We’re proud to announce that PADI Platinum Course Director Kai Steinbeck has teamed up as the Submerged Nation Underwater Dive Team ambassador.
Well known scuba brands Hollis, Oceanic, Atomic, Gear Aid, Zeagle, Ocean Pro, Enth Degree, Bare and Stahlsac are all scuba dive equipment brands represented by Submerged Nation in Australia.
What made you choose Submerged Nation to partner with?
When looking for a brand to partner with it was important for me to find a progressive, environmentally conscious company that would allow me to use equipment that I am comfortable with. This is where Submerged Nation excels by reducing unnecessary plastic packaging and representing various well known brands. With the array of brands to choose from this partnership allows me to use the mask that fits best, the wetsuit for the environment I am in, the BCD which works best for me and the regulator that makes sense. The dive equipment I chose is what I consider Instructor tough. If it holds up to the rigours of diving every day and lasts then a recreational diver can rest assured that it will last them a lifetime.
How is Submerged Nation environmentally conscious?
the Submerged Nation commitment…
At Submerged Nation we are leading the charge along-side cutting edge diving brands such as Fourth Element and Enth Degree with our committed effort to remove all plastic from our packaging, to focus on re-usable packaging and to use re-cycled materials in our products where possible. We are also committed to running our distribution operations in the most sustainable manner possible and are continually looking to partner with vendors, organisations and customers sharing the same ethics around driving change. Continual improvement and a drive to lead change is our unwavering goal and commitment to the Australian and International marketplace.
solar powered warehousing…
In 2017, in our continual pursuit for clean efficient operations, the Submerged Nation warehousing facility installed 120 x Trina Honey 250W multi crystalline high efficiency solar panels. Fully compliant and certified with Energy Safe Victoria and the Clean energy Council of Australia, the Submerged Nation facility is now running on 80 – 90% solar power, with 100% our focussed goal for the future.
eco friendly packaging…
Many development hours, sampling runs and prototype testing has been spent on moving our products towards Eco Friendly packaging, and we are only just beginning. It’s certainly not without its challenges, but we are making headway and truly believe we are leading the charge in the dive industry globally. Eliminating single use plastic packaging and moving away from plastic packaging entirely is the ultimate goal
recycling…
From cardboard to coffee pods, from wetsuits to waste paper – at the Submerged Nation facility re-cycling waste is a team objective in everything we do. Old wetsuits and neoprene scraps are donated to a local fashion design company who uses them to make unique products. Coffee pods and shredded paper are used in composting by staff, family and friends, along with all commercial waste cardboard and plastic being recycled as efficiently as possible via local recycling facilities.
the future…
Helping our environment isn’t just a buzzword at Submerged Nation. We live and breathe our philosophy of taking steps every day in everything we do to foster this goal, and in our own humble way try to help keep our planet and our oceans clean for many generations to come. With our wide range of Submerged Nation partner stores we actively encourage and participate in beach clean-ups, earth hour events and other like-minded activities which promote responsible and ethical use and protection of our waterways and oceans.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I was born in Germany and was fortunate enough for my parents to move to the Caribbean when I was 10. Growing up in the Caribbean as a child the ocean was always a large part of my life. I started diving when I was about 16 when my brother introduced me to the sport. Once I was underwater I was hooked.
My parents however thought I would benefit from a better education than just hanging around the beach all day and shipped me off to Canada where I finished high school and attended college.
As soon as I finished my degree in business I got on a plane and ended up in Australia where I started working as a dive instructor in Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef. That was back in 1993 and I’ve worked in the dive industry virtually ever since.
I am a PADI Course Director and owner of Dive Instructor Academy. I offer PADI Instructor Development Courses on the Sunshine Coast through Sunreef and from Port Douglas at Quicksilver Dive.
What is your favourite piece of Submerged Nation dive equipment?
Definitely my Oceanic Shadow mask. Scuba diving is such a visual activity and ensuring my mask is comfortable and well fitting is so important. Everyone’s face is different and there is no one mask to fit all. With the Oceanic Shadow however having its smaller brother, the mini shadow, a very big range of divers will suit this mask. I love the adjustment buckles, once they are set you forget about them and your mask fits perfectly on every dive.
I started diving at the age of 16 and have probably used most brands of recreational dive equipment that’s out there. As a PADI Course Director, the equipment I use must be reliable and durable as well as be of a role model standard.
What accomplishment in your diving career are you most proud of?
What I get the most joy of is seeing my instructor candidates flourish and them reporting back to me how they got the biggest thrill of seeing the eyes light up of the introductory diver who has experienced for the first time the amazing underwater world, or the feeling of accomplishment of the student who has just passed their Open water certification.
I love teaching and passing on the knowledge I have, to recreational and professional level divers.
Who is Kai Steinbeck?
Kai Steinbeck is a PADI Course Director who was awarded the platinum status by PADI in 2021. Kai has been an active dive professional for over 25 years working mainly in Australia and has travelled extensively throughout the Pacific Islands and South East Asia.
Dive Instructor Academy and the brand #IDCwithKAI offer PADI Instructor Development Courses at a number of PADI 5 star IDC centres in Australia but mainly through Sunreef in Mooloolaba and Quicksilver Dive in Port Douglas.
