TDI Instructor Trainer · Malta
SamNorton
Technical Instructor Trainer and local banter expert, teaching full time at Dive Systems in Sliema. Wrecks, trimix and CCR, and long, unhurried dives.
Technical Instructor Trainer and local banter expert, teaching full time at Dive Systems in Sliema. Wrecks, trimix and CCR, and long, unhurried dives.
I've spent the last decade chasing rusty metal across the globe. From freezing my brass monkeys off in a wetsuit during my open water in Newquay, to driving three hours from Malaga to Gibraltar just to guide a wreck dive, I have always been obsessed with the deep stuff. Coral reefs are nice, but they're full of slimy stuff; staring into the blue or looking at a giant wall of rusted steel is what gives me a real buzz.
Today, I call Malta home. It ticks every single box: staggering walls, deep water, and iconic, world-class wrecks like the Polynesien. Open circuit or CCR, I'm still nowhere near done. Every dream wreck I tick off just adds another one to the list.
I completed the journey to TDI IT with Mark Powell in the most brutal, challenging course of my life, the kind where you go home wanting to cry every night. Because of that, and many other incredible mentors, I know exactly what it feels like to be pushed to your absolute limit. I've made plenty of daft, immature mistakes in my younger years, and those f*ck-ups shaped me.
More than 15 years instructing, 19 countries dived, and my own XCCR. I'm working towards XCCR Instructor next; until then, I'll point you to the right people for CCR certification rather than pretend otherwise.
I would sooner certify a diver who knows their limits and thumbs the dive than someone who blindly pushes ahead. It's okay if you don't know something. I won't ever say "you should know this." Let's talk about it.
I am not the all-knowing guru. Heavily inspired by Gareth Lock's Human Factors philosophy, we focus on what went well, what didn't, and how we improve. Unfiltered, two-way communication is how we stay alive… and entertained.
Whether you're an Open Water diver wanting to look like a badass in a wing and long hose, or a seasoned Trimix diver ready for a bucket-list dive, boxes don't get ticked; they get filled.
Hitting the "dream state" in diving, whether at 12m or 70m, isn't a fluke. You earned it. It's that overwhelming wave of comfort that comes from knowing you have the precise skills, total comfort in your configuration, backed by a team that can handle anything and get everyone home safely. You aren't sleeping. You made it.
I work full time as an instructor at Dive Systems in Sliema, which is where all the diving, gas and boats come from. You'll also find Diving The Dream on Google. Day to day, I'm on Instagram and Facebook, and I write about the diving here on the blog.
When I'm not hiding in a wreck, you'll find me blasting heavy metal, cooking for my wife, and trying not to get mauled by my chihuahua, Milo.
Want to dive or train with me? Tell me your certification level and what you'd like to do, and I'll plan it with you. No pressure, no hard sell.