Martin Connolly - Scuba IQ - S03 E05

05/29/22 • 78 min

Scuba IQ operates from Port Douglas, (north of Cairns) Queensland, Australia. Clearly, Port Douglas is a perfect destination to get out and explore the Great Barrier Reef and that's exactly what Scuba IQ do.
Originally from New Zealand, Martin Connolly spent a few years in the navy and then saw the light, jumped into a wetsuit and spent the next 20 years as a multi-agency dive instructor working in various locations such as Tonga, Spain, Turkey and Thailand. Scuba IQ and Scuba IQ Expeditions are operated by Martin and his wife, Louise. Working closely with local operators they organise training packages as well as full boat charters, delivering an attentive service to the guests who choose to join them.
Martin joins us on the show to provide an overview of how Scuba IQ became what it is today, were it is heading and what to expect from an adventure on the MV Argo and the future expeditions organised by Scuba IQ.
Expeditions with available spaces:
23-28 June 2022 - 5 nights - Minke Whales
9-13 November 2022 - 4 nights - Coral Spawning
Social Media links:
Scuba IQ website

Scuba IQ Instagram

Scuba IQ Facebook
Scuba IQ expeditions Instagram

Scuba IQ expeditions Facebook

Martin on LinkedIn

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Scuba IQ Instagram

Scuba IQ Facebook
Scuba IQ expeditions Instagram

Scuba IQ expeditions Facebook

Martin on LinkedIn

Do you have feedback or an opinion to share with us? SMS us now.

Support the show

Love the show?
Reviews help us grow and let us know you're listening - If you can spare two minutes, please leave a review here.

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Previous Episode

Steve Crosby - Wading through the pandemic years - S03 E04

Steve Crosby walks us through his journey to become a dive pro and what it has taken to stay connected to the dive industry particularly during the pandemic years.
Many people have asked me how to get into and become successful in the dive industry. Hard work and determination... Be like Steve.
He is a shining example of how to progress and focus on the goals one at a time without taking your eye off the prize and all whilst maintaining the right attitude, with a smile.
Steve is one of the nicest guys you would ever wish to meet and I have no doubt that anyone wishing to dive and/or learn from him will have an amazing time whilst doing so.
I'm a big fan of humility and Steve exudes this, just take a listen and you'll see what I mean.
Steve's website Crosby Dive
Steve's diving journey:

2004 - He became a NAUI Open Water Diver - Instantly hooked on diving
Fun dives throughout Central America and the Caribbean.
2008 - Completed NAUI Nitrox Course.
2013 - Arrives in Koh Tao and realises diving is the industry for him
2014 - Completed SSI Dive master and then OW Instructor training
2014 - 2015 Teaching various SSI courses
2015 - RAID Deco 50 course completed and became a RAID Instructor
2016 - TDI Trimix course in Malaysia
2016 - RAID Advanced Wreck Instructor
2016 - RAID Instructor Trainer
Back to Malaysia to gain qualifications to become a Tech Instructor
- Tioman, Malaysia - completed RAID Deco 40 and 50 Instructor programs
- TDI instructor course, enabling me to teach technical diving though TDI as well.
2017 - Worked for Bali Dive Trek and became a Side-mount and DPV Diver and later received my DPV Instructor Certification
Late 2017 - Koh Tao for Sidemount Instructor and ADV Wreck Instructor Trainer
2018 - Co-founded Unique Descent Dive Adventures (UDDA), intending to lead expeditions around the world

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Love the show?
Reviews help us grow and let us know you're listening - If you can spare two minutes, please leave a review here.

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Next Episode

Jayne Jenkins - Surface Interval

Comedy alert!
We managed to coax Don Silcock back into the studio by waving a beer under his nose and as a bonus for the show his dive buddy of 20 years came along too...
The sensible text and a REAL intro to Jayne Jenkins

Jayne learnt to dive in the chilly waters along the rugged Welsh coastline before moving to Australia in 1973. She is actively involved in many facets of the diving industry and has been for over four decades. She was previously a volunteer diver with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service in Sydney. This led to Jayne working as a safety diver and researcher for various underwater film, television and photographic expeditions focusing on diving in the Pacific.

Having been an active underwater photography instructor for many years, Jayne went on to establish the first digital shoot-out competition at Lord Howe Island, has won many awards for her photography and remains a regular editorial contributor to Dive Log and Ocean Geographic.

For the past 18 years, Jayne has devoted time as Vice President of Australasia for the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society (OWUSS) - a scholarship sponsored by Rolex for young underwater enthusiasts. Jayne has been an invaluable mentor to a lucky 13 scholars and has played a significant part in their lives but has now passed it on to one of the younger generation and one of the past scholars.

Jayne is currently the resident photographer /consultant with The Ocean Agency formally the Catlin Seaview Survey a fast game-changing creative scientific project. Using specially designed technology, the Catlin Seaview Survey recorded and revealed the world's oceans and reefs like never before, in high-resolution, 360-degree panoramic vision. This led to being part of the brilliant documentary Chasing Coral.

Jayne was also a safety diver/camera assistant for a documentary filmed in what she calls “her back yard” Chowder Bay, for the BBC National History unit about seahorses called Fierce Queens.

Over her years working in travel and being a keen traveller, Jayne has visited places such as - South Africa, Socorro, Cuba, Indonesia, Philippines, New Zealand, Maldives, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea,

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Support the show

Love the show?
Reviews help us grow and let us know you're listening - If you can spare two minutes, please leave a review here.

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The Scuba GOAT Podcast - Martin Connolly - Scuba IQ - S03 E05

Transcript

Matt Waters00:00:06.419

Okay, Scuba IQ. We've not had many people on from Cairns. And yet we've had Libby has been on Libby Sterling. But you guys are much more focused on the almost like a white glove experience, isn't it?

Martin Connolly00:00:26.789

Yeah, I guess, you know, existing in a world that, you know, for a number of decades now, up here has been very much about, you know, larger volume sort of operations. That, you know, it's