The Scuba Diving Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Haley Mermaid explains exactly how she became a full-time Mermaid Performer and tips for other merfolk to break into those paid gigs.

We cover a lot in this sit-down interview, from training tips to tail making pointers, plus safety concerns for parents with kids who want to learn to be a mermaid. She also lists specific steps to getting jobs as a mermaid.

Finally, the big reason Scuba Certification is the biggest asset in mermaid training. We get into the real reasons why Scuba is more helpful than freediving for mermaid safety and character performance (but also why freediving is still extremely valuable).

@HaleyTheMermaid has MILLIONS of followers, makes and sells mermaid tails, jewelry, tops, and accessories. Haley can also be hired for character performance events, shows, mermaid training courses, and even personalized videos.

How to contact & follow Haley Mermaid:

https://haleymermaid.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@haleymermaid

https://www.instagram.com/haleymermaid

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOXdy8FV2pRRGfChsvO0f-A

https://www.facebook.com/haleymermaidofficial

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadeByAMer

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Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkennydyal

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

X: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

This was the perfect dive convention between the DEMA Show and The Scuba Show, and was much bigger than I expected. Loaded with vendors ranging from Tusa to Aqualung, Stream2Sea to Fourth Element, and even Huish Outdoors (Atomic, Zeagle, Suunto, Oceanic and others). They also gave out prizes, had mermaids on the scene, and even free food trucks!

Aggieland Scuba has outdone themselves in creating something that has become an instant staple, and probably too big to contain in College Station, TX. Join me as I cover the Dive Expo from start to finish, setup to teardown, interviewing staff, vendors, and speakers throughout the event!

Special thanks to Aggieland Scuba for putting such an incredible community together for the entire underwater world! (and inviting me out)!

The crowds never thinned out and the energy remained at a constant 110% throughout the entire day. The inaugural event has already outgrown itself, so I'm looking forward to seeing where next year's event goes!

Be sure to check out their website for updates on the next Dive Expo!

Also a big thanks to the incredibly kind staff, including co-owners Nathan Blanchard, Jennifer Opiela-Miksch, as well as Megan Blanchard who helped orchestrate my trip out.

And finally a big thank you to Becca Ziegler, who was helping keep the cameras rolling, keeping me organized, sane, and hydrated!

*I will update that info here when the 2025 event date and location are announced.

To contact Aggieland Scuba:

2151 Harvey Mitchell Parkway

Suite #109

College Station

Texas 77840

https://www.aggielandscuba.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@aggielandscuba

https://www.instagram.com/aggielandscuba

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsnaxodLj7dbpYhJfQQReqw

https://www.facebook.com/aggielandscuba

—

Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkennydyal

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

X: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

In this showcase episode of the Buddy App, we go after the CORE reason the dive industry struggles to produce income earners: connection.

The top question I get is “where do you suggest I go?” or “where can I learn to dive in my area?” or “who has dive trips around that area?” Despite all of the search engines on our smartphones and apps, this question is still going strong.

This feature of the buddy app let’s dive shops, charters, resorts and even Independent Scuba Instructors create their own platform to connect with divers, and gets them found by divers. It is (finally) a TRUE hub for the diving community.

It benefits divers, students, organizations and businesses, so everyone wins by being connected. No weird or awkward groups to join on some website or social platform you really don’t want - just divers connecting in the easiest way possible.

The Buddy Dive Log app has everything else in a dive log, like social media links, tipping functions, galleries, filters, and even validates your dives certifications and professional status (with all agencies like PADI, NAUI, SSI, SDI, CMAS, and more). So you can connect on so many other levels as well.

Professional Divers, Operators, Facilities, Resorts, or Dive Shops: Get Buddy for Business (including the Booking Platform)

https://buddyforbusiness.com

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Download Buddy App for iOS

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buddy-dive-log-community/id1588860327

Download Buddy App for Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.divewithbuddy.app&pli=1

https://www.tiktok.com/@divewithbuddy

https://www.instagram.com/divewithbuddy/

—

Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkennydyal

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

There’s been a longstanding rift between Technical Diving and Recreational Diving in some circles, but does it have to be like that? Not according to Chris Foisey aka "The Modern Diver" -host of one of the largest scuba equipment review channels on the internet. He explains the importance of learning proper finning, trim and buoyancy, but also gets the value of fun (HINT: It’s the whole reason we do this) Chris is easily the most relaxed, educated, and easy-to-listen-to gear critic out there, with thoughtful breakdowns that let the diver actually make decisions for themselves, vs just an opinionated "this is what I think" monologue.

I learn something EVERY single time I watch his videos, so it was a joy to finally speak to him in real time for this interview. We hit all the hot button topics like teaching on the knees, Backplate and Wing for Open Water training, and why some dive shops behave so differently than others. But perhaps the most valuable conversation of all, is HOW to bridge that gap between Recreational Diving and the Tec Diver crowd. Chris is a breath of fresh air, and is leading the way toward a more symbiotic world of diving.

Find Chris Foisey as The Modern Diver on your favorite platforms:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwl5K524RhkyyRh-HRNOhEg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modern_diver_channel/?hl=en

Main Website: https://www.moderndiverchannel.com/

—

Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkennydyal

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

Strong opinions, confusion, and being overwhelmed with getting started are all part of this beast…

The good news is we have an absolute GAME CHANGER:

Once and for all, the dive gear dilemma of not knowing where to go, who to talk to, or where to even start is OVER. Alexis Jabbour, founder of The Buddy App, talks about how dive gear is now connecting people through sharing. Anyone can add gear to their dive log (even if it’s rental) so nothing gets lost. Dive buddies can see what their friends are wearing and literally click on it to learn more, including links to buy it right then and there. Influencers, Dive Shops and “Buddy Explorers” even have ways to add their affiliate links or get sponsored gear directly on their profile. Professional can even link back to their home dive shop! Buddy is quickly changing the landscape for diving, making it easier and more accessible for more people. This revolutionary dive app is streamlining the entire gear debacle that’s gone on far too long. The Buddy Dive Log app has everything else in a dive log divers need to get the most out of this lifestyle: Social media links, tipping functions, galleries, filters, and even validation of your dives, including a place to verify your certifications and professional status (with all agencies like PADI, NAUI, SSI, SDI, CMAS, and more). Go check out the App and don’t forget to add me as a Buddy!

Professional Divers, Operators, Facilities, Resorts, or Dive Shops: Get Buddy for Business (including the Booking Platform)

https://buddyforbusiness.com

–

Download Buddy App for iOS

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buddy-dive-log-community/id1588860327

Download Buddy App for Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.divewithbuddy.app&pli=1

https://www.tiktok.com/@divewithbuddy

https://www.instagram.com/divewithbuddy/

—

Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkennydyal

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

Alannah Vellacott is truly a creature of the Caribbean Waters, in every possible sense. She's been famously dubbed "The Real Life Little Mermaid" by many notable figures, and for good reason.

Aside from freediving, scuba diving, working on several Shark Week episodes, and simply living the Island Life we all dream about… she actually works to preserve and rebuild the very world that sustains her lifestyle (and the planet, for that matter!)

Land Based Coral restoration with Coral Vita is a unique process that she explains with great enthusiasm during our interview. It's a system that allows coral to grow up to 50 times faster than it would in the wild, helping revitalize dead or dying reefs.

Alannah is wildly connected, seen working with the likes of André Musgrove, Cristina Zenato, Scuba Radio, and even Samuel Jackson. 

A flagship citizen of Grand Bahama Island, Alannah is armed with a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences, with an extensive resumé ranging from Cape Eleuthra Institute, BREEF, Perry institute for Marine Sciences, and a Scuba Instructor with over 16 years of diving.

I got to hang out with Alannah at The 2023 DEMA show in New Orleans, where she not only represented Coral Vita, but put on a show with fellow Mermaids bringing an incredibly fun vibe to the festivities.

BIG THANK YOU: All underwater footage, facility footage and drone footage of Coral Restoration and Bahamas footage courtesy of Coral Vita.

Alannah’s contact info:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/alannahvellacott/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alannahvellacott

Coral Vita Website: https://www.coralvita.co/

Alannah Vellacott Personal Website: https://www.alannahvellacott.com/

—

Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkennydyal

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

Ellie is as charming as she is talented, with more big scuba names under her belt than… maybe anyone. Known by her screen name as “Scuba Ellie”, she’s responsible for connecting Scuba Diving with the rest of the world in profound way. She works using brilliant visual photography, videography, editing, and just being awesome at diving.

She creates content for the dive industry full-time, she’s a Scuba Instructor, and dives everything from the tropics to drysuits, aluminums to doubles.

Ellie discusses how to handle social media burnout, negative comments, and of course what NOW fills her cup. If you’re like so many people trying to build your brand or following, she shares some sage advice for any creative diver that's willing to listen.

I was fortunate enough to spend some time with her at the DEMA show, sit on a panel discussing social media with the dive industry, and finally, the after parties from Deeper Blue to Bourbon Street. 

PS: I’m still waiting on that scuba skating video…

Ellie’s contact info:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@scubaellie

IG: https://www.instagram.com/scubaellie/

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

Girls that Scuba Podcast-

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3V4xukj4zRBu2cwkDipzlo?si=311597e7d56a4927

Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/girls-talk-scuba/id1678990880

—

Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkennydyal

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

Ed Rasmussen is part of the Scubapro Team, including the Deep Elite Global Team, a Scubapro global government manager. Ed was also an active Navy Seal, who went on regular deployments. He is now a Divemaster, helping to liaison the recreational dive industry with defense departments, law enforcement, and emergency services.

Ed is a big supporter of those who served in the Armed Forces. He’s received an avalanche of subscribers to his now-iconic Instagram page @ ecrazz

-loaded with facts and historical video ranging from equipment breakdowns to covert operation footage.

Ed now enjoys diving for the sheer joy of it, bringing a wealth of expertise,  experience, and valued perspective that very few get to hear.

He was as pleasant as he was knowledgeable to finally meet in person, and I’m fortunate to say I have a new friend in the diving world.

Read more about Ed on the official Scubapro site: https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/global-dive-team/ed-rasmussen

Follow his IG here: https://www.instagram.com/ecrazz/

—

Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkennydyal

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

Kenny sits down with the founder of Deeper Blue, the world’s largest community for scuba divers.

Stephan is larger than life, throwing the number one party to be at during the number one scuba diving gathering on the planet. His love of the ocean flows like a perfect cocktail. Always upbeat, hilarious, and seems to be close friends with the entire worldwide scuba industry (I’m kind of not kidding).

He explains what DeeperBlue does, how it got started, the future, and what he would love to see improve in the dive industry as a whole. 

His passion for scuba and freediving is on full display everywhere he goes. Not only during our interview, but throughout the DEMA show, and pretty much anywhere else there was fun happening… Stephan was there. Never an ego or point to prove, just a fun-loving, water-obsessed human being.

Further (and by total coincidence) Stephan & Kenny were both invited to a Panel for social media influencers to discuss with the audience some of their secrets to success. The event took place at the DEMA convention center in New Orleans, hosted by the scuba legend Tec Clark.

Friends were made, good times were had, and the whole Sweetwater crew hopes to follow up again for more of Stephan and DeeperBlue!

DeeperBlue has an app, a podcast, news articles, forums, and an absolutely stellar social media presence. If there is something happening in the world of diving, Deeper Blue is a part of it. 

Main website:

https://www.deeperblue.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/deeperbluedotcom

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/deeperbluegram

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/deeperbluevideo

DeeperBlue App-

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/deeperblue-com/id894987002

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobiloud.android.deeperblue&pcampaignid=web_share

—

Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkennydyal

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com

Chef Anton is an Award-winning magician who can actually teach and certify a PADI scuba specialty course using underwater magic!

He uses magic to help make scuba diving concepts easier to understand, relieve anxiety, and foster better learning.

Further, it helps paint a better picture of concepts like nitrogen buildup, compression and expansion, and all those core fundamentals that can be tough to grasp for new divers. Aside from making learning easier, underwater magic makes everything a LOT more fun!

I was completely mesmerized during this interview. He performed REAL magic tricks right in front of me and the crew (And I promise, no camera tricks!)

He’s an IDC staff instructor, offering a real specialty certification for scuba diving professionals, and specialty certification for scuba diving students, along with an underwater magic starter pack. His execution is just as impressive as his welcoming, warm, and hilariously charming personality.

In fact, one of his recent scuba students, Avery Fisher, not only learned how to do magic, but performed so well she literally broke the world record for most magic tricks performed underwater (38 tricks in 3 minutes)! As if that wasn’t impressive enough, shes only 13 years old! See the offical Guinness World record page here: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/commercial/2023/11/young-scuba-diver-plunges-head-first-into-new-magic-hobby-to-break-underwater-rec-761221 

Chef Anton’s Scuba Magician website:

https://scubamagician.com/

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

Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@scubamagician3354

ChefAnton@ScubaMagician.com

See the Guinness world record holder Avery Fisher’s underwater magic video: https://youtu.be/54jUjRVIZhg?si=uEnmaM85DqJM6cwR

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Kenny Dyal is the host of The Scuba Diving Podcast:

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkennydyal

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kennydyal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealKennyDyal

www.sweetwaterscuba.com