Traveler Submerged

07/09/2026

Big huge thanks to my Manny. One of the divers who recently completed my free “Mindful Diver - Surface Reset” program. This is why I do what I do, it’s why I so badly want to share these tips with more divers. Simple techniques that make a massive impact on the way we dive..!

https://sys.travelersubmerged.com/mindful-diver-body-scan-optin

07/09/2026

I’ll admit it. Until fairly recently, I’d never heard of IDF.

And I’m a PADI Instructor who’s been working in the diving industry, in one way or another, for years.

I came across the International Diving Federation while researching CCR and technical training options for the next stage of my own diving. That sent me down a rather large rabbit hole looking at their wider training system, standards, instructor model and philosophy.

And I’m genuinely impressed.

One thing that particularly caught my attention is their emphasis on “safety first” and an “integrity-first” approach to training.

They meet RSTC standards, but what interests me is the philosophy around those standards. Minimum standards are exactly that, minimums. I respect an agency that appears willing to put training quality and instructor integrity at the centre of how it wants to grow.

I suspect that approach could earn IDF a lot of respect as the organisation becomes better known.

But research and standards documents only tell me so much.

I’d really like to hear from divers and instructors who have actually trained or taught with IDF.

* How did you find the quality of the training?
* What are the student and instructor materials like?
* How much freedom do instructors have in how they teach?
* How does IDF support independent instructors?
* Have you ever had issues with an IDF certification being recognised by dive centres elsewhere?
* If you crossed over from PADI, SSI, RAID, SDI or another agency, how did the experience compare?

Global recognition is probably my biggest question.

PADI and SSI have enormous brand recognition with recreational divers. IDF obviously doesn’t have that same visibility yet. I somehow spent years in the industry without really encountering them.

But does that actually matter in practice?

If the training meets recognised international standards and the certification is accepted by dive centres around the world, how important is the logo on the card?

I’m genuinely curious, and particularly interested in first-hand experience rather than the usual agency-versus-agency debate.

So, IDF divers and instructors, what should the rest of us know?

International Diving Federation (IDF), established in 2015, is a modern diving federation built around a clear priority: safety above all. By combining up-to-date training materials, practical experience, and a strong global instructor network, IDF delivers high-quality education designed for today....

07/09/2026

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I’ve been raving about my Procean.nl drysuit and BP+W setup. And after over a year in, I’m still sending plenty of love their way.

My Technical drysuit has taken me through Malta shore dives, wrecks and plenty of time underwater, and it has kept me bone dry - every single time. The wing has become my go-to setup too. Solid gear, sensible pricing, and people who genuinely care about the divers using it.

That last bit matters. The service I’ve had from the Procean team has been every bit as good as the gear, which makes recommending them pretty easy.

If you’re heading to InterDive in Friedrichshafen, Germany, from 24 to 27 September, go say hello to the Procean crew and have a look at their kit in person.

Tell them Robin (traveler submerged) sent you. They’ll either look after you exceptionally well or immediately hide behind the drysuits. Could go either way.

Very happy to keep supporting good people making seriously good dive gear.

Busy few weeks ahead for Procean!

This weekend you'll find us at WETNOTES in Hemmoor, Germany, testing drysuits, wings, sidemounts and undersuits straight in the lake.

And later this month, 24–27 September, we'll be at Tauch- Schnorchel- & Reisemesse InterDive in Friedrichshafen. Come find us at our booth to see the full range up close and talk through what suits your diving.

Want to make sure we've got time for you? Send us an email at [email protected] and we'll set up an appointment.

See you at the lake, or at the fair! 👋

22/08/2026

If diving only makes you feel good underwater, you may be missing the best part.

Most people see scuba as recreation.

A holiday activity.
A weekend hobby.
A few quiet hours away from work, phones and everyday noise.

I think it can become much more than that.

Underwater, you get immediate feedback from your own state.

Rush, and your breathing changes.

Tense up, and your movement changes.

Lose awareness, and your buoyancy often follows.

Slow down, soften unnecessary effort and pay attention, and the entire dive can feel different.

That is what pulled me towards mindful diving.

Not trying to turn scuba into meditation.

Not pretending every dive should feel peaceful.

Learning to notice what is happening in your body, your breathing and the environment before reacting to it.

And those skills do not stop when you climb back onto the boat.

You start noticing the tight jaw at your desk.

The shallow breathing when you are stressed.

The urge to rush.

The moment your attention disappears from what is actually happening around you.

Diving gives you somewhere to practise.

Life gives you somewhere to use it.

One practice I use before descending is a simple 60-Second Surface Reset.

Stop kicking.

Let the water support you.

Soften the body.

Notice your breathing.

Notice your buddy and the conditions.

Then descend when you are actually ready.

Once underwater, return to three things:

Body.
Breath.
Environment.

I’ve created a free guided Mindful Diver Body Scan and Surface Reset to help divers practise this before their next dive.

No prior meditation or yoga experience needed.

Comment RESET and I’ll send it to you.

10/08/2026

My screen time drops dramatically underwater.

Apparently so does my availability.

Send this to the diver who disappears the second they get near the sea.