Our Background

'From a very young age I loved the water. I loved swimming and soon enough I was in the big boys league of competitive swimming, but it was a snorkelling trip on holiday that would change my life and take my interests from the top of the water to the colorful and beautiful world that lay deep beneath those swimming on the surface. School taught me lots more in Marine Biology as my fascination grew. 

In 1997 I finally got to strap on some tanks and dive. To say I was hooked there and then would be a massive understatement. From that very moment I could think of nothing other than being deep underwater. This was my world!

I knew that if I applied myself and attained the correct skills, then my enjoyment would grow with my ability. I passed ranks quickly, and today I dive as a Master Instructor. I finally retired in 2020 from the UK Financial Services sector and now travel the world doing conservation and education.

As with every passion, it is a great joy and unbelievable privilege  to be able to share it with others. I love seeing divers faces when they surface from a dive after facing a huge tiger shark or Great white shark. Having a shark of that size within hand reach is an experience everyone should enjoy in life.  Photography has always been a passion, above and below, today my current personal camera is the Canon 5d MKVi in an Aquatica housing and I switch to the Red Epic in a gates housing when shooting on location. Location shoots have included several Blue Planet II sequences, Nat Geo Wild segments as well as shark week and several BBC shoots. These days, no matter which rig I use on a dive, everyone knows it as my ‘baby’.

I want to share a part of my world. A world of misunderstood creatures, a world of dives that 99% of people would fear and that only 1% are lucky enough to have the privilege to make. I have now been fortunate enough to dive some of the world’s finest locations, places that, just a few short years ago, I could only dream of visiting. I have met some truly wonderful, talented divers over the years that I am now proud to be able to call friends.

My love for sharks grows ever deeper with every dive and I share my passion and knowledge by visiting schools and educating the children on these awe-inspiring animals, as well as hopefully inspiring the next generation of Master Divers! 

Social Media-

Facebook- Leigh Cobb

Instagram @blondesharkdiver

  Leigh is proud to be sponsored by the worlds biggest and most respected Scuba brand, ScubaPro. Supporting Leighs efforts to share information, education and awareness is recognised by the leading brand in the scuba world. She is also a PADI Master Diver Instructor, A Technical Diving International Cave Diver and Rescue diver as well as recently starting an EMT course to have more skills under her belt. 

Leigh has travelled worldwide to some of the most majestic destination’s all over the world to dive with a wide range of species. Including- 

Jupiter, Florid, USA

Galapagos

Coco Island, Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Malpelo, Columbia

Bahamas- Tiger Beach 

Socorro Islands, Mexico

North Carolina, USA

Mozambique

South Africa

Scotland

New Zealand

Fiji

 
Leigh states: I set up SDT to share trips with divers who want to experience a bit of my life, to learn, to understand and to experience sharks. We share the cost of everything which makes life easier for the traveller. 

A smile is a universal language!