Guest Speaker Events
Why train with us?
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Low student to instructor ratios : 3 or 4 students per instructor both in the pool and ocean
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Our retail store is located downtown.
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Diving courses available all year-round. Private courses available.
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We teach children 10 years and older.
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Passionate team of Instructors and Divemasters who love to teach.
Guest Speaker Night with BC Freediving & Spearfishing Legends | July 24
Join us on Thursday, July 24th at Diving Sports Canada for a special evening featuring two of British Columbia’s most passionate freedivers and ocean advocates: Chris Samson (@PNWSamson) and Clayton Helkenberg (@AquaticMonkey).
Whether you're into freediving, spearfishing, underwater cleanup, or just curious about exploring BC’s coastline from a different perspective, this is a night you won’t want to miss.
Meet Our Guest Speakers:
Chris Samson (@PNWSamson) grew up exploring the Pacific Northwest aboard his father’s sailboat. After years of boxing and skateboarding, he turned to freediving as a low-impact way to reconnect with the ocean. Since 2018, Chris has dedicated nearly all his spare time to the sea—spearfishing, exploring, and sharing his underwater adventures on YouTube.
Clayton Helkenberg (@AquaticMonkey) started diving in Harrison Lake and soon made it his mission to clean up underwater environments. Along the way, he discovered lost valuables, treasures, and a deep passion for spearfishing and sustainable harvesting. His journey into cold water freediving began with gear purchased at Diving Sports—and now he documents every moment with over 170,000 YouTube subscribers.
Event Highlights:
- Live Q&A with both guest speakers
- Stories and tips on freediving in cold water, sustainable spearfishing, and underwater recovery
- Behind-the-scenes of their most popular YouTube adventures
- Raffle prizes and giveaways
- Community networking with local divers and ocean lovers
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025
- Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
- Location: Diving Sports Canada – 4578 Main St, Vancouver, BC
- Cost: $5 to attend (limited seating – register here)
Why Attend?
This evening is perfect for anyone who loves the ocean, wants to connect with the local dive community, or is looking for inspiration to start their own freediving or spearfishing journey. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned diver, you'll walk away with a renewed appreciation for BC’s underwater world.
Spots are limited — reserve yours now and be part of this inspiring community event!
Past Guest Speaker Events
Donnie Reid – Dec 2, 2023
Topic: Human Exploration in Deep Space – NASA's Pavilion Lake Research Project
Donnie Reid has been a SCUBA diver for over 30 years and has held leadership roles in BC’s dive industry. He’s been Director of the Underwater Council of BC, President of the Dive Industry Association of BC, Diving Safety Officer at the Vancouver Aquarium, and a lead for the Ocean Pioneer Awards.
Through photography and expedition work, Donnie became a Fellow of the Explorers’ Club and a Member of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society.
Presentation Overview: NASA's Pavilion Lake Research Project used a small BC lake to simulate deep space missions and train scientists to search for life on Mars. The team explored the lake’s unique microbial structures—freshwater corals—using divers, robots, and submersibles. The project evolved over three phases: science, engineering, and diver-based analog exploration.
Howard Robins – Aug 12, 2023
Topic: Turning Wrecks into Reefs
Howard "Howie" Robins is a founding member and current President of the Artificial Reef Society of BC (ARSBC). A diver since 1973, Howie shared the inside story on how ships become artificial reefs—highlighting both the technical and ecological aspects of reef creation in British Columbia.
Samantha Schwann – July 8, 2023
Topic: Diving with Sharks – Researching and Photographing Apex Predators
Samantha is an award-winning underwater photographer and ocean conservationist. With a background in sculpture and fine art, she transitioned to underwater photography in 2015. Her focus on shark conservation has led to international exhibitions and a feature on Discovery’s Shark Week.
She is a Member National of The Explorer’s Club and actively documents threatened marine life while advocating for preservation through art and science.
Kirk Krack – Nov 10, 2022
Topic: Technical Freediving and Avatar 2
Kirk Krack is a world-renowned freediving coach and consultant. He trained the cast and crew of James Cameron’s Avatar sequels in advanced breath-hold techniques for underwater filming. The production conducted over 250,000 freedives—some lasting up to 4.5 minutes—with zero safety incidents thanks to “technical freediving” methods.
Kirk’s talk explored the science and logistics of freediving for film production, safety, and performance enhancement.
Location and Contact
Diving Sports Canada
4578 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3R5
Phone: (604) 694-1886
Email: customerservice@divingsports.com
