The DANcast welcomes James Blackman, co-owner of Miami Technical Diving and co-creator of @DiversReady, a multimedia brand dedicated to practical diving education.
James’ diving career spans more than two decades and began in the cold waters of the English Channel. While serving in the British merchant marine, James used his shore leaves to dive and train around the world before transitioning to a full-time dive professional. He has worked with dive shops and operators, served as a public safety diver, and taught as an independent instructor. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he added “content creator” to that list by launching the Divers Ready YouTube channel to expand his reach and address real-world questions from the diving community.
The conversation delves into James’ decision to teach in a 1:1 or 1:2 student-to-instructor ratio, his specialties in technical diving, wreck diving, and rebreathers, the role of personal branding in the diving industry, and more.
To follow along with James and Divers Ready!, visit diversready.com.
0:00 Introduction to James Blackman 4:14 Launching Divers Ready! 6:34 Content Strategy 9:23 Connecting with Divers 12:19 DEMA Show 18:37 Teaching Philosophy 24:55 Top Divers Ready! Content 28:24 Personal Branding for Dive Pros 33:25 Conclusion and Future Endeavors
An alarming study claims the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is weakening more than than believed previously. But experts say its findings are far from the final word.
James J. Harvey, operations director of Reef-World and Green Fins, joins The DANcast to share how his background in marine biology led him to a transformative volunteer opportunity at the Phuket Marine Biological Center in Thailand. That experience served as the catalyst for his journey with Green Fins, an initiative implemented internationally by The Reef-World Foundation and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) that is dedicated to protecting coral reefs through sustainable marine tourism.
Promoting environmentally friendly standards and practices, Green Fins works with local operators, communities, and governments – and treats divers as an essential part of the reef protection solution. In this episode, James explains how the program has expanded on traditional in-person assessments with the Green Fins Hub and e-learning courses, making conservation education accessible to thousands of dive operators worldwide. The episode also provides tips for divers seeking to reduce their individual impact on the marine environment, such as mastering buoyancy control, practicing responsible photography, and choosing truly reef-safe sunscreen.
To learn more about Green Fins, visit greenfins.net.
0:00 Introduction 1:12 Marine Biology Background 2:36 Experience in Southeast Asia 3:57 Joining Green Fins 6:36 Sustainability in Diving 8:18 Green Fins Expansion and E-Learning 14:41 Personal Diving Experiences and Ecosystem Changes 21:29 Sustainable Marine Tourism 24:09 Individual Diver Impact 29:12 Building a Community for Environmental Advocacy 31:06 Hope and Collective Action in Marine Conservation
After H5N1 bird flu was detected in elephant seals gathered at Año Nuevo State Park, other marine mammals have also succumbed, including a sea otter and sea lion. So far, only animals in San Mateo County have been affected.
More than a thousand years after a ship vanished off the coast of modern-day Croatia, archaeologists have uncovered a wreck that might reshape our ideas of the medieval world.
As deep-sea waters warm, scientists expected trouble for the microbes that help keep ocean chemistry in balance. Instead, researchers found that Nitrosopumilus maritimus can adapt to warmer, iron-limited conditions by using iron more efficiently. Because these microbes control key nitrogen reactions that support marine life, their adaptability could help sustain ocean productivity. In a warming world, they may play an even bigger role in shaping marine nutrient cycles.
More than 70% of the state is under "extreme" to "exceptional" drought conditions, and other parts of the U.S. Southeast are similarly affected. But why, and what are the impacts?
Researchers have captured extraordinary footage of sperm whales randomly headbutting each other, confirming anecdotal reports from mariners and whalers in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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