Open Water Scuba Instructor

G’day my name is Stephen Rudge, I learnt to dive whilst i was in the Royal Australian Navy as a Ships Diver and lucky for me, my Navy Instructor was also a PADI Instructor, so i got my open water certification as well. I was fortunate to spend a lot of time on a Survey ship that frequented Papua New Guinea, Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef. Being part of the ships dive team allowed me to go for a dive when we were near islands or reefs, it was a  tough life.

I met Lee and the team in 2006 when i started a new job across the road from Perth Scuba. The new job also meant that i got to meet my dive buddy and new instructor also, Glenn Storey. When on my first dive as a Divemaster trainee, i was moved by the excitement of the open water students seeing all the marine life under the water for the first time, that was the moment i decided i wanted to be an Instructor!

My Favourite Dive Sites in WA:

The former HMAS Swan in Dunsbourough, I served on her sister ship (HMAS Torrens) whilst in the Navy and diving on her brings back a lot of good memories (mainly bars in Asia!). I also enjoy diving on the Chinese Junk in the Swan River at night.

Best Ever Dive:

The shark feed at the North Horn on Osprey Reef, Cairns QLD.

Worst Ever Dive:

Doing a propeller shaft inspection on a ship in a very dirty, smelly Singapore harbour.

Favourite piece of dive equipment:

My underwater video camera, it has opened up a whole new experience for me as a diver. I get a real buzz out of putting together small movies of my diving to show family and friends.

Why I love diving:

The ocean has always been a big part of my life, i grew up skin diving and surfing and i have been diving for over 20yrs now. The ocean is a beautiful, peaceful and exciting place, that has no boundaries to finding new marine life and maritime history. I have the “Blue Itch” well and truely and i will scratch it for the rest of my life.