Together, they take a journey back in time, exploring the Ice Age megafauna that once roamed the Yucatan Peninsula and now rests deep within its flooded caves. Jerónimo shares his extensive knowledge and passion for these submerged time capsules and the remains of the ice age megafauna. From the giant ground sloth (

In this episode, we discuss:

• ​Time Travel Underwater: Understanding the Pleistocene epoch and how rising sea levels preserved a treasure trove of fossils in the cenotes.
• ​Meet the Giants: A detailed look at the unique species found in the Yucatan Peninsula, including the giant sloth, gomphotheres, and even prehistoric bears and llamas.
• ​Teeth Tell the Tale: How paleontologists use dental morphology to distinguish between species and understand their diets and environments.
• ​The Importance of Context: Why moving a bone, even slightly, can destroy valuable scientific data and the story it tells about the past.
• ​Ear Bones & Evolution: Jerónimo's fascination with auditory ossicles and what these tiny bones reveal about an animal's life and evolution.
• ​Citizen Science: How divers can contribute to paleontological research by documenting their findings responsibly and reporting them to experts.

About the Guest: Jerónimo is a researcher, photographer, cave diver and paleontologist whose work has derived in dozens of scientific and outreach papers. He has spent almost 30 years diving, documenting and studying the caves, archaeology and paleontology of Quintana Roo.

Connect with Jerónimo Avilés:

• ​LinkedIn:

• ​Facebook:

• ​Instagram:

• ​Email:

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and share it with your dive buddy.

Changing the culture starts with a conversation.

Contact me: info@cenotegirl.com

Far from being just a list of complaints, this episode offers valuable advice for photographers on how to work more effectively and respectfully with their models when trying to portrait realistic cave diving practices.

Tamara explains the safety concerns, practical limitations, prioritizing conservation and aesthetic preferences behind her dislikes, from being asked to look away from the guideline to dealing with uncomfortable posing requests like holding a static scooter. She also touches on the importance of authentic representation, explaining why she avoids wearing makeup for shoots and prefers capturing genuine moments of exploration over staged scenes. Whether you're an aspiring underwater photographer or a diver interested in modeling, this episode provides a unique perspective from the other side of the lens.

In this episode, I discuss:

• ​Safety First: Why asking a cave diver to turn their back to the line or swim away from it into decorated areas is a major "don't."
• ​Authenticity vs. Staging: The preference for capturing real action and movement over static, posed shots that can look awkward or fake.
• ​Lighting Logic: Why pointing lights in unnatural directions can ruin a shot and feel wrong for an experienced diver.
• ​The "Look" of Tech Diving: A discussion on makeup in technical diving photography and why a natural look is often more practical and compatible with the gear.
• ​Equipment Etiquette: The importance of giving models time to clean up their gear and align their trim before snapping the photo.
• ​Communication is Key: How discussing shots beforehand and respecting a model's comfort zone leads to better photos and a safer dive.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show, leave a review and share it with your dive buddy. Changing the culture starts with a conversation.

Do you know a great speaker that should be on this show? Let me know!

Together, they explore Jason's remarkable journey from a scientific career focused on glacier caves and aquifers to becoming a visual storyteller for National Geographic. Jason shares the pivotal moment a chance encounter with a manatee changed his perspective on photography and conservation, leading him to document not just the animals, but the complex environmental challenges they face. From the technical challenges of photographing in pitch-black caves to the patience required to capture intimate moments with wildlife, Jason reveals the dedication behind the images that inspire us to care about our planet.

In this episode, we discuss:

• ​From Science to Storytelling: How Jason transitioned from academic research to using photography as a tool for conservation and communication.
• ​Manatee Magic: The unexpected encounter that sparked a passion for documenting manatees and the different personalities within a herd.
• ​The Florida Springs Crisis: Understanding the environmental threats facing manatees, including pollution and habitat loss, and the importance of looking at the bigger picture.
• ​Technical Challenges: The realities of underwater photography, from dealing with buoyancy in rebreathers to using specialized optics to overcome low visibility.
• ​The Art of Patience: Why the best wildlife photos often come from spending hours simply observing and waiting for the right moment, rather than chasing the shot.
• ​Global Manatee Perspectives: A look at the different manatee species around the world, from the Amazon to West Africa, and the unique challenges they each face.
• ​Advanced camera equipment, housings, lenses, optics and brand recommendations.

About the Guest: Dr. Jason Gulley is a hydrogeologist who specializes in water, glaciers and climate change research.

He is also a science and expedition photographer with experience in several continents, some of his remarkable work has been conducted in Alaska, Greenland, Nepal and Africa.

He is a cave and CCR diver.

Connect with Dr. Jason Gulley:

• ​Website: https://jasongulley.smugmug.com/
• ​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason_gulley_science?igsh=b292M2FlMmxtZ3h0
• ​LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gulley-aa507b214?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• ​Latest work: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/florida-rodman-reservoir-ocklawaha-river-springs?loggedin=true&rnd=1768324477494&fbclid=IwdGRleAPvhtxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeF5pc5sG1ykqiQh2E8JHjRLwht9915LYmhXUKDp6ExA2A-rlAiKWK6V2CvWs_aem_r2CdJtyDsr4qMJDNffMQpA

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and share it with your dive buddy.

Changing the culture starts with a conversation.

Contact me:

Together, they dive deep into the super interesting but overlooked world of the fauna in the

In this episode, we discuss:

• ​Life in the dark: Dispelling the myth that caves are boring or dead, and understanding the complex ecosystems thriving beneath our feet.
• ​Evolutionary biology: How and why species like the blind fish (

• ​The cast of characters: A closer look at the unique inhabitants of the Yucatan cenotes, including the rare blind eel, isopods, and the ancient, centipede-like Remipedes.
• ​Conservation and threats: The impact of pollution, over-extraction, and climate change on the fragile groundwater systems and the 67 documented species within them.
• ​Citizen Science: How divers can contribute to research through photography, utilizing tools like iNaturalist and supporting the Cenoteando initiative.
• ​Practical identification: What to do when you spot a "cave critter" and how to distinguish between different species during a dive.

About the guest: Efrain lives and works in Merida Yucatán and has developed a thriving technical diving career and professional diving path as a GUE diver among others. He’s passionate about the environment, research and the hands on experience of making science in places most scientists will never reach.

Connect with Efrain Chavez:

• ​Website:

• ​Facebook:

• ​Instagram:

• ​LinkedIn:

• ​E-mail:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show, leave a review and share it with your dive buddy. Changing the culture starts with a conversation.

Do you know a great speaker that should be on this show? Let me know!

Together, they explore Bernardo's journey from fixing compressors as a teenager in his family's business to becoming a leading expert on high-pressure systems in the Mexican cave diving capital. They dive deep into the mechanics that keep divers alive, discussing the crucial engineering differences between valve types and the terrifying consequences of equipment negligence. Bernardo bridges the gap between industrial engineering and diving, explaining why knowing what happens inside your tank valve is just as critical as checking your gas.

In this episode, we discuss:

• ​The Valve Wizard's Origin: Growing up in a dive shop, taking over the family business at 18, and blending hands-on mechanics with self-taught engineering.
• ​DIN vs. Yoke: A technical breakdown of why the industry is (and should be) shifting to DIN, including the safety limits of the clamp system versus the captured O-ring design.
• ​The Explosion: A harrowing first-hand account of a filling station accident caused by mismatched threads, highlighting a deadly risk often invisible to the average diver.
• ​Nautec Valves: Why these German valves are considered the gold standard—from lead-free brass alloys to the "non-memory" properties of the internal seats.
• ​The trends that CCR diving is bringing to Mexico and how the businesses adapt to supply it.
• ​The Safety Gap: The lack of formal certification for filling station operators and why "I've always done it this way" is a dangerous mindset in technical diving.
• ​Maintenance: Why your valves need service just as much as your regulators.

About the guest:

Bernardo Rotzinger is a 33 years old Mexican engineer, cave diver and filling station manager who grew up at the Cuzel filling station. His father, the founder of Cuzel, started the business to fulfill a higher standard when back in the 80s it was difficult to find good quality air for divers.

Today, he is one of the most knowledgeable technicians in compressor, filling, tank and valve maintenance in Mexico.

Connect with Bernardo Rotzinger:

• ​Website:

• ​Facebook:

• ​Instagram:

• ​E-mail:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show, leave a review and share it with your dive buddy. Changing the culture starts with a conversation.