Miscellaneous Blogs
The BiG Scuba Podcast… with Samantha Falcucci

Gemma and Ian chat to Samantha Falcucci. Samantha is a technology professional in New York City, STEM mentor, and ocean and space exploration advocate. After studying Information Systems & Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin, she launched into a business-technology career and has worked at Microsoft for six years guiding enterprise customers through their unique digital transformations. She has fostered a passion for science all her life and is dedicated to hands-on scientific research and communication in both space and ocean related fields.
Samantha earned her Advanced Scuba certification at 17 and is passionate about diving and marine science. She is a citizen scientist volunteer recording microplastics presence at the Jersey Shore for the Plastic Wave Project and is a member of the NYC Sea Gypsies scuba club. In August 2021 she became a trained analog astronaut and helped lead a Mars simulation in the Mojave Desert with an international crew.
She dedicates her passion for science to her late grandfather who was an entomologist and loved launching model rockets together. She strives to set an example as a citizen-scientist while advocating for diverse backgrounds needed in exploration. Her advice to aspiring conservationists is to find unconventional ways to study and care for the ocean regardless of your age or if it is directly related to your job and studies. She looks forward to sharing all of her upcoming space and ocean related experiences on her Instagram blog.
Have a listen here:
Find out more here:
https://www.instagram.com/seaspacesam/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sfalcucci/
https://www.instagram.com/nycseagypsies/
Find more podcast episodes and information at the new www.thebigscuba.com website and on most social platforms @thebigscuba
Miscellaneous Blogs
BOOT back with a bang!

It has been three years since the prestigious BOOT event has taken place in Dusseldorf, Germany. But this year it was back with a bang. The show attracts water sports enthusiasts from around the world. Whether you are looking to spend millions on a super yacht (or just dream about it) or a few ££s on a diving accessory – there is something for everyone.
There were smiles on all the faces around the diving hall. The event offers not only a great chance to re-engage with dive centres, equipment suppliers, training agencies and more, but also the opportunity to catch up with old friends and to make some new ones along the way.
Talks and presentations boomed out from the main stage, whilst in the background, pools with clear sides allowed spectators to watch on as kids, divers and even mermaids took to the water.
There was loads of new dive gear from all the major manufactures to look at and try out. From essentials such as masks and fins, drysuits, computers, through to rebreathers and underwater photo and video equipment. In every size, shape and colour imaginable!
Boot is a whopping 8 day show that covers two weekends. The halls cover not only diving, but submarines, yachts, a host of other water sports, ocean art, conservation projects and more. You could spend days walking around it. It certainly got my step count up, having walked over 9 miles in a single day, exploring, looking at new diving equipment and planning trips for 2023 and beyond!
Miscellaneous Blogs
Jeff chats to… Anca Vaida – Doctor, Actor, Director, Writer and Producer – about her love of Scuba Diving (Watch Video)

In this exclusive Zoom interview, Jeff Goodman, Scubaverse Editor-at-Large, chats to Anca Vaida – Doctor (Consultant Psychiatrist), award winning Actor, Director, Writer, Producer and Scuba Diver, about her love of diving.
Anca is a Romanian Actor, Director, Writer and Producer, who trained at East 15 Acting school, London. She has won seven acting awards at a variety of international film festivals for playing the role of Dr Alex Ionescu in the TV series ‘Psyched!’, which she also wrote, directed and produced.
Some of Anca’s most notable projects include Crossing Continents on BBC radio, the film Can We Order First? which premiered at the Berlin Short Film Festival, the play Sorry, My Compassion is on the Blink at the Pleasance Theatre, London, and the play Fine and Dandy at the King’s Head Theatre.
A keen diver, Anca got her PADI Open Water Certification in 2012 and has gone on to dive in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Dahab in Egypt, as well as in Lefkada in Greece, The Cape Verde Islands and Miami, USA.
In her spare time, when not diving, Anca is also a Doctor (Consultant Psychiatrist) with 13 years’ experience in the NHS.
Find out more about Anca at: https://www.spotlight.com/5491-3425-9331
Rather listen to a podcast? Listen to the audio HERE on the new Scubaverse podcast channel at Anchor FM.
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