Diving Matrix

25/04/2026

So many exciting things happening in my little world right now and I wanted to share this one with all of you, especially all of my friends who are diving professionals around the world.

I have accepted a position with Custom Divers as an ambassador and also global instructor sales coordinator. I am absolutely thrilled to be working with my friends at CD who I’ve known for over 25 years. It’s such a great fit as I started my technical career using their gear and I’m still using it. And in all that time with Diving Leisure London and Diving Matrix I don’t think we ever had a single return.

So, what’s it all about…

Custom Divers Ltd have unveiled a new instructor-focused
initiative aimed at instructors, aspiring professionals, and
dive centres.

This is a limited opportunity, with a restricted number of places, that is designed to support certified
professionals- as well as those just starting out on their professional journey.

* It’s built around real-world instructor experience
* It supports confidence, progression, and long-term engagement
* It’s designed to strengthen - not disrupt - existing industry relationships

If you’re an instructor, this initiative is about empowerment and opportunity - recognising the
influence instructors have and supporting them at every stage of their journey.

If you’re a dive centre or shop, this programme has been structured to sit alongside current retail models, not replace them. It is intended to complement existing arrangements, encourage informed equipment conversations, and reinforce the role centres play in supporting instructors and divers alike. If you haven’t ordered from Custom Divers recently, this may be a great opportunity to grow your sales.

If you would like to know more about this amazing initiative, please drop me a personal message on Facebook, email me, WhatsApp me. or contact Custom Divers direct.

05/12/2025

So I gave a talk about the technical liveaboards that Diving Matrix will be running in partnership with Oyster Diving. The first trip is for divers wanting to get into tech and also for divers wanting to get more experience while diving.

If you’re interested, we recorded the meeting and it’s posted here.

This is going to be a blast.

07/09/2024

I’m in Gozo (Malta) and I’ve just been watching a try dive being done in the bay where I’m staying.

I cannot believe how great the instructors are who choose to provide people with the experience to see our underwater world. It’s not easy being a try dive instructor and I salute you. I could never do what you guys do anymore. I’m in awe.

09/05/2024

Super happy day for me and all the team at Dive RAID International (DRI) as we released our Limited Hypoxic and Hypoxic Open Circuit courses to 80 and 100 metres respectively.

This is officially my return to writing and I have to say it was amazing bouncing ideas with the DRI team and many other deep open circuit divers, instructoras and trainers.

Give me or any of the team a shot regarding training.

Have a little look at the blog on

Hypoxic trimix is a highly specialized course and at the pinnacle of technical diver training. While it may seem just more of the same compared to other trimix open-circuit courses, because part of the focus of this course is on diving with gas mixtures containing extremely low levels of oxygen, it....

12/04/2024

So, many of you will have noticed that I’ve not been on social media much over the last few months.

Without going into detail, I got myself pretty sick over the last 6 months or so, culminating in an awful event about a month back.

I've had suspected issues with my kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, gallstones, stomach, digestive tract, torn muscles, old skeletal injuries, you name it. It's been a hell of a ride.

I’ve now had every test known to man and it seems I’m in pretty good shape, but they did find out that I have (now had) extremely high blood pressure and it actually could have killed me.

My mind goes back to Neal Po***ck and Simon Mitchell at RF4 where they addressed the audience and advised us to get a cardio test, especially if over 45. Now although I think I'm 28, I’m actually 58. If only I’d followed their advice, then this would probably have been caught a year ago.

I hate offering social media advice, but please, if you’re over 45 or you’re worried about your health, go get checked out. High BP can seriously injure you or even kill you, especially when diving. Don’t be a dingbat like me.

I’ve been very well supported by my amazing Wife and Son. My Sister, Brother and Dad have been amazing, and I need to thank them for shouting at me and telling me to push for more tests. My friends who have known about this have been utterly amazing. My partners at Dive RAID International have been so very good and have kept me as stress free as possible. I thank you all.

A massive shout to my doctor at Poole Hospital who really did everything in his power to get me healthy again. What an amazing man and what a great team. They kept me and Lisa smiling in our 9 hour stay in Accident and Emergency.

If you do comment and I don’t answer, please forgive me as I’m still taking it easy so I can get back at it, sooner rather than later. If you want to share this post, please do.

P

21/01/2024

I miss Michael. Do you?

04/10/2023

What an utterly amazing time I am having at the Divesoft Liberty Summit #3.

I arrived on Friday, set up my unit at the amazing Atlantis Diving Centre in Gozo. Brian and his team are, as always, fantastic.

That evening we (40 of us) received our bags, shirts, ducks etc. Totally blown away by that.

The following day we started diving and as always, Malta and Gozo never fail to put a massive smile on your face.

Millions of photos and events and on Monday I was honoured to be given a slot to talk about the shipwrecks of Malta to these amazing people.

I am of course representing Dive RAID International, along with Edmund Yui and soo PJ Prinsloo, but this feels like the best holiday ever.

Thank you to the DiveSoft Team and all the attendees for making me so welcome, for making me laugh, and for all the though provoking discussions.

And I’m happy to say that the level of diving is absolutely top. Amazing skills are being displayed every minute in the water.

Thank you all.

29/09/2023

I’m sat in the lounge all super excited. What a week I have had and what a week Dive RAID International has had.

Right now, I’m sitting in the BA lounge at Gatwick getting ready for the Divesoft Liberty Summit.

Someone’s gotta do it right.

Paul