Andrew Couch

Raised in the UK, Andrew has now found his new home in Asia. Born in Hong Kong, Andrew learnt to dive at the age of 10 and has been in the water and enjoying diving for the past 20 years. His love of the water extends to his education having studied as an Oceanographer and gaining a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Science in the UK from the University of Plymouth. In addition to his studies in Ocean Science, Andrew was provided with the opportunity to enhance his passion for diving by learning the skills required for the world of Commercial Diving by taking and completing the HSE Professional SCUBA Divers certification. This qualification gave Andrew a unique insight into the technical skills and procedures required for the undertaking of Scientific Diving projects within coastal waters. Since leaving University he has pursued his interest in the water into the Instruction of SCUBA diving using the PADI system of education and in 2003 became a PADI Open Water Instructor.

Now Andrew is a full time active Instructor in Hong Kong. He has furthered his knowledge of training in Closed Circuit Rebreathers and is currently qualified to Trimix Instructor Level on the Inspiration, Evolution and KISS Closed Circuit Rebreathers.

In October 2005, Andrew also undertook the GUE Fundamentals course in order to develop and enhance his diving abilities and is looking forward to putting his new skills into practice and sharing what he has learnt with his students. He is currently scheduled to undertake the GUE Tech 1 Course in 2012, to further enhance his knowledge and skills to more technically enhanced abilities. 

In 2007, Andrew undertook the PADI Course Director Training Course in Malaysia and upon passing joined only a small fraction of the SCUBA Instruction community in becoming one of the highest qualified divers in the industry. The PADI Course Director rating qualified Andrew to become one of a small number of Instructor Trainers within Hong Kong and South East Asia. In the same year, this was added to by the PADI Tec Trimix Instructor Trainer and PADI Tec Trimix Gas Blender Instructor Trainer, qualifications very few in Hong Kong have managed to achieve.

He has also taken part in some of Mandarin Divers Technical Diving expeditions from the Princess of the Orient to the Japanese WWII destroyer KUWA in order to implement and maintain the valuable skills and knowledge he has gained during the years. This has all combined with his passion for wreck diving leading to IANTD Technical Wreck Diver and the development of safe and technical procedures required for wreck penetration dives outside of the light zone.

Under the guidance of Keith Wilson PhD. in 2005 and 2006, Andrew formed part of the dive survey team, under contract from the Hong Kong Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department tasked with surveying the Artificial Reefs situated around Hong Kong. This provided a varied and thorough understanding of the techniques required to successfully complete the survey’s required in a safe, efficient and effective manner.

In 2011, Mandarin Divers was awarded the contract with AFCD to provide a further detailed survey of the Artificial Reefs of Hong Kong. In addition to providing dive support to Keith Wilson, Andrew was in overall charge of all diving operations for the project, including all logistical, dive planning and dive techniques for the various conditions faced throughout the survey. In total, Andrew has completed in excess of one hundred dives on the Artificial Reefs under AFCD contract providing a wealth of experience in this field.