Together, they explore the fascinating intersection of cutting-edge robotics and technical diving. Vickie shares the incredible story of how the Sunfish robot was born from a desire to map unexplored underwater caves and has since evolved into a tool capable of navigating some of the planet's most extreme environments—from the depths of Wakulla Springs to the icy waters of Antarctica, and perhaps one day, the oceans of Jupiter's moon, Europa. They discuss the unique challenges of building a robot that can think for itself in a cave, the differences between ROVs and AUVs, and how these machines are not replacing divers, but working alongside them to push the boundaries of exploration.

In this episode, we discuss:

- The Birth of Sunfish: How a casual conversation about mapping caves led to the creation of an autonomous, hovering underwater robot.

- ROVs vs. AUVs: Understanding the difference between a tethered remote-controlled vehicle and a robot that can think and navigate independently.

- Cave Diving Robots: Why navigating a cave is one of the hardest challenges for an AUV, and how Sunfish uses sonar and spatial AI to find its way.

- From Florida to Space: The journey from testing in Wakulla Springs to being tasked by NASA to develop technology for exploring extraterrestrial oceans.

- Robots and Divers as Teammates: How technology like Sunfish can assist human divers in data collection, infrastructure inspection, and reaching depths beyond human limits.

- The Future of Underwater Exploration: What's next for the Sunfish team, including the development of new "Nova fish" and the ongoing quest for full autonomy.

You can learn more about Vickie Siegel and her team's work by searching for Sunfish AUV online, or by following their ongoing projects as they continue to explore the underwater world.

About the Guest: Vickie Siegel is the co-founder of Sunfish. She’s also a badass cave explorer, expedition leader with experience in running complex logistics in extreme environments.

Connect with Sunfish and Vickie Siegel:

• ​Website:

• ​LinkedIn:

• ​Facebook:

• ​Instagram:

• ​Email:

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Together, they take a journey back in time, exploring the Ice Age megafauna that once roamed the Yucatan Peninsula and now rests deep within its flooded caves. Jerónimo shares his extensive knowledge and passion for these submerged time capsules and the remains of the ice age megafauna. From the giant ground sloth (

In this episode, we discuss:

• ​Time Travel Underwater: Understanding the Pleistocene epoch and how rising sea levels preserved a treasure trove of fossils in the cenotes.
• ​Meet the Giants: A detailed look at the unique species found in the Yucatan Peninsula, including the giant sloth, gomphotheres, and even prehistoric bears and llamas.
• ​Teeth Tell the Tale: How paleontologists use dental morphology to distinguish between species and understand their diets and environments.
• ​The Importance of Context: Why moving a bone, even slightly, can destroy valuable scientific data and the story it tells about the past.
• ​Ear Bones & Evolution: Jerónimo's fascination with auditory ossicles and what these tiny bones reveal about an animal's life and evolution.
• ​Citizen Science: How divers can contribute to paleontological research by documenting their findings responsibly and reporting them to experts.

About the Guest: Jerónimo is a researcher, photographer, cave diver and paleontologist whose work has derived in dozens of scientific and outreach papers. He has spent almost 30 years diving, documenting and studying the caves, archaeology and paleontology of Quintana Roo.

Connect with Jerónimo Avilés:

• ​LinkedIn:

• ​Facebook:

• ​Instagram:

• ​Email:

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and share it with your dive buddy.

Changing the culture starts with a conversation.

Contact me: info@cenotegirl.com

Far from being just a list of complaints, this episode offers valuable advice for photographers on how to work more effectively and respectfully with their models when trying to portrait realistic cave diving practices.

Tamara explains the safety concerns, practical limitations, prioritizing conservation and aesthetic preferences behind her dislikes, from being asked to look away from the guideline to dealing with uncomfortable posing requests like holding a static scooter. She also touches on the importance of authentic representation, explaining why she avoids wearing makeup for shoots and prefers capturing genuine moments of exploration over staged scenes. Whether you're an aspiring underwater photographer or a diver interested in modeling, this episode provides a unique perspective from the other side of the lens.

In this episode, I discuss:

• ​Safety First: Why asking a cave diver to turn their back to the line or swim away from it into decorated areas is a major "don't."
• ​Authenticity vs. Staging: The preference for capturing real action and movement over static, posed shots that can look awkward or fake.
• ​Lighting Logic: Why pointing lights in unnatural directions can ruin a shot and feel wrong for an experienced diver.
• ​The "Look" of Tech Diving: A discussion on makeup in technical diving photography and why a natural look is often more practical and compatible with the gear.
• ​Equipment Etiquette: The importance of giving models time to clean up their gear and align their trim before snapping the photo.
• ​Communication is Key: How discussing shots beforehand and respecting a model's comfort zone leads to better photos and a safer dive.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show, leave a review and share it with your dive buddy. Changing the culture starts with a conversation.

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