Josh's Story
- Sophie Shields
- Nov 4
- 3 min read
Hi, I’m Josh, a third-year Marine and Natural History Photography student at Falmouth University.
I started diving when I was about 14 years old and became a qualified Open Water Diver in 2019. My dad had been diving for a few years, and I’d often tag along with him, constantly pestering him to let me join in. Eventually, I did a try dive in the Maldives, it was incredible, surrounded by vibrant colours and countless fish. From that moment, I was hooked.
It’s hard to pick a single favourite dive because I have so many amazing memories, my first shark sighting in the UK, my first octopus, my first barrel jellyfish, and many more. I don’t have one favourite dive site either. I love Silver Steps in Falmouth because I’ve spent so much time diving there. More recently, I’ve really enjoyed Porthkerris, and when I’m back home, Wraysbury Dive Centre is a favourite. It’s special to me because it’s the closest site to dive when I’m not at university, and it has a great community, lovely facilities, and usually decent weather. There are loads of wrecks to explore, even planes and cars, and they also do some really good cheeseburgers!
Choosing a favourite photo is just as difficult. I particularly like some of my shark images, especially those that capture the intensity of their eyes. I also love macro photography, focusing on the intricate details of small marine life like shrimps and crabs that I find in Cornwall’s rockpools.
I’m now a Dive Master and have worked with several dive centres, including Cornish Dive Centres, Karleyth Diving, Seaways, and Diveline Ipswich. Even though they’re all part of the same diving community, each one has its own personality and area of expertise, which I really enjoy. I also like being involved with different dive organisations such as SSI, PADI, and BSAC — it’s a great way to broaden my knowledge and experience.
An unexpected benefit of diving has been how much it’s helped my health and wellbeing. I was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome around 2011, when I was in Year 1 or 2 at school. I remember standing in front of the mirror, pulling faces without understanding why. At that age, there wasn’t much that could be done, so I just lived with it. In 2018, my symptoms worsened, and I began having full-blown fits, which led to a hospital stay. Since then, I’ve been seeing a specialist, which has really helped. I use different techniques to manage the condition and focus on the mental health side of it. Doctors said I may grow out of it, but that hasn’t happened yet.
What’s truly extraordinary is that when I dive, I don’t tic at all. It’s the one thing that brings complete quiet, everything just stops and slows down. I don’t know exactly why, but underwater, I feel totally free of Tourette’s. Diving is my happy place.
I love introducing people to diving and would encourage anyone interested to contact their nearest dive centre and sign up for a pool course, it could be the start of an incredible adventure. I particularly enjoy working with children who are trying diving for the first time. Seeing their faces light up when they surface after their first dive is incredibly rewarding. They ask endless questions about my diving experiences, which inspires them even more. Being part of their journey at the very beginning is a huge privilege, especially because I know first-hand how life-changing diving can be.
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