From freediving with orcas in the arctic, to being chased out of the water by a 'pack' of grey reef sharks in the Pacific, life as a private diving scout has given Todd Thimios some fascinating stories to tell.
Growing up in Cairns, with the Great Barrier Reef on the doorstep, Todd worked for a decade as a dive instructor on the idyllic Lord Howe Island off Australia's East Coast. He then moved to Europe to become a private diving scout for some of the world's wealthiest superyacht owners. It was more than 15 years into his career when Todd decided to undertake formal study through Southern Cross University.
"My job was to travel ahead of the client and basically scout out dive locations I thought they would like, create content of it for them, then take them there and look after them underwater while they dived the site," Todd says.
"In 2018 I was working in Spain and looking to formalise my studies in Marine Science , and Southern Cross really stood out to me, as I could study online and full-time while I was travelling. I thought it would be a really good way to loop everything back together and give a good foundation of marine science on top of a very practical work history.
"I joke that I did my degree in cafes around the world.
"I timed my trips back to Australia to coincide with the on-campus residentials and see my family while I was here, and my lecturers were very supportive. Then when COVID hit and I returned to Australia, I was thankful to be doing something meaningful with my time."
When Todd moved back to Cairns during COVID restrictions, he met and married the love of his life, and they've since had two children and settled in Northern NSW. Since graduating from Southern Cross University in 2022, Todd divides his time between Julian Rocks "the special dive site across all seasons", and working as an international guide and underwater photographer, promoting dive locations for clients across the globe.
He says studying and understanding the science – the ecology, biology and even chemistry – of the ocean where he spends so much time has not only given him a formal qualification, but also a newfound professionalism in his international work. He recently released a best-selling book: Ultimate Dive Sites.
"I've basically been collating material for this book over the past 15-20 years, from manta rays in the Maldives, orcas in the Arctic, crocs in Cuba and anacondas in Brazil and so much in between," Todd says.
"It celebrates the best diving sites in the world – a top 50 list as curated by me – and puts a lot of emphasis on 'experience' in the broader sense of diving: free-diving, snorkelling and scuba diving, with a real focus on wildlife events, natural wonders and ocean stewardship."
For any aspiring marine scientist, Todd says it doesn't matter if you're straight out of school or already have a decades-long career, the best time to start study is now.
"Just make a start and make it work for you, so that you can do it at your own pace without needing to take a break – you can finish what you start and get the degree and really make an impact," he says.
"There were moments of struggle and juggle for me, but I felt it was vital that I finished the degree and I'm so glad I did. There's never a 'late' time to pursue further study."
