How do you go from learning to scuba dive to organising a cave exploration expedition? Maja Music joins me to share her journey into sidemount diving, CCR cave diving, and leading a project in Slovenia’s Križna Jama and Nova Križna Jama.In Episode 125 of Speaking Sidemount, we explore the foundations behind that progression: consistent practice, mentorship, supportive dive buddies, and the confidence to turn an idea into a real expedition.Maja takes us behind the scenes of assembling the team, working with scientists and local cave guardians, and moving more than half a tonne of equipment through demanding cave passages. We discuss the team’s exploration to 153 metres, why they stopped pushing deeper, and how a fresh look at the shallows revealed new passages, decorated chambers, and suspected cave-bear remains.Then Maja shares the full story behind our opening teaser: a lost bailout cylinder, an inflating rebreather loop, and zero visibility during her own shallow exploration dive. It’s a candid conversation about training, diving under pressure, team communication, and learning from an incident.We also talk about burnout, mental health, honesty with your dive buddies, and why becoming an explorer involves much more than diving deeper.If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with your dive buddies—it really helps more people discover Speaking Sidemount.Leave a comment: What has made the biggest difference to your development as a diver?📘 SIDEMOUNT FUNDAMENTALS eBOOKBuild your understanding of sidemount equipment, configuration, weighting, trim, gas management and fundamental skills.https://www.sidemountpros.com/store/sidemount-fundamentals-ebook🤿 MAJA & NOVA DIVINGInstagram — Maja Music (@undercurrentreverie)Maja Music — NOVA team profile - https://www.nova-diving.com/aboutNOVA Diving website - https://www.nova-diving.com/NOVA Diving Instagram — @nova.diving - https://www.instagram.com/nova.diving/Križna Jama Expedition - https://www.nova-diving.com/projects/krina-jama-expedition📲 CONNECT WITH STEVE & SPEAKING SIDEMOUNTInstagram — @nzsteved - https://www.instagram.com/nzsteved/Facebook — Steve Davis - https://www.facebook.com/nzstevedFacebook — Speaking Sidemount - https://www.facebook.com/speakingsidemount/❤️ SUPPORT THE SHOWHuge thanks to our patrons. Your support makes these conversations possible.Become a patron and get early access to episodes - https://www.patreon.com/speakingsidemount🟡 THANK YOU, XDEEPSpeaking Sidemount is proudly supported by XDEEP. The XDEEP Exploration Support Program supported Maja’s expedition.XDEEP dive equipment - https://www.xdeep.eu/XDEEP Exploration Support Program - https://exploration.xdeep.eu/#SpeakingSidemount #CaveDiving #SidemountDiving

3.7 kilometres. 236 minutes. Solo.

Scott RG returns to Speaking Sidemount to share the story of his Keld Head return dive—from the resurgence to West Kingsdale Master Cave and all the way back, using his KISS Sidewinder rebreather and DPV.

Reaching West Kingsdale was only halfway. With nearly two kilometres still to travel, Scott had to stay focused through restrictions, complex navigation and the return through Dead Man’s Handshake.

I’m Steve Davis, and in this episode we explore the experience and preparation behind that dive: Scottish mine diving, longer cave dives in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, and an earlier attempt where Scott turned around just 300 metres short of his destination.

We discuss bailout planning, scooter use, cold-water equipment, solo cave diving and “mission blindness”—the temptation to keep going when it’s time to turn. We also reflect on the pioneers featured in The Underground Eiger, John Cordingley’s return dive, and Scott’s ambitions for a longer journey towards King Pot.

Later, Scott shares how a garage fire destroyed around £35,000 of diving equipment, what he chose to replace, and how friends and the diving community helped him get back underwater.

A conversation about cave diving, sidemount rebreathers, preparation and the judgement needed to come home.

FOLLOW SCOTT RG

🎥 YouTube — Cave Line Productions
📸 Instagram — @scottrg.1

CONNECT WITH STEVE DAVIS

🎥 YouTube — Sidemount Pros
📸 Instagram — @nzsteved
💬 Facebook — Steve Davis
🌐 Speaking Sidemount

LEARN AND SUPPORT

📘 Get my Sidemount Fundamentals eBook
❤️ Become a Speaking Sidemount patron

Huge thanks to our sponsor XDEEP and the patrons of Speaking Sidemount. Your support makes these conversations possible.

👍 Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, follow on Spotify and share with your dive buddies.

Leave a comment: What experience most changed your judgment as a diver?

What does it really take to become an exceptional technical diver? In episode 123 of Speaking Sidemount brought to you by XDEEP, I sit down with my long-time mentor and friend Tom Steiner, founder of Gozo Technical Diving, to explore the philosophy that has shaped thousands of technical divers over nearly four decades.

I first trained with Tom in Gozo, Malta, in 2015–16, completing my Technical Sidemount Instructor, Normoxic Trimix, Full Cave, Advanced Gas Blender and Open Water Instructor qualifications before working for him as an instructor. Many of the standards I teach today were forged during that time.

With more than 17,000 dives and thousands of students trained, Tom shares why experience always outweighs certifications, how attitude determines success, why technical diving isn't necessarily about going deeper, and the lessons he's learned from a lifetime spent underwater.

We also discuss:

• Why chasing certifications can make you a worse diver

• What separates good divers from exceptional divers

• Building judgment and experience

• Teamwork and attitude in technical diving

• Sidemount vs twinset

• The evolution of technical diving

• Gozo Technical Diving today

• Greenland expedition diving and iceberg exploration

• How to choose the right instructor

• Instructor development and teaching philosophy

• The future of technical diving

Whether you're a recreational diver looking to progress, an experienced technical diver, or an instructor wanting to improve your teaching, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom from one of diving's most respected educators.

Thanks to our Sponsor, XDEEP - https://www.xdeep.eu

Follow Tom Steiner & Gozo Technical Diving - www.gozotechnicaldiving.com

Tom's Video Training Series - www.tomsteiner.pro

Tom's Recommended Reading:

The Checklist Manifesto – Atul Gawande

The Art of Learning – Josh Waitzkin

Deep Survivor – Laurence Gonzalez

Follow Steve Davis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nzsteved

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzsteved

📘 Sidemount Fundamentals eBook https://www.sidemountpros.com/store

❤️ Become a Patron and support Speaking Sidemount - https://www.patreon.com/c/speakingsidemount

A huge thank you to our episode sponsor XDEEP for their continued support of technical diving education, and to the incredible Patrons of Speaking Sidemount who make these conversations possible.