Myles Schwarts
PADI MSDT
Co-Host
Walter Sweeney
PADI Master Instructor
Co-Host
Colton Gilmore
PADI Staff Instructor
Co-Host
Walter’s Episodes
The Culture of Diving with Josiah Mackin, Managing Director of Utila Dive Center
Josiah “Juicy” Mackin is the Managing Director of Utila Dive Center and a Multi Platinum PADI Course Director. In this episode, Walter and Colton discuss Juciy’s development as a PADI Pro and how his experiences managing elite resorts in Asia and Africa help him to build and grow the world renowned culture of Utila Dive Center.
Switzerland, the Land of Lakes, Caves, Mines, and Drysuits with Annick Den Harder, PADI Master Instructor
Annick Den Harder (@scub_annick) is a PADI Master Instructor and Manager of Switzerland’s largest dive school, TSK. Under her leadership, TSK has grown from 300 certifications a year to over 1,000. Listen to Annick talk about how the deep, cold lakes of Switzerland and the flooded mines and caves of Northern Germany help to fuel the local dive community and prepare people for exotic dive trips to Raj Ampat, the Caribbean, and even Antartica!
The Art of Guiding Divers with Devin Claire, PADI MSDT
Devin is one of the lead Dive Guides at Utila Dive Center. On this episode Walter and Devin discuss how to battle the monotony of doing the same dives every day, good boat diving etiquette, and some of their favorite underwater critters.
The Value of Teaching SCUBA with Bruce Weitzenhoffer, PADI Course Director
Walter and Colton chat with PADI Course Director, DAN Examiner, and AVELO Instructor Bruce Weitzenhoffer (www.bestscuba.net) about the skills and abilities PADI Professionals develop that prepare them for other careers and how the SCUBA Industry can improve to keep quality Pros engaged and teaching longer.
The Making of Last Breath with Director Alex Parkinson and Producer David Brooks
In this exclusive interview with the Director and Producer of the feature adaptation of the true story Last Breath delves into the creative process, unique challenges, and the emotion behind the film. In the episode you’ll get the inside scoop on how Parkinson and Brooks turned a real-life story into a documentary and then how that documentary birthed this true-to-life story featuring Woody Harrelson, Finn Cole, and Simu Liu.
Working as a PADI Pro with Jordan Wilson, PADI MSDT
Walter sits down with Jordan Wilson, a PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer recently graduated from the Instructor Development Course at Utila Dive Center, and discusses the process that lead to Jordan’s first successful hiring as a PADI Professional working in the Cayman Islands.
New Year, New Free Descent Team
Welcome to 2025 and welcome Colton, PADI Staff Instructor, to the Free Descent Team. Meet Colton and get reacquainted with Walter and Myles on this first episode of the new year!
Nonprofit SCUBA Instruction with Sam Guess from Learn SCUBA Chicago
Learn SCUBA Chicago is a not for profit SCUBA operator serving underprivileged youth, veterans, and a variety of other demographics in Chicago, IL. Walter and Myles talk with Sam Guess from Learn SCUBA Chicago about the teaching methods, travel incentives, and retail operation of this unique Chicago dive operation.
Wandering, Traveling, Yoga and Diving with Taylor The Wandering Blond
Taylor @thewanderingblond chats with Walter and Myles about her upcoming DIVE+YOGA retreats and how she has found a special harmony between yoga and diving. Check out what Taylor has coming up at www.themindfulmvmnt.com.
Diving in Turkey with @Souldivers_
Kelsey, more commonly known as @souldivers_, is a PADI MSDT who has spent her SCUBA life in Latin America…until now! Join Walter and Myles in their conversation with Kelsey about her recent trip to Turkey and some of the exciting differences she observed during her first SCUBA adventure into new waters.
SCUBA Talk with Walter and Myles
Welcome Walter to the Free Descent Team! Walter has been on several previous episodes and has been one of Free Descent’s favorite guest. In this, his first episode as a cohost on the podcast, Walter and Myles discuss some of their pre-dive rituals and the intricacies of teaching the PADI Open Water Course.
The SCUBA Industry with Walter and Kelsey, Part 2
Walter (@sweendogscuba) and Kelsey (@souldivers_) answer questions submitted from our last episode with them. Topics include burnout, finding and keeping jobs, diversity in the dive industry, and so much more!
The SCUBA Industry with Walter and Kelsey, Part 1
Walter (@sweendogscuba) and Kelsey (@souldivers_) are both PADI Instructors, but how they got there from their previous “suit and tie” lives, what they do day to day, and where they are going couldn’t be more different. Nevertheless, they both agree that they have the best job ever!