Photograph © Dennis Champ
Meet the team
Mike Taylor
Mike is originally from the UK. He gave up his job as an accountant in Saudi Arabia with less than 50 dives under his belt to go on a 10 week wreck diving expedition, which circled the globe. The need for further training became ‘apparent’ during a single tank dive to 55m (200ft) on the President Coolidge in Vanuatu. We’ve all done it, the wise learn from experience.
John Bennett introduced Mike to Matt Reed in 2003 and the rest is history. He’s spent the last four years in the Philippines as a full time technical diving instructor and honed his skills during expeditions diving deep wrecks.
Now a TDI instructor teaching up to Advanced Trimix and Advanced Wreck, he is one of the most passionate and driven technical diving instructors that you are likely to meet. Students are usually awed by his story of the studious accountant who gave it all up to follow a dream.
He has experience diving all over the world in a variety of conditions, but his passion is for wrecks. So ask him what his favourite wreck diving experience is if you have a spare few hours!!
A quiet but determined attitude makes him an ideal foil and diving partner for Matt. As a diving team they work well and recently were the first divers ever to explore the bow of the Princess of the Orient, which lies at 125M just outside Manila Bay.
His accountant’s minimal social skills mean that he is quite blunt when the occasion calls for it; he can often be seen hiding behind much bigger friends.
Though he vigorously denies the rumour that likes wearing women’s clothes… have a look at the photo gallery and make your own mind up.
