I’d been diving for about 7 years and felt pretty happy with my abilities. My girlfriend was keen to do a training weekend with this guy I’d never heard of and eventually I agreed. I was just about to complete my Divemaster and I was a bit big headed – “what more can someone teach me?”

Turning up to Capernwray, I got my first impression of Steve – he had got there early to reserve us a parking space. After a few minutes it was clear that there was a huge amount about diving I hadn’t considered and Steve laid it out so clearly and without any ego.

This was the first time I’d really considered the fundamentals of being in the water and my buoyancy, trim and finning techniques were really probed. On day two, Steve got me into a side mount rig and that just took it to another level for me – I could now start to see what lay before me as I realised where I was skill wise and where else you can get to.

Watching and listening to Steve was such a real education and changed my ideas of my previous courses and instructors. A few months later I took a four day Sidemount Essentials course with Steve and things just continued to improve for me – especially as I no longer thought I knew best.

The Sidemount system has been talked about extensively, so I won’t go into that, but performing in water skills like cylinder removal, shut downs and advanced buoyancy control just made me feel like I was in a whole other diving world.

I’ve since qualified as both a recreational and technical dive instructor and I now try to pass on some of what I have learned to “my” students – it isn’t as easy as Steve made it, but I totally believe in the principles. Learning to dive doesn’t stop now I’m an instructor and I still take regular training with Steve. Most recently I started my technical training and I had an amazing two weeks in Gozo working through Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures and Entry level Trimix.

Not only did Steve provide excellent training, he found me a place to stay and drove me to the dive centre every day! Steve’s approach is to help his students in every way – and he makes all the time needed to get you to the level you want to be – this includes phone calls and messages when preparing for a course as well as when you are on the course.

I was not comfortable in my UK dry suit when using the sidemount system and one evening after the regular training was over, Steve worked with me till around 11pm getting me setup and comfortable – I now dive sidemount everywhere I go and that alone is worth the price of any training course.

My diving has moved into a whole new level and I truly have Steve to thank for that (and perhaps my girlfriend for the nagging). I now think I stand out as a diver with more than the average skillset and I feel so much more capable in the water.

Will I be taking more training with Steve – what do you think? (The answer is Yes, Full Cave course in Mexico 2014!) Vas Proud, PADI Instructor #309335, TDI Instructor #18824.

To see full picture album of Vas during Sidemount Normoxic click on picture (below left) and for his Sidemount Essentials click on picture (below right)