About

Andre Shirley

I have been extremely lucky to have lived many of my dreams. Starting with a “normal” childhood in a small town– a little too independent at times it has been said.

I did not know which career choice to make so decided to hop onto the airways path where work was secondary to travel and fun. That’s where the travel bug got hold and never ceased. Apparently it also helps to be a type “B” blood group as we’re considered to be Nomads.

 At some point seriousness settled computer programming became the money maker. Quite boring, so an exciting hobby was needed. Scuba diving it was. It took over to the point of 24/7. A few years into it, I was introduced to Don. He gallantly fixed my drysuit seal.

Currently my job spec is (but not limited to):

Gardener, Interior decorator slash painter, Web design and updater, Marketer, Administrator, Chief coffee maker, Dive instructor, Film editor and sometimes cameraman, Accountant, Tour operator, Gas blender, Sales representative, IT repairs, Rescuer, And finally, Chief toilet flush fixer.

I have been demoted from Chief coffee maker, as Don stepped in to take over this task so that I can have the first cuppa in bed.

We both still enjoy diving and travelling. I have a feeling this won’t change much in the future but watch this space.  

Don Shirley

What makes me tick? Diving and teaching! Diving is a passion. I apply technology and technique to do what I do in the water; I love to develop a diver’s ability.

Where the surface is not an option; my specialities are trimix, rebreathers, cave diving, in water recompression, and I am as comfortable in water than on the surface, I live in the water! I believe that technical diving opens a new world for all divers interested in it, and through this I aim to promote personal development, knowledge and skill sets in an environment of controlled risk.

As a youngster I would have never guessed my career path or where it would take me.

I served a full British Army 23 year career, retiring as a First Class Warrant Officer (WO1). I was an Army Diving Supervisor – specialising in expeditions. I was both a Recreational and Technical dive instructor for several civilian dive associations. Apart from my dive qualifications I was an Artificer Sargent Major (AQMS), with a string of electronic qualifications up to degree level, I could have pushed for a commission and stayed long or become a civilian electronics engineer. But I opted for the freedom to explore new technologies, dive all the time, instruction and run expeditions on a full time basis. So with the world as my oyster that’s what I did!

So Now… I have been involved in diving for 45 years – 24 of which conducting technical diver training (mainly in South Africa but also around the world) on a full time basis. During this time I have been based at my 186m deep and cave dive site called Komati Springs.

I have organised and led many diving expeditions to all four corners of the world. From Oasis to Ice, Tropical to Sub Antarctic. The most famous being the Boesmansgat trip in January 2005. Now subject to a drama documentary “Dave not coming back” which has launched in August 2020 and is available for distribution in December 2020.

People that have read the book ask me “do you still dive”? The answer is of course yes. I generally log over 200 hours underwater each and every year.