Inside Scuba
Posts
Inside Scuba Issue #38

Inside Scuba Issue #38

Byron Conroy & Andy Deitsch
July 13, 2025

Welcome to Issue #38 of Inside Scuba

Welcome to Issue #38 of Inside Scuba! In this edition, we spotlight how mainstream media is finally starting to get sharks right, with new programming that helps shift public perception from fear to fascination. We also share a hands-on first look at the just-released Retra Pro Max II strobes, and offer a comprehensive guide to traditional night diving—shedding light on the magic that unfolds after sunset. Plus, don’t miss the latest dive news from around the world and a curated video highlight. Whether you're a seasoned diver or simply ocean-curious, there's something here for you.

If you like these newsletters, please consider sharing them with friends who might also enjoy them.

What’s happening in this edition?

How Shark Friendly TV is Transforming Public Perception: A Diver’s Perspective
Dive News
A First Look at the New Retra Pro Max II
Night Diving Demystified: Your Guide to After-Dark Adventures
Video Highlight
Summary

How Shark Friendly TV is Transforming Public Perception: A Diver’s Perspective

Sharks have long been some of the most misunderstood creatures in our oceans. For decades, sensationalist media and Hollywood thrillers have painted them as ruthless killers lurking beneath the surface, just waiting for a swimmer or surfer to stray too far from shore. For those of us who dive regularly and share our time underwater with these majestic animals, that narrative has always felt like an enormous disservice.

Over the years, I’ve spent hours in the water with many types of sharks, from Walls of reef sharks in the currents of the Maldives to the famous Tiger beach. Never once have I felt like prey. Never once have I left the water with anything other than awe and admiration. And now, for the first time in a long time, it feels like the tide is turning.

Recently, streaming platforms like Netflix have started to do what mainstream television has largely failed to accomplish for decades. Programs like All the Sharks and Shark Whisperer are flipping the script. They are re-educating the public, casting sharks not as villains but as vital, intelligent, and endangered members of marine ecosystems. From my perspective as a diver, underwater photographer, and someone who has spent a career trying to bridge the gap between ocean and audience, these new media approaches could not have come soon enough.

A refreshing take on shark TV.

Before we discuss these shows though, we must remember that we are all divers, and as such we know more about the ocean than almost every other type of person on Earth. With that knowledge comes the instinct to critique every diving show we see—pointing out poor buoyancy, touching the bottom, or other missteps. But focusing only on these flaws misses the broader purpose of these programs: to educate the public about sharks and marine life. For many viewers, these shows are their only exposure to the underwater world, shaped more by Hollywood than firsthand experience.

So let’s look at these shows from the perspective they bring and the influence they have on non-divers and how that can benefit divers and sharks alike.

In each issue of our newsletter, we will curate some top dive news from around the world. Links to each of the original articles are available.

Divernet: “Sydney shipwrecks take centre stage. Technical diver Samir Alhafith is the founder and team leader of The Sydney Project, an association of technical divers involved in researching and discovering important historical wrecks in deeper and more-challenging locations, and he will be discussing some Sydney shipwrecks when he ventures on to the Tech Stage at the GO Diving Show ANZ in September.”

Dive Magazine: “72-year-old diver dies at Pulau Tioman, Malaysia. A 72-year-old man has reportedly died during a dive at Kampung Paya Beach on Pulau Tioman, Malaysia. The diver, who has been identified as Low Choon Foi, a retired engineer from Johor Baru on Malaysia’s southern coast, had arrived on Pulau Tioman earlier the same day with 14 friends from Singapore, and was scheduled to leave on Saturday.”

Divernet: “Iconic WW2 cruiser’s bow found in Solomons. The bow of USS New Orleans was blown off by a Japanese torpedo in the Solomon Islands on 30 November, 1942 – yet, patched up with coconut logs, the heavy cruiser not only made it backwards to the USA but went on to see distinguished action through to the end of World War Two.”

Deeper Blue: “Rork Media Announces East Coast Scuba Show in 2026. The folks at Rork Media, who recently bought the rights and assets of the California Diving News and Scuba Show in Long Beach, California, announced this week that a separate Scuba Show on the US East Coast has been scheduled for 2026.”

Divernet: “Bahamas police arrest pair after speedboat hit-and-run. Police in the Bahamas have arrested two local men aged 55 and 21 in connection with a hit-and-run boating incident that left snorkeller Brent Slough seriously injured on 30 June. The men were being questioned and face charges of causing grievous harm by negligence.“

The Scuba News: “Scuba Instructor Honoured for Heroic Rescue of 18 Divers in Rough Seas Off Malta. A scuba diving instructor from North Yorkshire has been awarded a bronze medal for bravery after leading a daring rescue that saved 18 divers caught in rapidly worsening sea conditions off the coast of Malta. Marcus Kitching Howe, owner of ABC Diving and a resident of the island, received the commendation from the Royal Humane Society in recognition of his lifesaving actions.”

Divernet: “English seahorses show up mob-handed. One marine species that appears to be thriving in England this summer is the seahorse, though the dedicated volunteers who have helped bring about this situation would appreciate it if other divers resist going to see for themselves.”

Deeper Blue: “Andy Torbet To Skydive Into BSAC Dive Festival. During his stunt, Torbet is expected skydive from 5,000 feet/1,524 meters, parachuting into Spring Lakes while fully outfitted in scuba gear. He will then perform the UK’s first recreational skydive-to-scuba-dive, with Torbet plunging straight into the water, submerging and then making his way underwater to shore.”

BBC: “World War One ship's bell recovered after 108 years. A bell from a World War One battleship - which sank with the loss of hundreds of lives in Scapa Flow in Orkney over a century ago - has been recovered by divers. Two other artefacts from HMS Vanguard - a metal badge from one of the the main guns and a protective plug from a gun barrel, known as a tampion - have also been brought to the surface.”

Deeper Blue: “US Environmental Groups Slam Proposed Bill That Would Gut the Marine Mammal Protection Act. A draft bill introduced in the US Congress this week that would purportedly decimate the Marine Mammal Protection Act has been met with vociferous opposition from environmental groups.”

A First Look at the New Retra Pro Max II

I’ve long been a Retra Pro strobe user—specifically the original Retra Pro—and I’ve been using them for many years. Over that time, Retra has released several new models that have since replaced mine. But in all honesty, most of these “upgrades” focused on things that weren’t essential to me: improved battery performance, better ergonomics, and so on. The strobe output and light quality remained the same. While I welcomed the changes and appreciated the innovation for new buyers, these “upgrades” didn’t make financial sense for me—as ultimately, it was the same light.

But a few months ago, Retra announced the new Pro Max II, and for me, this was an instant, no-hesitation upgrade. The light output jumped from 140Ws to 190Ws—representing a 65% increase—and it also addressed some of the issues I had with my older-generation strobes, such as battery performance, the ergonomics of the battery booster, and recycle times.

I immediately ordered a set and awaited delivery. True to their word, Retra shipped on July 1, and the strobes arrived a few days later. I haven’t had the chance to dive with them much yet, but this is a first impressions review. I’ll follow up with a more detailed evaluation in the coming months after more real-world testing.

Night Diving Demystified: Your Guide to After-Dark Adventures

Remember Gabe Jensen's awesome blackwater diving piece (Deep Dive into Blackwater: Practical Techniques for the Dark) from our last issue? While he had us mesmerized by those alien-like creatures floating in the open ocean's midnight zone, there's another type of after-hours diving that's equally captivating—and a lot more accessible for most of us: traditional night diving.

Think of it this way: if blackwater diving is like visiting an alien planet, night diving is like sneaking into your neighborhood after everyone's gone to bed. That reef you've explored a hundred times during the day? It's about to show you a completely different side of its personality.

While sometimes visible during the day, stargazers are much more often seen at night

Why Night Diving Will Change Your Perspective

Remember Gabe Jensen's awesome blackwater diving piece () from our last issue? While he had us mesmerized by those alien-like creatures floating in the open ocean's midnight zone, there's another type of after-hours diving that's equally captivating—and a lot more accessible for most of us: traditional night diving.

Why Night Diving Will Change Your Perspective

The transformation is nothing short of magical. As the sun disappears, the entire underwater ecosystem flips a switch. Day shift punches out, night shift clocks in, and suddenly you're witnessing behaviors and creatures that most divers never get to see.

I still remember my very first night dive vividly—it was in the British Virgin Islands. I was nervous at first, descending into the dark with only a beam of light to guide me. But that nervous energy quickly transformed into awe when I spotted an octopus on the hunt. It glided over the reef with hypnotic precision, shifting colors and textures as it moved. I was completely captivated. That moment flipped a switch in me too—I couldn't wait to do another night dive.

These days, I especially enjoy diving right around sunset. There's something incredible about witnessing the shift in behavior firsthand. Fish that were darting around all day begin to disappear into hiding, while the reef’s nocturnal residents begin to stir. It’s like watching a theatrical set change in real time, and every time I experience it, I’m reminded why I keep coming back.

The Night Shift Crew Comes Out to Play

Ever wondered what happens to all those hiding spots in the reef when darkness falls? They empty out. Lobsters emerge like armored bulldozers, methodically searching for their next meal. Crabs scuttle about with newfound confidence. That octopus you've been hoping to spot for months? Night is your best chance—they're out hunting, and you’ll never forget your first time seeing one in full predatory mode.

The first time I saw a parrotfish tucked away in it’s sleeping bag was an eye-opener. I had no idea what was going on until after the dive and asked a dive buddy. Many parrotfish secrete a mucus cocoon around themselves for protection. It's like finding someone camping in a transparent tent on the reef.

Summary

Thanks for diving into this issue of Inside Scuba. If you found something valuable, entertaining, or thought-provoking, consider forwarding this newsletter to a friend who might enjoy it too. Every share helps grow a community of informed, inspired, and ocean-minded divers. Until next time—stay safe, dive often, and keep exploring.

Andy & Byron

Reply

or to participate.