Favourites & Recommendations
If you've ever sat in one of my classroom sessions, you'll know I go off on a tangent about some bit of kit, a book, or a course that's genuinely shaped how I dive and teach. And every single time I say "I'll send you the link" — and then, being honest, I usually forget. So here it is: the page I should have made ages ago. A running list of the things that have made me a better instructor, plus the odd bit of gear I just love using. All of it stuff I actually use — no filler, nothing I wouldn't put my own name to.
The Human Diver
This one genuinely changed how I teach. Gareth Lock's work on human factors — how well-trained, capable divers still make mistakes, and what we can actually do about it — is some of the most important material in modern diving. His book Under Pressure is a favourite of mine, and the courses take it further. If you dive in a team, lead one, or teach, this is time and money well spent.
Deco for Divers — Mark Powell
I was lucky enough to have Mark as my own TDI Instructor Trainer, and this book is still one of the best on the market. It goes genuinely in-depth on decompression theory and physiology — everything you'd want to know as a diver interested in deco, or honestly just anyone who wants to understand what's actually going on in our bodies when we head underwater. If you read one book on decompression, make it this one.
Decompression Controversies
Simon Mitchell explaining gradient factors in a way anyone can actually understand. This is the video that helped me get my head around it when I was starting out — and it's still brilliant today. If GFs have ever felt like witchcraft, watch this.
Watch on YouTube →
Deep Stops — & a Modern Rethink
Mark Powell on deep stops and much more — and what makes this one really interesting is that he talks openly about how his own thinking has changed and what he'd update. A genuinely modern take from someone who's spent his career on this stuff.
Watch on YouTube →270Pro PURE Anti-Fog Film
I put this through two months of hard everyday use — including a backup mask battered in my pocket by bolt snaps — and it's earned a permanent place on my masks. A precision-cut film that stops your mask fogging, protects tinted lenses from scratches, and just works. I wrote up the full honest verdict on the blog if you want the detail before you buy.
I'm always finding — or being reminded of — kit, books and training worth passing on. Check back, or if there's something you've heard me rave about that isn't here yet, give me a nudge and I'll add it.