DIVE LOG DECEMBER 25 ISSUE 415

GUEST SPEAKERS

DAVID MULLINS https://nudibranchdomain.org/ Everyone wants to find a new Nudibranch - those colourful photogenic slugs of the sea. However, it can be just as enjoyable finding Nudibranchs doing things and recording it. But do we know what it is they are actually doing. I can assure you they are not just sitting on the substrate waiting to be photographed. Nudibranchs and their sea slug relatives exhibit a fascinating range of behaviours Some are solar-powered Some steal the stinging cells and use them for defence. Some slugs can actually swim. Across all the sea slugs they consume animals from just about every invertebrate phyla, plus plants. Some are cannibals - often when mating. Mimicry is raised to a high level. They do not possess proper eyes but find their way around by chemical detection. Some autotomize (self amputate) body parts as an escape. They are able to consume some of the most toxic creatures without harm They can also synthesise some of the most toxic organic substances known. THE SCUBA GYM Story Lyndi Kim Jackson (previously Leggett) brings purpose and power to everything she does. With calm clarity, expert skill, and genuine empathy, she leads The Scuba Gym Australia Ltd — a transformative scuba therapy program that restores movement and confidence for people with disabilities. “One in five Australians are diagnosed with disability,” Lyndi reminds us. “I know I can help … expect miracles.” Born in war-torn Zimbabwe and now an Australian scuba instructor and neurolinguistic master practitioner, Lyndi is the visionary behind The Scuba Gym’s arrival on our shores. Inspired by the story of U.S. founder David Lawrence — whose son became a quadriplegic after brainstem surgery, and then relearned to walk through water-based therapy — Lyndi brought that same life-changing idea to Australia. (The Scuba Gym) Lyndi explains, “Underwater, we can stimulate nerves in ways that are simply not possible on land. The Scuba Gym offers life-saving therapy for those with conditions like quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, motor neuron disease, spina bifida, autism — the list goes on.” (The Scuba Gym) But this is more than physical rehabilitation — it’s deeply human. Many of The Scuba Gym’s participants carry stories of trauma, loss, and resilience. In the quiet of the water, they find a place to heal. Lyndi’s commitment doesn’t stop there. As the child of a veteran, she founded Scuba Warrior , a program for first

Above: Nudibranch mimics

Stinging cell defence and self amputation

responders and veterans, especially those living with PTSD. “I was inspired to honour my Uncle Raoul,” she says — a soldier who returned home with emotional and physical scars, told simply to “get over it.” (The Scuba Gym) Scuba Warriors dive with purpose: in their missions, they don’t just heal themselves — they clean up our waterways. Lyndi reports they’ve removed 7 tons of rubbish , including motorbikes, on monthly dives. (The Scuba Gym) Lyndi is as dynamic and articulate as she is compassionate. She has faced her own trials and challenges, yet she channels that experience into something uniquely generous, building a community through water, movement, and connection. At her after-dinner speech, you’ll be invited to dive deeper — not just into the world of scuba, but into ideas of healing, mobility, conservation, and belonging. Prepare to be moved, inspired, and challenged. Let’s see where this journey takes us — and how we can change lives,

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DIVE LOG Australasia #415 - December ‘25

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