BIOGRAPHY / CAREER
Wanting to make a career out of SCUBA diving, I’m an adventurer, filmmaker and the host of both the ‘Are you a SCUBA Diver – Fancy a Brew?’ podcast and ‘Andy The Northern Diver’ YouTube channel, covering a variety of in and out of the water activities.
Preferring to be outdoors doing wild and adventurous things, I’m never far from water or wildlife. As a teenager, I enjoyed many sports but always gravitated to those that got my adrenaline pumping, especially around water.
A SOLID FOUNDATION – MILITARY CAREER
After a 15-year career in the armed forces, I’d reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. Finishing my service by training officer cadets with the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Training Group. Serving overseas in Germany, Cyprus and seeing combat in Afghanistan. I was awarded the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal (VRSM) for my years of long service and good conduct.
Always, someone that puts the needs of others first, I’ve often thought up ways to get groups of friends together and raise money for local and military charities, doing adventurous activities such as skydiving and mountain climbing.
In my civilian career, I started ‘Standish Property Maintenance & Pest Control’ in 2011. Along with my eldest daughter, Megan, we have won several awards from our local council and Trading Standards team for our continued high levels of customer service.
DIVING WITH A PURPOSE – DIVING CAREER
It’s not unusual to find me planning, packing or preparing for a dive. With camera in hand, I like nothing more than documenting my adventures to produce short films for my YouTube channel in the hope that others might be influenced to find their spirit of adventure.
Trained through the BSAC school of excellence, the MOD’s Joint Services Sub Aqua Diving Centre, I’m now a BSAC Advanced Diver and Open Water Instructor. I’ve progressed to be trained as a sidemount and rebreather diver, diving the JJCCR, by well-renowned instructors such as Dominic Robinson and Keiran Hatton.
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Meeting my wife Ali in 2015 would prove to be one of the most positive influences in my life. A short time into our relationship, we were introduced to SCUBA diving through our now very good friend Steve Kirkman. Proposing to Ali on bended knee on a reef, some 20m below the mid-Atlantic off the Canary Islands, was the only way I saw fit to pop the question. We married 6 months later in her family church in Lincolnshire.
Residing in Wigan in the North West of the UK we live with our cat and two rabbits. My daughters Jodie and Caitlin are at college and university.
AFFILIATIONS
My enthusiasm for diving and presenter style on my YouTube channel has led to collaborations with GearAid, MOJO Europe, Northern Diver International, OrcaTorch, dryrobe, Analox, Divelife and Stream2Sea doing equipment trials and reviews of new and existing products.
Follow me on YouTube and social media for the latest updates.
SCUBA Diver • Adventurer • Filmmaker • Underwater Photographer • Podcast Presenter • Biography