Schedule

DEEP is like no other company. John Clark, former lead researcher of the Naval Experimental Diving Unit said, “DEEP represents to me the best chance we’ll ever have for returning habitats to the sea floor, for peaceful purposes. Certainly, within my lifetime!”
DEEP’s goal is to ‘make humans aquatic’ and bridging the technology of ‘Sentinel’ habitats and DEEP’s own purpose built line of submersibles is the DEEP Institute, a NASA like training location and curriculum unlike any other.
Join ‘multi disciplined diver’ Kirk Krack from the DEEP Institutes ‘Elite Performance and Training’ department turning marine science fiction into marine science reality.

In 2014, Explorer and Filmmaker Fabien Cousteau led Mission 31, a 31 day record-breaking saturation mission which tangibly demonstrated the power of continuous human presence on the seafloor to address some of the planet’s greatest challenges using cutting edge science. Join Cousteau and lead scientist Brian Helmuth as they describe the PROTEUS underwater habitat, a next generation, state of the art saturation facility being built adjacent to one of the last remaining healthy, accreting reefs in the Caribbean, in Curaçao.

Underwater robotic systems allow us to reach places where human presence is extremely hard to achieve or even impossible. At the Centre For Robotics and Autonomous Systems (CRAS – INESC TEC) we developed new robotic tools for the exploration of some extreme and confined underwater scenarios, such as deep sea, flooded mines, underwater caves, and submerged structures. From the experience with the robotic exploration of these environments and taking into account current robotic and technology solutions,new and emerging challenges in the exploration of underwater environments are addressed daily.

Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and threatened ecosystems on Earth, yet, their deeper portions (50-150m depth) remain unexplored and unprotected. I lead a team of scientists and technical rebreather divers that are exploring these deeper reefs, and will talk about some of our most spectacular discoveries.

The COAST project contributes to understanding the status and functioning of the marine ecosystems around Santo Antão island, in Cabo Verde. Dedicated scientific surveys were conducted to collect data where we combined visual and acoustic observations with physical sampling, modelling and remote sensing, so we can provide management recommendations for their sustainable development.

Having been involved in product and training standardisation at British Standards, EN and ISO levels for over 40 years, where the drive is always to ensure safe products are allowed on the market, Martin’s  presentations over the years have naturally followed that theme – how to improve safety.

Most of the risks we face diving can be reduced to acceptable levels if not eliminated by the way we behave before we get in the water,  and rebreather training naturally focuses on those aspects.

None of the standards though deal with equipment maintenance and it is clear that thousands of rebreather divers do very little maintenance, possibly because they don’t know how to, or maybe because they don’t have the time or maybe because they cannot be bothered.  So, Martin’s presentation plans to have you concentrate on a few key areas which will pay dividends for your safety, regardless of whether you dive open circuit or closed and no matter which rebreather you dive with.

ISO has recently announced the publication of a group of CCR training standards covering entry level all the way up to 100m diving as well as instructor training. Mark Powell was a member of the working group that developed these standards and will discuss the implications of these new standards. While they are a step forward in CCR training they will not solve all the problems with CCR safety. If you are a CCR diver or involved in CCR diving then you will want to hear this presentation.

Sport diving has come a long way since the emergence of technical diving in the early 1990s, in what might be properly be called the “mixed gas revolution.” While initially, there was a hard bright line separating tech diving from recreational diving, many of the distinctions, have blurred or all but disappeared. Is it time for us to change our terminology? I will review how and why “tech” got its name, and offer up a proposal.

Immediate hyperbaric medical assistance is crucial for diving accidents and divers in distress. But how well does the emergency and medical services are aware of this need for urgency? What do the numbers tell us? We know that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the gold standard treatment for decompression illness. So, what can we do to reduce the time lapse between one accident and hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

In February 2020 the Wet Mules diving team pushed the Pearse Resurgence cave to 245m. Further progress required overcoming the high-pressure neurological syndrome and reducing respired gas density. The solution to both problems would be a light and slightly narcotic gas; properties possessed by hydrogen. In February 2023 the team successfully tested hydrogen in a rebreather dive to 230m. This presentation is the story of that adventure.

Nuno regularly works for BBC, Netflix, Disney and National Geographic. His work has taken him from the Arctic to Antarctica and many of the most remote places in our Ocean. But perhaps the most impactful story he has ever shot was right in his backyard, in the archipelago of the Azores. For over 15 years he has been working together with scientists to understand why an unknown population of Whale sharks travels to the Azores and why they travel surrounded by thousands of tunas with them. Together they will discover that the only population in Europe of the world’s biggest fish hides a big secret

Most of the time when we are underwater we never get a proper sense of our environment because we are limited by our vision and what our lights can illuminate. Imagine creating images which capture the true sense of scale and expanse of things? Something we would never see normally. This is what I have dedicated the last 20 years on perfecting.

The cenotes and caves of Mexico offer a unique environment with amazing opportunities for the underwater photographer. Tom will be talking about capturing sunbeams in the crystal clear water of the cenotes, the challenges of shooting in overhead environments, and his work documenting cave diving exploration projects.

Becky’s ice dived all over the world from the Arctic to Antarctic, from icebergs, pack ice and under ice in the Great Lakes and Bering Sea. One of the most challenging expeditions she’s organized was for Seiko to be one of the first to dive inside Alaskan moulins in the winter. Everything had to be flown out by helicopter, temperatures plummeted to -14F / -25C making this remote and harsh place even more challenging to explore. Inside it was unlike any other environment she’s seen. Ice caves that crack as the glacier moves and conditions unforgiving on gear. She’ll share the challenges of shooting, risks involved and the moulins’ unique beauty.

Exploring the rejuvenation of the diving industry, we’ll uncover lessons from Asia where divers average 30 years and where more females are engaging our activity. Why does this contrast with Europe and the US? Let’s dive into the Blue Economy and sustainabilit’s transformative potential for our industry

Leveraging storytelling to build a community around nature, conservation, exploration and in doing so redefining true luxury.

Over the last Decade Phil has been involved as a Diver, Diving Safety Officer and Diving Operations Manager on numerous Scientific and Media Diving projects where human remains were present. He will discuss in his presentation the methods and procedures professional dive teams use to respect the lost and achieve the project goal. The talk will be illustrated by images and procedures from wrecks spanning times from 200 BCE to WWII.

How to plan, train, and execute a free dive below 100m. Planning with an end goal requires focus and a lot of discipline. What training is necessary for your body to withstand this pressure and how to plan and make a dive like this happen?

During my presentation I will share information about the caves and cave diving in South Africa, with focus on the Boesmansgat (Bushemans Hole) Cave. I will share details around the logistics and preparation required to conduct deep dives in this cave along with my experiences on the world record dives I conducted in Boesmansgat.

The Portuguese Life Saving Institute (ISN) has a vital role in our maritime safety. Since 1892, the expertise, knowledge and full dedication have been merged to train professional rescue swimmers to act any ocean any time. Unexpected situations remind us effective constrains. One of our concerns is when need to dive to save a life. Let´s talk about diving to safe a casualty.

This talk will explain the PADI AWARE Foundation drives local action for global ocean conservation through citizen science, public policy and community grants. It will explain how divers can get involved in protecting the underwater world we all love.

Worldwide, public aquaria welcome hundreds of millions of visitors every year, who are showered with messages of conservation, the perils of microplastics, habitat loss, climate change, and multiple other poignant issues that affect the oceans, as well as mankind today. This presentation focuses on the role of diving in (1) bringing the fish from the oceans to public aquaria, and (2) ensuring the animals under human care get the best possible treatment available from veterinary science.

Jonathan Bird’s Blue World has been bringing underwater adventures to audiences for nearly 20 years. Jonathan’s engaging blend of science, adventure and exploration has earned eight Emmy awards, and currently airs on television in more than 25 countries, as well as having 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube. Jonathan will take you on some of his more memorable diving adventures, including recent work in Portugal!

The International School of Dive Safety and Medicine was established jointly by ITS and DAN Europe. With the aim of promoting research into dive safety. ISDSM has embarked on a journey of developing and specialised courses in that area that would enhance the further acquisition of knowledge, skills and competences in the field. The Bachelor in Dive Safety Management is the first step in this direction. In acknowledgement of the professional expertise acquired by many diving professionals, a program that for accrediting prior learning has been set up. In the short term, a series of short courses have been launched and future projects include the development of further education pathways. ISDSM has also embarked on a series of research projects related to dive safety such as the participation in the BCTHubs (Blue Culture Technology Excellence Hubs) funded through the Horizon programme and Art4Sea (partially funded by European Education and Culture Executive Agency – EACEA)

Historically, we have learned through storytelling. This is no different in the diving domain where we learn from adverse events to improve our performance and safety. The problem is there are many barriers that prevent us from storytelling – this talk will explore those and what we can do about them.

There are many moments in a public safety servant’s job that leave lasting imprints which will mold one’s own mindset by which they govern all future personal actions. These reflections, whether good, bad, or indifferent, make up critical waypoints in a person’s personal journey throughout their career that will lead to choices made or not made when called upon in the service of public safety. In this Talk we will ponder these choices and the effect(s) they have on the outcome of the job and the lives that are affected by these decisions.

PADI, SSI, and TDI in a riveting discussion on the future of technical diving training. A melting pot of expertise, ideas, and innovation that could reshape the way we explore the depths. Dive into the future in this debate. Moderator Michael Menduno.