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Monica Restivo
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Hi, I’m Monica, a Master Instructor and Sidemount and Deco Instructor with RAID. As any true Sicilian who loves the sea, my passion for scuba diving began in 1992 and grew stronger over time, eventually becoming a deep love for the sport. It was then that I realized I wanted to share this incredible passion for the sea with others, leading me to become an instructor in 2002. After gaining some valuable experience abroad, I decided it was time to open my own diving center, Blue Aura Diving Club in Italy. I am fortunate to dive in amazing locations, where I also indulge my passion for photography and videography. My preferred configuration is Sidemount! 
Florian Symoens
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I’m Florian Symoens, a passionate diving instructor from Belgium.
My love for water started at a young age and grew into a full-time career. After receiving my first dive course at sixteen, I was hooked, and today I specialize in cave diving and rebreathers.
My diving journey took a serious turn after a trip to Mexico, where I experienced cenote diving for the first time. Since then, I’ve focused on technical training and teaching strong fundamental skills. I believe good diving starts with control, comfort, and lots of practice—not with shortcuts or rushing.
I prefer working with motivated students, teach in different configurations, and spend around 250 hours underwater each year. My favorite moments? Encounters with wildlife and exploring unknown dive sites.
In 2024, I sold my nightlife business to fully commit to teaching—with passion, or not at all.
Skanda Cophield
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Originally from Melbourne, Australia, since 2016 Tulum, Mexico has been home. He moved to Tulum to pursue a passion for cave diving and now works full-time teaching cave diving technical and rebreather, as well as guiding certified divers to some of the most amazing places in the world. When not teaching or guiding, he spends his free time exploring new cenotes and caves or hiking the jungle in search of the next exploration project. While Mexico is undoubtedly the richest area in the world for cave diving – the longest caves, the most varied, the sheer amount of different cave systems – Skanda also is a keen traveler, and at least once a year travels to other cave diving destinations. Skanda is one of the most active explorers in Mexico and requires the toughest gear for the job. When he borrowed a set of DLuxe bands he was convinced he needed to own one. His DLuxe tank bands resist harsh transport conditions, jungle hikes, and the sharpest rocks in the limestone caves he explores, all the while looking stylish.
Tomek Ramutkowski
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He has always been fascinated by the underwater world, and from the very beginning of his diving journey, he has been associated with the wrecks of the Baltic Sea. Currently, he has completed several thousand dives in various places around the world. He dives mainly technically, wreck and cave. Fascinated by rebreathers and underwater photography. Tomek is an Instructor Trainer, CCR and OC instructor for technical, cave, wreck and sidemount diving in several training agencies. For over 10 years, he has been sharing his knowledge with others, focusing on high quality training.
He also requires quality from diving equipment which must be of the highest quality and reliability to meet the requirements of everyday dives in varied and difficult conditions. These requirements can certainly be met by D-Luxe straps and loop covers, thanks to which they have become a permanent part of his primary equipment.
Kurt Storms
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Hi, i’m Kurt. I’m a Technical CCR/Cave Instructor for IANTD, based in Belgium. I started my diving career in Egypt when I was on holiday. My niche is technical diving, specifically CCR diving. I now like to pass on the passion of caves and mines to my students. Most of the time in Belgium, you can find me in the flooded mines, where I like to explore. I am a member of a team that has mapped some beautiful, deep abandoned mines on Belgian territory. When I am not teaching, I take my camera with me to show people the beauty of the underwater world. Using the D-luxe straps has been a big change in my diving, especially in cold water diving with thicker wet gloves or Dry gloves. It has made teaching and practicing skills much easier and cleaner. you can hang everything nice and tight against your cylinders
Sanne Volja
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Crazy how I feel about diving, about exploring, about everything that has to do with it. My mind never stops thinking about it. I feel it in every breath, every step, every sound. It’s more than an addiction, it is my whole heart.’
My name is Sanne, tecdivesanne on Instagram. I am an assistant instructor and instructor in the make by ISE and live in Belgium. Most of the time you can find me and my main buddy Florian exploring our Belgian forests searching for old mines and natural caves to dive in. As a beginner diver/ explorer in this magnificent underwater world I keep on learning everyday. I think that is the most beautiful part. Not only exploring the environment but also your own path. And I must say this path is amazing. Mainly I am diving Sidemount OC or CCR. The DLuxe straps are indispensable in my setup. Not only do I love the personal touch (pink to match with the rest of my gear) but also that they can deal with the conditions (mud, restrictions and sharp rocks) while exploring.
Tamara Adame
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Marissa Eckert
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My name is Marissa Eckert and I know from my first discover scuba dive that I wanted to be an instructor and share the beauty of the underwater world with others. Fast forward to a life changing trip to the Florida springs where I decided being a cave instructor was my path in life. I knew if I could share the beauty of our aquifer with others they would just have no choice but to care about it. So I packed all my belongings and I moved to Florida. I pursued my dreams and became a cave instructor and dive shop owner. I lived in Florida for 13 years teaching cave, technical, and rebreather diving while also honing in my underwater photography skills. During those 13 years I also traveled the world, especially the cenotes of Mexico every chance I got. Now I call Mexico my home, specific Tulum and I love it here. Nothing brings me more joy then sharing my passion for diving with others, whether it be through instruction, guiding or photography!
Steve Martin
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“I dive to help others enjoy a world …
very different to the one they are currently living in” Steve Martin is one of the key people leading the field regarding the development of Sidemount diving. He built his experience through travelling and conducting courses all over the world. He is best known for having developed his world renowned Sidemount Essentials Course, it is his signature training program which now sets an industry benchmark. His company Sidemount Scuba Diving which established in 2009, his website sidemounting.com provides us today with one of the biggest online resources on the subject of side mount diving and online training.
Garry Dallas
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Imparting his infectious passion for knowledge and skills whilst being liberating and fun!
Credentials: RAID UK & Malta examiner, cave, technical and recreational instructor trainer, technical advisor, primary author in the RAID Sidemount course and contributing author in other training materials. In his 20year diving career, he has trained with most major training organisations and become a published photographer and writer. Exploring whenever possible, whilst developing practical environmental Sidemount skills for OC and CCR, he’s renowned for his training globally.
A keen conservationist and member of “Artic on the Edge” a contingent of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, promoting protection of all marine life, through media while presenting at schools, international and national dive show events.
As a director of Simply Sidemount & Simply Tec, teaching globally throughout the year, he sends passion through vibes on media channels. “Using D’Luxe tank bands, has made diving and teaching much easier, through the reliability, construction and material used on this underrated piece of equipment.”
Helmut Hubalek
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My name is Helmut Hubalek, residing in Austria. I have been diving for over 21 years and as from 2008 I have my own diving school and dive shop in Vienna – www.regler-service.at. Our diving school offers comprehensive range of diving courses – recreational diving up to IDC, technical diving up to Trimix level and diffrent specialties such as cave diving and sidemount diving. We dive worldwide. Our favourite and recurring trips are to Mexico, France, Croatia and within Austria. Our demanding and extreme cold water divdes (in caves, wrecks,..) require durable and long lasting equipment. D°Luxe straps fullfill my demands in the choice of house retainers – they are very convinient to handle with dry gloves in cold waters and durable materials are not being affected due to frequent change between cold and warm water diving. The personalization of the D°Lux straps is one of the best features I love, apart from the huge range of webbing colours, various strengh of bands, tabs etc. With the embroidered logo of my shop on the straps I amconfident that I get my rental equipment back;-)
Tomasz Michura
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Hi! My name is Michur and I am a sidemount instructor. My life revolves around this configuration and skills and techniques which help me, and I hope a few more people, dive this system more easily and safely. If interested I am glad to invite to check out my FB fan page Sidemount Silesia for more information, pictures and videos. My students and friends know that my motto has always been „the Devil is in the detail” and I realized a long time ago that even a small thing could change our diving experience for the better or worse. Me and Sven from D°LUXE really worked on the length, width, design, flexibility and looks of the 4 cylinder tank straps that I am proud to call „Michur’s set”. Not because I have a big ego but because this particular set will suit divers who share my house routing philosophy and „like it neat and stable, yet easy to handle”. I am more than happy to be a member of D°LUXE family and finally rid myself of all rubbers and bungees. However, I am far from saying all people should do the same. Try them, test them, and see if you like them. I am aware everybody is entitled to his or her own preferences.
Jake Bulman
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Born in Canada, I was raised around the water and it’s always been a part of my life. While I didn’t start teaching diving until 2015, teaching water sports has been the only job I’ve ever had. These days I am based in Mexico with Protec Dive Centers and spend my days in the cenotes teaching cave, rebreather and technical diving. My free time is spent exploring new caves/systems with the team, where having equipment that is functional, durable and consistent is super important. The D°LUXE dive bands have filled that role perfectly. No more broken bands or last minute bungie creations. A few style points doesn’t hurt either!
Frank Pöcze
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Thorsten Waelde
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(Full time Instructor) Toddy lebt und arbeitet das ganze Jahr über auf Sardinien und ist der Inhaber von Protec Sardinia. Toddy kommt aus Deutschland und ist seit vielen Jahren in der Tauchszene anzutreffen. Nach mehrjähriger Tätigkeit als Geschäftsführer, Tauchlehrer und Guide, brachte ihn das zu den verschiedensten Orten der Welt, wie Rotes Meer, Karibik, Pazifik, Malediven, Mittelmeer und den Atlantik. Er hat in Mexiko mehrere Jahre gearbeitet und gelebt und sich dort ein umfangreiches Wissen im Technischen Tauchen angeeignet. Seine Leidenschaft zum Höhlentauchen und Forschen führte ihn zu tiefen Sink Holes im Yucatan, den Höhlensystemen in Mexiko (Quintana Roo) nach Süd Australien (Nullarbor), Spanien (Mallorca), Frankreich (Ardeche) und Italien (Sardinien). Ebenfalls ist er der Erfinder des TS-Sidemount Systems und hat viele Jahre damit verbracht ein Sidemount zu entwickeln das keine Wünsche offen lässt. Das TS-System wird übrigens offiziell bei IANTD als Kursprogramm angeboten. Kurse unterrichtet er auf Deutsch,Englisch und Italienisch. Er und sein Team empfängt Euch gerne auf der Insel!
Yvonne Press
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I am a TDI Instructor Trainer based in Bali, Indonesia. Originally from Germany, I became a diver when travelling around the world in 2003. After a few years of diving on a holiday, I signed up for my Divemaster course whilst living in Scotland and never really looked back. Since 2010, I have worked as a full-time diver and instructor, becoming a technical diver in 2011 and a technical diving instructor in 2015. So far, tech diving has taken me to various parts of Indonesia, the Red Sea, Scotland and Truk Lagoon. Whilst living in Scotland, my technical diving was focused on wrecks. In Indonesia, it has been mainly about exploring deep reefs and pinnacles. Ever since first discovering Sidemount Diving, I’ve been a little bit in love with the configuration and its flexibility and adjustability. Any of my sidemount students will be used to reviewing videos and spending time figuring out how to tweak things just a little more. Every single adjustment makes a difference. None of these are possible without the right gear for the job, so it’s great to be part of the D-Luxe Dive Gear Team and be given the opportunity to use these hard-wearing – and good-looking – tank straps.
Nicolas Grandjean
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Hi, my name is Nicolas. I am a technical diving & sidemount instructor at Plongée TEC Suisse on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. In order to share our passion, we created the Dive TEC! Event, the exhibition for underwater exploration in Switzerland. One of the fundamental pillars in diving, apart from physiology, mental and techniques, is equipment. Each configuration and piece of equipment must have a value and meet an objective. This is why I am happy to use and represent D°LUXE products.
Phil Hsieh
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I started diving 2000 after finish serving in army. After reading the “the Last Dive”, that fascinated his mind and attracted him into Tech Diving while finally finish his IANTD Trimix diver course in 2005. Then slowly move on to wreck diver, cave diver, DPV Diver, instructors, then finally become IANTD instructor trainer in 2015. The only Tech-Diving-Focus Dive Center, Dark Tide Tech Dive Expedition Base, was founded by Phil in 2016 in Taipei, Taiwan. 2017, Phil jump into the silent world, to take JJ CCR divers course for first move to CCR diving, finally in 2019 certified as JJ CCR Mod 2 diver/ IANTD Normoxic Trimix Plus Diver by Phil Short and also certified by Dave Thompson as JJ CCR Mod 1 instructor.
Stratis Kas.
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Diving Instructor & Explorer, Film-maker, adventurer and storyteller Stratis Kas, deals with all of his subjects — extreme weather expeditions to days lost in wilderness — with unique sensitivity and fearless focus.
He travels to remote, sometimes risky and often freezing locations to create stunning films that change what we knew about diving expeditions. Stratis’s interest in real connection with nature is reflected in his ability to shift from film-maker to Explorer. In his stunning material of a variety of challenging locations around the world, he shows how natural landscapes serve as examples of what should have been (or can be) human inspiration. His presentations are a window into the wild world.
No Exploration is ever complete, unless it is shared.
Robert Uhlmann
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Ich heiße Robert „Roby“ Uhlmann. Ich tauche seit 1998 und habe die klassische Ausbildung bis zum Tauchlehrer absolviert. Nach ca. 400 Tauchgängen erlangte ich in 2002 mit viel Freude meinen PADI Divemaster. In 2004 folgte dann der Abschluss zum Tauchlehrer. Ab 2006 widmete sich mein Interesse mehr und mehr dem technischen Tauchen mit den entsprechenden Fortbildungen bis zum SSI Limited Trimix Taucher und 2015 zum Full Cave Diver. Ich bin aktiver Tauchlehrer der Verbände SSI und PADI. Nach nun mehr als 1.950+ Tauchgängen und über 500 Zertifizierungen habe ich in 2011 das Sidemount Tauchen für mich entdeckt. Mit viel Enthusiasmus, Energie und Engagement habe ich mich fortan mit diesem Thema auseinandergesetzt.
Marcel Schmid
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Im Urlaub in Ägypten habe ich 2008 meinen ersten Tauchkurs absolviert. Die ersten 2 Jahre begnügte ich mich als Urlaubstaucher. Was als Warmwasser-Taucher begann, änderte sich im November 2010, als ich beschloss, mich in einem Trockenanzug auch in die kalten, heimischen Gewässer zu wagen. Danach gab es für mich kein Halten mehr und ich bin nun jedes Wochenende in einem unserer Gewässer anzutreffen.
Nach etlichen Tauchkursen und Weiterbildungen erlernte ich 5.11.2013 das Sidemount Tauchen. Dieser Kurs veränderte meine Tauchweise schlagartig und ich beschloss nur noch in „Side-Mount“ Konfiguration zu tauchen. Da nun mit 2 Flaschen ein grösseres Gas-Volumen zur Verfügung stand, war der Entscheidungsweg zum Technischen Tauchen sehr kurz. Nach einigen intensiven Kursen und diversen Tauchgängen welche ich später auch als technischer Assistent bei technischen Tauchkursen begleitete, bin ich beim Normoxic Trimix Taucher angekommen.
Des weiteren habe ich nach etlichen Skilltauchgängen in unseren Seen, in der Bätterich Höhle (Thunersee) und in der Molnar Janos Cave (Budapest) das Full-Cave Brevet absolviert. Nach diversen Anfragen in meinem Umfeld und auch über Weiterempfehlungen von befreundeten Sidemount-Tauchern und Tauchlehrern, entschloss ich mich den Tauchinstructor doch noch zu machen. Ich will mich vorallem dem Thema Sidemount Tauchen widmen und interessierten Tauchschülern dieses Wissen als Sidemount Instructor weiter geben.
2020 war ein ganz spezielle (Covid-19) Jahre und ich nutzte die Zeit für eigene taucherische Weiterbildungen. Nach nun schon einigen Jahren mit SCR (Semi Closed Rebreather) Erfahrung, entschloss ich mich in Richtung CCR (Closed Circuit Rebreather) zu gehen und absolvierte im Juli den ProTec eCCR Kurs Posidon MK VI / SE7EN. Im Oktober folgte dann der Cross-Over zum mCCR Rebreather PSAI – mCCR KISS Sidewinder durch Patrick Widmann (XDEEP / KISS Rebreathers).
2024 Die letzten 4 Jahre war ich viel unterwegs um neben Kursen auch etliche Workshop’s zu geben, in welchen Probleme wie nicht optimale Konfiguration des Systems oder der Flaschenlage zu korrigieren und das gesammte Setup zu verfeinern. Einige der Kursteilnehmer entschieden sich, obwohl sie schon als Sidemount-Diver zertifiziert waren einen kompletten Kurs durchzuführen oder die Mankos in einem Korkshop zu beheben. Es ist immer wieder schön zu sehen, wie schon „alt“ eingesessene und erfahrene Taucher/Innen neue Aspekte annehmen und diese weiter verfolgen.
Victor Tovar
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The underwater world and scuba diving has been always my passion, and cave diving was my goal since I started diving. Currently, teaching other divers to dive safely in this incredible underground world is my main motivation and occupation.
During my courses, it’s important to learn how to solve possible failures and dangerous situations, but more important is to do everything possible to avoid them. Therefore, we will always choose the best possible material to dive in caves, well maintained and reliable. Dluxe straps provide all the right features for extreme diving. No more loose hoses, no more broken straps. And also customizable… something so important sometimes!
I have spent the last years diving and offering cave diving courses in the famous cave “Cueva del Agua”, in Cartagena (Spain). A cave of unique characteristics for its hot waters and shallow profile, but in turn, high technical requirement for its ease of cloudiness or even zero visibility.
Cave diving is one of the most wonderful activities that a human being can do nowadays and, perhaps, the last opportunity to explore places never visited before that we have left in this crowded world!
Peter Tschannen
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As long as I can remember I have had an affinity to water. Since I learned to dive in 1992, nothing could keep me away from being in the water anymore. In 2008, I qualified as a TDI Advanced Gas Blender, TDI Extended Range Diver, TDI Intro to Tech, TDI Nitrox Blending Technician, and a TDI Trimix Diver. In 2012 I became a Sidemount Diver, completing my TDI Full Cave education in 2013. Since 2012 I have invested all my time, energy and money in learning and teaching Sidemounting. It is a lifestyle – you will never see me again with tanks on my back. Diving Sidemount can be an enlightening experience – it is extremely versatile, flexible and minimalist. I enjoy teaching SDI and TDI Sidemount diving and have been a TDI Sidemount Instructor since 2014. I have had the pleasure to dive and live in Malta, Switzerland, Mexico, Martinique, Guadaloupe, Dominica, Bequia, Turkey, Brazil, and the Canary Islands. Quality is my passion and I love to travel as much as possible to explore the beauty of our wonderful planet.
Travel light – be the light!
Let this sink in: The planet Earth is called the Blue Planet. This blue color is caused by reflection from the oceans which cover roughly 71% of the area of the Earth. By weight, the average human adult male is approximately 65% water. The first 9 months of our life we are surrounded by water. Water seems to be fundamental for our existence …… and one of the most impressive ways to experience water is Sidemount Diving.
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.”
Bruce Lee
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