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 Dive Global : What about the man behind Seaplane Dive Adventures. How did you get into the dive business?
Rick: I have always lived by the sea but ironically developed a passion for the mountains and started working on tourism and conservation projects in the Himalayas!
It wasn’t until 8 years ago when I learnt to dive in Africa on Zanzibar Island. I was instantly hooked and couldn’t stop! I was taught by some very good instructors and decided I wanted to teach as well. I accepted the chance to instruct in the Sultanate of Oman a year later and developed my interest in the underwater world further, before joining Coral Cay Conservation, which is a not for profit organisation working to protect coral reefs and tropical forests around the world.
I spent three years as a project manager and expedition leader in Central America, Africa, the Philippines and Fiji, before joining the explorer Monty Halls and helping him develop his filming and photography expeditions. His company Full Circle Expeditions took groups of divers to film the 10 best dive sites in the world and I could see from the success of these expeditions the diving industry had matured to support another top end dive product.
 Dive Global: Are you a seaplane pilot yourself??
Rick: No not yet!
Dive Global : You've worked with the Scientific Exploration Society and lead an expedition to Aliwal Shoals. What was that like? We're curious as we haven't really highlighted that location at Dive Global yet.
Rick: Diving in Africa is great, it’s like nowhere else on earth. In fact I would recommend going solely for the boat journey and the hair raising moments as you push your way through the surf – the sites then tend to be in open Ocean and quite deep, swathed in strong currents and nutrients. I will always remember the most incredible shark diving and drifting on safety stops with bull sharks charging pass you.
There are different seasons as to which sharks species tend to dominate sites, but you can see anything from Great Whites and Tigers to Hammerheads and Raggies in their hundreds in season. There is some fantastic exploratory diving to be found on the Umdloti drop off and beautiful soft corals to be found around Rocky Bay. Then there is the phenomenal sardine run in June/July, which has now been well documented and the Humpback whale population is once again increasing. Plan your time carefully or use an operator like Dive South to plan your trip, but go prepared for some very exciting diving.
Dive Global : We always ask this question; what has been your favorite underwater encounter so far?
 Rick: I just love anything that is spontaneous and unexpected – whether it is a marlin splitting a school of tuna or a watching the action of a sling jaw wrasse, I can be memorized for hours underwater. I even caught a turtle doing a poo and it made me laugh so much!
Perhaps my favorite day was off the coast of Honduras with a small group looking for whalesharks and dolphins, when we saw 12-15 Sperm whales far off shore. It was completely unexpected as Sperm whales are rarely seen in the region and the first time I had been able to dive with them. Considering they are the largest predator ever to have lived and regularly dive to depths of 2,000 metres I was amazed the pod showed an amazing curiosity towards us, especially the calves. I remember looking into their eyes and feeling incredibly humble by the perilous journeys they must make every day.
My dream now is to encounter Orcas in the tropics, perhaps on a night dive!
Dive Global : Any other destinations you've been to and like to share with us?
Rick: I have been very lucky to work in conservation and fortunate to be taken by fisherman to some fantastic areas. I think the best sites are still to be discovered and can often be very close to where you already dive – it is often just a matter of timing and knowledge of fish species or spawning areas that can set a location apart for me. I spent six months in the Philippines on the Danjugan Island Marine Reserve doing exactly that. It is an incredible place not least because it has the benefit of the community at its heart. You can simply walk of the beach and come across 40 species of butterfly fish alone – in fact the reef surrounding the 44 hector island has more species diversity than the entire Great Barrier Reef – keeping this together is essential for the surrounding area and it is great to know these places are finally being protected.
Dive Global : What's next on the horizon for seaplane diving adventures?
Rick: Well there is a lot of work creating the demand for seaplane diving and then replicating the trips we have set up in Fiji to Australia and then onto the Maldives – from there we will have to wait and see!
 Dive Global : Any departing words for our readers?
Rick: Only to say thank you for reading the interview and to encourage them to get a group together and come seaplane diving – they will love it!
Dive Global: Thank you for talking to us today Rick and making us very exited about this whole new concept of diving. We wish you the very best with Seaplane Dive Adventures and hope to experience a trip ourselves soon!
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