing, chasing an ocean dream, introducing the next generation to the water, and how diving changes lives. This brand aims to get people "in, under, and around the water"...JUST BREATHE!
 
~Reminder~
Free Descent is intended as entertainment, and should not replace formal dive instruction. Always listen to your instructors and divemasters, and dive within the limits of your training and experience. Stay safe, and have fun out there!

Dive 36: Deeper Blue w/ Stephan Whelan

Myles and Jake go "deeper" than ever before in this tell-all interview with Stephan Whelan, founder and CEO of Deeper Blue, the world's largest community for freediving and scuba diving media. Stephan gives us all the details of how he got into diving, how he started Deeper Blue, when he knew it was getting big, and what projects they're currently working on. You don't want to miss this episode!
 
~Reminder~Free Descent is intended as entertainment, and not to replace formal dive instruction. Remember to listen to the advice of your instructors and divemasters, and dive within the limits of your training and experience!