Matt Waters
Matt Waters
Share
Introduction
Originally from the United Kingdom, I reside in Sydney, Australia, where I manage Nomadic Scuba and host the Scuba GOAT Podcast.
After a 17-year career in the British Royal Air Force, I reached a turning point and decided a well-deserved dive vacation would help me navigate the next phase of my life. On Christmas Day 2012, I left the UK for Southeast Asia, on what was meant to be a 6 week diving holiday. It turned into 5 years in Thailand and 1 year in Papua New Guinea; advancing through the professional diving ranks, teaching, guiding, and managing dive operations in numerous locations. I met incredible people, experienced unforgettable dives, and travelled through spectacular locations; all of which contributed to the launch of Nomadic Scuba.
About Matt
Based: Sydney, Australia
Origins: United Kingdom
Multi-agency instructor, Founder of Nomadic Scuba and the Scuba GOAT Podcast.
Services:
✓ Expedition leader and organiser
✓ Papua New Guinea private guide
✓ Virtual meetings for travel planning*
✓ Compiles bespoke travel itinerary proposals*
*Charged separately but applied as a credit toward the final invoice when a related booking is confirmed.
Matt's next Nomadic adventure
Details
Dive services
Included
Excluded and additional fees
Payment Plan
Cancellation Fees
The booking process
-
Initial planning
Found the perfect trip, or interested in recommendations? Submit a query and we’ll tailor something for you
-
Email proposal
We’ll coordinate with the operators and collate the relevant information for you; to make selecting your next dive adventure easy
-
Invoice and deposit
When you want to proceed, we’ll secure your spot and issue an invoice.Deposits usually due within 48hrs, then once we receive your deposit your booking is confirmed
Questions I'm always asked
Why do I charge for travel planning?
Quite simply, it takes time and that's what I charge for, my time researching your requirements and providing multiple options to meet your criteria. However, for proposals and virtual meetings these charges are deducted from any subsequent booking.
What makes you different to other agents?
I’m not usually a fan of these types of questions, but I believe they’re important to address rather than ignore. I’m genuinely passionate about what I do and find it incredibly rewarding to help turn dream vacations into reality. Beyond that, I’m equally committed to supporting the operators and dive professionals within the industry. Being in a position to connect guests with operators and create success for both is deeply fulfilling.
While Nomadic Scuba will continue to grow, this commitment will always remain our firm foundation.
Where is your top dive destinations?
This question is always tricky because the answer depends entirely on what you want to experience or see. For example, if you’re passionate about macro life, spending a week in the Galapagos wouldn’t make much sense. Similarly, if you’re looking for Hammerheads or Humpback Whales, the Lembeh Straits wouldn’t be the right choice.
My advice? Start by deciding what you want to get out of your trip, then reach out to someone like me for recommendations. Go ahead—send me a message, and let’s figure it out!
Are you not worried about sharks?
Yes, I am, but not in the way you might think. Sure, there are occasionally some nerve-wracking moments in the water, but they are rare. It's important to remember that, in many parts of the world, you are the foreign entity underwater, and from the shark's perspective, you may be seen as a potential threat. What I do fear, however, is the long-term survival of sharks themselves. Since Hollywood gave them a negative image in the 70s, shark populations have plummeted, and this decline poses a serious problem for the rest of the ocean's ecosystem.
I have hosted several shark experts on the Scuba GOAT Podcast, check it out and have a listen to some of these legends:
Andre Borell, Director of Envoy Shark Cull
Brendon Sing of Shark Guardian
Kristian Parton, creator of Shark Bytes YouTube channel
Dr Leonardo Guida, Shark Scientist
Why don't you enter any photography competitions?
Honestly, I haven't had the time, and my real enjoyment comes from being in the water with my camera, capturing moments that freeze time. Of all the photos I've kept, I can probably remember nearly every dive and location where they were taken. That's my reward.
Plus, I'm not a fan of losing, so that's another reason I avoid entering competitions!
Why do you mention dive and travel insurance so much?
Healthcare abroad can be expensive—there’s no way around it. Without the funds to cover such costs, you may risk being denied critical care. I’ve seen this happen more than once, and it’s a heartbreaking situation. If you’re looking to save on your budget, prioritize cuts elsewhere. Medical and travel insurance should be non-negotiable for your peace of mind.
Additionally, if you need to cancel before your arrival date, you could lose some or all of the payments you’ve made. Travel insurance can help protect you by covering these potential losses.
You can find more reasoning here.
We recommend DiveAssure for both dive and travel insurance. You can choose between single-trip or annual coverage.
To arrange your insurance now, please use this link -DiveAssure registration.
Do you still teach courses?
Not really - Nomadic Scuba keeps me pretty busy. That said, I’m always happy to offer advice while I’m diving. I welcome any questions! It’s free, I enjoy it, and its rewarding for everyone involved.
However, I do know a lot of seriously top level instructors that I can hook you up with so hit me up and let's find the perfect dive pro for you.