The GO Diving Show is back bigger and better than ever this weekend, and the Main Stage boasts a star-studded line-up of top-notch speakers from around the world.
Ross Kemp
The Main Stage is headlined by none other than actor, TV presenter and award-winning documentary maker Ross Kemp, who showcased British wreck diving on mainstream TV with his recent Sky History series Shipwreck Treasure Hunter (and season two, titled Ross Kemp: Deep Sea Treasure Hunter, is out in April). As he revealed in his Q&A in Scuba Diver last year, while he was a certified scuba diver already, preparing for this series was among the most-challenging experiences of his life, but has really enthused him for more diving in the future.
Patrick Widmann
Austrian Patrick Widmann is one of the world’s most-experienced underwater explorers, having been involved in countless expeditions around the world. Now based in Mexico, in the heart of cave country, he teaches cave-diving courses both here and around the planet. He is also heavily involved in the R&D of many products for well-known manufacturer xDEEP, and was co-creator of the Stealth 2.0 sidemount rig.
Cristina Zenato
Cristina Zenato is a PADI Course Director, NSS-CDS Advanced Cave Diving Instructor, and TDI Technical Instructor. She is globally renowned for his cave-diving expeditions, and for her work with various species of sharks, the latter earning her the nickname ‘Mother of Sharks’. Given that she was the initiator of the movement that resulted in the full protection of sharks in the entire Bahamas, I think you can safely say she deserves that moniker!
Liz Parkinson
PADI IDC Staff Instructor, freediving guru and shark wrangler extraordinaire Liz Parkinson is rapidly becoming the go-to person for Hollywood and TV companies when it comes to teaching talent to scuba dive or freedive, or when they need a stunt performer who can excel whether they are on a set of scuba gear or diving breath-hold. She has been involved in several major movies, including Avatar: The Way of Water, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and F9: The Fast Saga.
Natalie Hewit
Documentary maker Natalie Hewit has been lauded for her work across several subject areas, but her latest expedition – the hunt to find Shackleton’s legendary Endeavour – thrust her into the psyche of divers. This documentary promises to be truly gripping stuff.
Chris Jewell
Cave diver Chris Jewell shot into the limelight for his part in the epic Thai cave rescue, but he is steadily building a solid reputation for pioneering pushes into new and existing cave systems, as demonstrated by his recent Scuba Diver articles on his projects in Spain.
Andy Torbet
All-round Action Man, stuntman, cave diver, wreck diver and extreme explorer Andy Torbet is no stranger to the GO Diving Show, having graced the Main Stage since its inception. In 2023, he will be once again be hosting on the Main Stage, but will also be teaming up with Chris Jewell for a presentation on cave diving.
Dan ‘Wheelsdan' Metcalfe
Dan Metcalfe is a seriously inspirational individual, who doesn't seem to let anything stand in his way. His Q&A – revolving around ‘one man, two accidents and three world records' – is absolutely essential viewing, and a damn fine way to round out the 2023 show.
GO Diving Show Main Stage schedule
Saturday 4 March 2023
10.30am-11.15am – Patrick Widmann (Expeditions around the world)
11.30am-12.15pm – Andy Torbet and Chris Jewell (Cave diving and exploration)
12.30pm-1.15pm – Liz Parkinson (Hollywood stunt performer, freediver and shark wrangler)
1.30pm-2.15pm – Ross Kemp (TV presenter, award-winning film-maker, actor)
2.30pm-3.15pm – Cristina Zenato (‘Mother of Sharks' and cave explorer)
3.30pm-5pm – Alex Mustard (Underwater Photographer of the Year winners presentation)
Sunday 5 March 2023
10.30am-11.15am – Liz Parkinson (Hollywood stunt performer, freediver and shark wrangler)
11.30am-12.15pm – Ross Kemp (TV presenter, award-winning film-maker, actor)
12.30pm-1.15pm – Cristina Zenato (‘Mother of Sharks' and cave explorer)
1.30pm-2.15pm – Patrick Widmann (Expeditions around the world)
2.30pm-3.15pm – Natalie Hewit (Finding Shackleton's Endurance)
3.30pm-4pm – Dan ‘Wheelsdan' Metcalfe (1 man, 2 accidents and 3 world records)
GO Diving Show – tickets now available!
Tickets are now available for the GO Diving Show, partnered with Seiko Prospex, which is on 4-5 March 2023 and is once again taking place at the NAEC Stoneleigh, on Stoneleigh Park, slap-bang in the middle of England. Tickets are £15 per person, and group discounts are available, so rustle up your dive club or dive centre members and plan a great day out to kickstart the UK season. Remember, complimentary parking is included in your ticket price!
