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Triton Oceanic Corporation 16 April 2008

Posted in Business, Diving.

Mike Taylor of Triton Oceanic

What is Triton Oceanic?

The concept for Triton Oceanic began during a week of technical diving in Chu’uk Lagoon in 2007 and was initially formed for the purpose of promoting the team’s Project Kongō expedition, to find and document the wreck of the IJN Kongō, a 36,000-ton battleship sunk off Formosa.

Since then, the team has grown in both size and scope and a number of underwater exploration projects are now being advanced under the Triton umbrella but remains, more or less, the same bunch of guys having diving, having fun and, at the same time, hopefully producing something worthwhile and informative.

What do Triton Oceanic do?

Triton Oceanic plan and execute dive exploration projects to sites of significant historical and / or natural significance. The team records the progress and results of these projects by means of still and video photography and a project diary, with a view to publication either on the internet or as a book. The team is also keen to promote its video documentaries with a view to securing a television contract.

In addition to exploration projects and documentary work, Triton Oceanic is working on the development of dive equipment specifically suited to the expedition diver, as well as a line of complimentary clothing and accessories.

Who are Triton Oceanic?

Triton Oceanic brings together wide range of skills and experience relevant to these types of project. The seven founding partners form the core team, all are experienced divers with real passion for underwater exploration, photography and videography. The core team members are:

Jason Beech is a British divemaster and technical diver based in Japan and Taiwan. Jason has lived and worked overseas for much of his career and brings to the team his experience of managing large multi-disciplinary projects in foreign cultures. Jason learnt to dive in Taiwan in 2003 before turning to the dark side of tech, receiving his instruction from Matt and Mike, both fellow Tritons. Jason has dived extensively in Taiwan and has also participated in expeditions to Chu’uk Lagoon, Palau, Indonesia, Thailand, Okinawa, Yonaguni, Sipadan, the Maldives, and the Persian Gulf. Jason is currently Project Director for the team’s Kongō expedition.

Tony Bridge is a British technical diver who first started diving in 2000 whilst based in the Philippines. On Tony’s permanent return to the UK in 2007 he joined Ribble Valley Sub-Aqua Club with fellow Tritone (yes, that's what multiples Tritons are!) , Simon, bought a dry suit and is now slowly discovering the underwater beauty of the British Isles. Whilst much of Tony’s diving has been in and around the Philippines, he has also dived further afield in Chu’uk Lagoon and the Red Sea. The team’s resident techno-geek, Tony is always keen to get his paws on the latest piece of shiny kit or newest technology and can generally be found wiring something up or tuning something in. With his vast knowledge of computers and with a highly successful IT business, Tony heads up the team’s web development and IT requirements.

Dennis Champ is a Canadian! After all he had sold his company, and a years diving in Mexico, he was ready for a change. He fell in love with the Philippines five years ago with people of gentle smiles and the wonderful diving. Now based there with his family, his love of photography keeps him fascinated by the under water world. The colours and the complex textures of marine organisms have allowed this accomplished amateur photographer help make images of the ocean a true art form. He has always been drawn to wrecks, for the history as well as the moody, dark blue images of the unknown that they produce. Wrecks also mark a beginning and an end. The end of a ships days of plying the seas but the beginning of a new life for thousands of marine organisms that will use her as their new home. The Philippines is his ideal base for exploring the reefs and wrecks of Asia. Documenting the oceans and it's inhabitants, living or inanimate, is a never ending passion for him.

Matt Reed is a British professional dive instructor specialising in technical dive education and exploration. Matt has been diving for as long as he can remember and has taught in the UK, Red Sea, Caribbean, Pacific and Asia with dive experience in the Pacific, United States, and the caves of Florida. Working in Asia for seven years, and as a resort manager in the Philippines for four years of that, has given Matt a lot of experience in achieving results with limited resources. Matt also teaches diving at every level and has dived with and learnt from some of the pioneers of technical diving. Passionate about going where no one has been before Matt is often found in strange places that no one else has thought to, or possibly even wants to, dive. Matt is responsible for Resource Management and spends his time scouring the globe for assistance with the next project.

Mike Taylor, a British accountant turned dive instructor, has spent the last four years in the Philippines honing his diving skills and working as a full time technical diving instructor under the TDI banner. Mike teaches at the Advanced Trimix and Advanced Wreck level and has a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from wreck diving expeditions around the world. Mike brings with him an in depth understanding of diving physiology and decompression mechanics, and will guide the team’s dive planning and logistics as the project Diving Officer. He also makes a damned fine latte.

Andy Niven is a British BSAC First Class Diver and Advanced Instructor, Andy is most often seen diving an Inspiration rebreather, one of the various units he is trained on as a trimix instructor. As the team’s Video and Photo Coordinator, Andy brings to the team vast underwater imaging experience from expeditions in the UK, New Zealand, all over Asia and the Pacific region as well a number of locations in the Middle East. During a three month expedition to the Halaniyah islands in Oman, Andy led a group of divers in conjunction with local government projects to encourage diving in the area; and to dive the wreck of the City of Winchester. Andy is an active member of the South China Diving Club, based in Hong Kong.

And finally, myself who has been designated Search Director within the team; they have to be able to blame someone when we don't find what we are looking for...

What have we done?

Our first expedition as a team was to the Princess of the Orient which is documented in another article.

What’s in the pipeline?

The biggie is the IJN Kongō, a 36,000-ton Japanese battleship sunk by enemy action somewhere off Formosa (that's now Taiwan of course) during the Second World War. Then we are thinking of the Graf Zeppelin, HMS Hermes, back to Chu’uk for some of the deep boys, caves perhaps the Yonaguni?

The sea is our playground...

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