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See some of the photos from Andy’s adventures

Caves

Wrecks

Wildlife

Kayaking

Rough

Planning

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Kitting up is mostly internal. . . . . . #cavedive

Kitting up is mostly internal.
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#cavediver #gear #mental #fear #diver #diving #darkness @fourthelementdive @suuntodivinguk @suuntodive

Instagram post 17993032670347196

Instagram post 17993032670347196

The best start to the day. . . . Camera by @ilko_i

The best start to the day.
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Camera by @ilko_iliev_ and @davegstunts

Sometimes getting your dive kit into the cave and

Sometimes getting your dive kit into the cave and down to the water’s edge is the hardest bit of the dive.
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Except getting it all back out again…
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Video by @beckibigginsmusic
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#diving #cavediving #diver #rucking #weightedcardio

I spent last night up in Leeds with @panerai talki

I spent last night up in Leeds with @panerai talking underwater exploration and adventures (and a little skydiving for good measure).
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A rare chance to see me in a suit that isn’t preceded by wet-, dry- or jump-
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Photo by @kostasveni
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#speaker #diver #exploration #watchesofinstagram

When you're too lazy to fin... . Playing around in

When you're too lazy to fin...
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Playing around in the canyons of Cornwall with a DPV (Diver Propulsioni Vehicle, or Scoooter as most divers call it) and @daanverhoevenfreediver
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Photo by @daanverhoevenfreediver
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#water #oceans #freedivver #freediving #diving #immersion #coldwater

Managed to get underwater at the weekend despite t

Managed to get underwater at the weekend despite the poor weather.
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Watching the river levels I knew the entry and flow would be difficult and I wouldn't achieve everything I wanted from the original dive plan.
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However, managed to shake out some kit, spot some flaws (failures can be very useful) and it was just good to drag myself out into the rain and get something done.
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All useful prep for a cave diving trip to France in 4 weeks.
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Photo by @beckibigginsmusic
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#diving #diver #cavediving #cave #darkness #water #flow #challenege #dark

Time to get back in the water. . Which means time

Time to get back in the water.
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Which means time to start humping dive kit. In a lot of the caves in Europe and the UK you have to carry your dive kit (none of which is light) from the nearest parking area to the water's edge or into the cave.
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It's even harder if you have to transport the kit in the cave and often through dry sections between underwater passageways.
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It's the worst part for me.
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And it's one of the reasons I train. I need to be able to do all this and ensure I don't get (too badly) injured when carrying equipment in remote locations often isolated from the outside world by a flooded cave.
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Carrying heavy stuff may not be the sexy part of exploratory cave diving but it is a certainty.
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Photo by @martinrhartley
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#cavediving #cavediver #diving #diver #trainhard #training #fitforlife

Trialing some kit for an upcoming shoot with @seal

Trialing some kit for an upcoming shoot with @sealifetrust investigating the importance, impact and conservation of seagrass.
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Not most people's first thought when it comes to interesting maritime environments but there is a huge amount going on in the grasslands of the sea.
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Stay tuned.
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Photo by @richstevenson.uk
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#conservation #seagrass #sealife #ad #diving #diver

When it’s time to go it’s time to go… . Jump

When it’s time to go it’s time to go…
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Jumps like these need communication and timing.
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You have to make sure everyone is ready, the pilot is happy, you’re clear of vents, the balloon is descending, your altitude is sufficient and ….. your cameramen are ready.
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Skydiving is fast-paced and a half second delay can mean you’re 50 feet out.
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It took a lot to get to this exit point and with a drone in the air and @ilko_iliev beside me on camera you need to make sure your timing is co-ordinated.
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It was an incredible jump but the best time was the ride up, hanging out on top of a hot air balloon with my friend.
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A special thanks to @davegstunts for getting us here
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Camera by @ilko_iliev
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Timing by @panerai
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#skydiving #balloon #falling #ad #panerai #reelitfeelit #viralreels #amazing

The poor weather is scuppering much of my plans at

The poor weather is scuppering much of my plans at the moment.
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Rain is an obvious obstacle to skydiving but it's also forcing me to postpone some cave diving stuff too.
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Submerged caves are basically underground rivers so when it rains, waters rise and flow increases. Making getting in difficult (or, more importantly, getting out).
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But I'm hoping the drier weather later in the week means I can jump ono Friday to capture some footage for a friend in New York and let the currents in the caves decrease so I can dive and get some work done for @fourthelementdive and @panerai
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This shot from a few years ago (dated by the fact I'm wearing a @gopro 1 was from I wanted bad weather. 60+mph winds, 25 foot swell. I was attempting to dive an acive blowhole. The bodyarmour turned out to be much needed.
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This is why you came to this account- chat about the weather...
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Photo by Gill McDonald
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#diver #diving #extreme #adventure #blow #hole #weather

I'm speaking at @thegreatholidayhomeshow in Harrog

I'm speaking at @thegreatholidayhomeshow in Harrogate for the next few days.
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Although I'll be discussing some of the more extreme and unusual places I've camped on expeditions, adventure projects and TV work I'll also be mentioning @baileyofbristol 's Sahara Challenge and the different obstacles and fun that can be had with driving motorhomes and caravans into the world's more remote pitches.
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Photos by @beckibigginsmusic and Alan Bond
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#camping #vanlife #sahara #desert

A solo cave diving selfie. . Although I've dived i

A solo cave diving selfie.
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Although I've dived in some spectacular caves where the underwater visibility is so clear it feels like you're in space (and allows for great photos) the reality in many caves, especially British ones, is is often pretty murky.
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Sometimes the water is so muddy that you are completely blind and relying on feel only. For context this shot was taken in what would be considered great clarity in a UK cave.
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Photo by me.
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#cavediving #extremeselfie #selfies #coldwater #adventure #diving #diver

A family that shoots bows together stays together…and survives the Apocalypse.
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As the old saying goes.
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#family #bows #bowhunting #archery #hunting #hawkeye #robinhood

Riding on top of a hot air balloon with my friend

Riding on top of a hot air balloon with my friend @ilko_iliev_
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Lots of films from this week@of jumping (often experimental jumping).
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Cool and chilled place to hang out with your mate….before the running starts…
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#skydiving #skydivegram #skydiver #adrenaline #balloon #adventure #friends

Making use of the good weather in the UK and doing

Making use of the good weather in the UK and doing a bit of bird watching...
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#skydiving #jumping #skydive #adrenalin #adventure #falling

Getting back in the water. . . . Photo by @martinr

Getting back in the water.
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Photo by @martinrhartley
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#diving #dive #diver #cavediving #water #ops #veteran #adventure

A final early morning dive into the Adriatic Sea a

A final early morning dive into the Adriatic Sea after 3 long weeks of filming with my friend @ilko_iliev_
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#diving #dive #sunrise #water #therapy #skinnydipping #coldwatertherapy #highdive

I’ve spent the last 3 weeks out in Italy on a fi

I’ve spent the last 3 weeks out in Italy on a filming project. We’ve only had the odd rest day in that time which I, of course, used to get in the sea and managed to visit the local Marine Nature Reserve.
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It’s been time away from the family and time away from my own adventure projects but I’m heading home soon and have a back log of cave diving, skydiving and outdoor plans that have been building.
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Between that, plans with the family and a number of speaking engagements the next few months are going to be busy.
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But that’s better than doing nothing and wasting precious time.
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Photos by me (what you can do with a timer)
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Watch by @panerai - Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech PAM00979
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#adventure #time #watches #watchesofinstagram #diving #freediving #ocean #ad

I spend a lot of time camping and not always in of

I spend a lot of time camping and not always in official campsites. Sometimes it's Drop Zones, sometimes dive centres, farmers field or motorway services.
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I wrote a blog for @baileyofbristol about some alternative (legal) camping spots in the UK and on your travels in Europe.
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Check the link in the bio for more.
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Photo by me.
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#camping #vanlife #motorhome #camp #outdoorlife

I spent the last 3 days assisting and filming new

I spent the last 3 days assisting and filming new students learning to skydive for the first time. There were some nerves, lots of successes and plenty of smiles.
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But I still found the time to do a couple of Speed runs just to refresh the skills since the World Champs last year and ahead of the UK Nationals coming up in a few months.
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The is the exit part of the jump as we jump solo, you can just see the edge of the plane door in the bottom left, and I'm focusing on my initial aim point on the ground 15,000 feet below.
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Photo by @mikeylovemore
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#skydiving #skydiver #adrenalin #adventure #veteran #GreatOutdoors

...when you let myself and @richstevenson.uk drive

...when you let myself and @richstevenson.uk drive a car...
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We were 'parking' in Plymouth Harbour at least half a dozen times for a BBC documentary looking at how to escape, or not, from a sinking car.
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As you can tell we were in no way enjoying ourselves.
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Photo from the go pro so Rich can take the credit.
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#survival #escape #sinking #driving #lifesavingskills #diver #freediving #diving

Many of my shots on here are ones taken by friends

Many of my shots on here are ones taken by friends who happen to be professional diving, freediving or skydiving cameramen. And, frankly, they do a good job of making me look good.
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However, the reality is, especially with something like cave diving, you seldom look good. Usually you surface after hours in the water with mask marks ringing your swollen face and snot coming out of your nose.
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It's even worse when, upon returning to gravity, you have to haul 3 days worth of diving, caving and camping kit out of the water after a 0300 start and 72 hours underground or underwater and you still have to move it all up the hill in 6 trips.
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And it's 2020 so you've not cut your hair in 6 months.
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This selfie (camera on a timer and tripod) is after getting out of the water after 3 days underground in a project in Wales between lockdowns in 2020.
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Photo by moi
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#cavediving #diving #lookinggoood #reality #instagramvsreality #diver #adventure #extreme #explorer #veteran

Living in a forest and spending a lot of time by t

Living in a forest and spending a lot of time by the sea allows me to make the most of the foraging opportunities nature offers. It teaches us a great deal about nature, an appreciation for what it offers and focuses the mind on the details of our environment when we’re out and about.
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It also connects us more with the passing of time within the natural world, as the seasons wax and wane or even just what’s on offer changing from day to night.
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We must remember not to over-harvest, to ensure there is plenty left to sustain the species we’re foraging, those other species that rely on it and to keep things in balance.
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Photo by @beckibigginsmusic
Watch by @panerai (Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech PAM00979)
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#outdoors #foraging #bushcraft #nature #naturalworld #forest #sea #panerai #watchesofinstagram #ad #hunting #conservation #green #veterans

Checking the Spot. . When we jump from planes we a

Checking the Spot.
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When we jump from planes we always want to check before climbing/jumping out.
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The green light comes on when we're over the right GPS co-ordinates but nothing beats eyeballing the outside world to make sure we're where we should be, we can see our landing area and there is nothing in our way (like another aircraft below us).
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Look. Then Leap.
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Photo by @mikeylovemore
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#skydive #skydiving #skydiver #danger

The entrance to one of my favourite caves in Franc

The entrance to one of my favourite caves in France.
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Photo by rRich Stevenson
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#cavediving #diving #squeeze #claustrophobia #underground

Dressing for success. . .. .. . Photo by @richstev

Dressing for success.
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Photo by @richstevenson.uk
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#diving #cavediving #diver #coldwater #adventures #underwater

7 years since we dived the Britannic (Titanic's tw

7 years since we dived the Britannic (Titanic's twin sister) at a depth of 120m for a BBC documentary to mark 100 years since her sinking.
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She was being used as a hospital ship in WW1 when she hit a sea-mine.
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The time at depth means we had 6 hours of decompression to carry out to get back to the surface safely and should have been supported all the way by this wet bell.
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But the bell broke and we were forced to hang out in the Aegean Sea.
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One of my more glamorous selfies....
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#selfie #extremeselfie #shipwreck #titanic #diver #diving

I've been climbing since I was 13. I've worked as

I've been climbing since I was 13. I've worked as a Mountain Guide and Climbing Instructor and now I'm involved with cliff and mountain rescue.
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But I don't ever think I'll beat this as my top climbing day (back in 2015) - climbing the UK Trad Classic, graded E1 5b, 5 pitch route on The Old Man of Hoy with the legends that are Sir @chrisbonington and @l@leo_houlding
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Photos by @partridge_keith (except the selfie on the belay ledge which Leo took)
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#climbing #climb #climber #mountain #mountaineer

Taking some newly qualified freedivers into the ca

Taking some newly qualified freedivers into the caves around Cornwall.
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I'm back there in a few days hoping to film some of the bigger marine life and doing some work with the @sealifetrust
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I'm hoping for seas as calm and clear as this.
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Photo by @daanverhoevenfreediver
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#freediving #freediver #ocean #sea