Austrian Patrick Widmann is one of the world’s most-experienced underwater explorers, having been involved in countless expeditions around the world, and he will be on the Main Stage at the Long Beach Scuba Show on 30-31 May and Atlantic City Scuba Show on 6-7 June talking about his adventures in the wilds of Madagascar and flooded mines in Thailand.
Patrick has devoted his life to the diving profession since the age of 19. His technical diving journey began in the beautiful waters of Egypt in 2003 and evolved into cave diving in 2005 in the stunning underwater cave systems of Mexico, where he has resided since 2007.
Living in Mexico has provided him with a unique opportunity to explore its captivating caves while sharing his passion for diving by teaching cave, technical, and rebreather diving at ProTec Dive Centers, where he serves as one of the owners and training director.
As a committed educator and explorer, Patrick recognizes the value of sharing knowledge and experiences with others. In addition to his underwater expertise, he is also a skilled caver who explores dry caves and specializes in alpine caving, particularly the rigging of vertical shafts. His dedication to both diving and caving allows him to engage deeply with diverse subterranean environments.
He is actively involved in various cave exploration teams and groups, including for example the Quiet Diver Team (QDT), the Dominican Republic Speleological Society (DRSS), and the Espeleo Mergulho Brazil (EMB). His participation in these groups enriches his experiences in the field and contributes to important discoveries in cave exploration.
As a devoted member of the board of advisors for the Professional Scuba Schools International (PSAI) and an Instructor Trainer Examiner, Patrick plays a crucial role in shaping the future of diving education. In this capacity, he has contributed significantly to the development of the CCR Cave Class, a specialized course designed to train divers in the use of Closed Circuit Rebreathers in cave environments.
Additionally, as the training director for KISS Rebreathers, Patrick is responsible for creating cutting-edge training curricula and materials that reflect the latest advancements in diving technology. His insights and real-world experience are vital in developing comprehensive training programs that prioritize safety, risk management, and proper techniques for cave diving with rebreathers.
Patrick continually seeks to enhance the standards of education within the diving community, emphasizing best practices and up-to-date methodologies to ensure that divers are well-prepared to handle the challenges of cave diving. His commitment to safety and education reflects his passion for fostering a culture of informed and responsible diving.
Beyond his diving and caving pursuits, Patrick is passionate about running, particularly long-distance and trail running, and maintaining overall physical fitness. He believes that a strong body is essential for exploring the underwater world safely and effectively. In addition to running, he incorporates weight lifting and yoga into his regimen, recognizing the importance of strength, flexibility, and balance. His multifaceted approach to health and wellness fuels his own adventures while inspiring those around him to prioritize their physical well-being.
Over the past two decades, Patrick has had the privilege of diving and exploring caves in 17 countries around the globe. Since 2014, he has led annual expeditions to Madagascar, where his team has made remarkable discoveries within remote underwater cave systems.
Their work has illuminated important paleontological finds, drawing the attention of media outlets worldwide, including CNN, NBC, The Washington Post, and National Geographic, where he was featured on a cover shot. He has also been highlighted in regional and national newspapers in Austria.
Among the many discoveries is the Anjanamba cave system, now recognized as the longest submerged cave in Africa, showcasing over 12km of surveyed passages.
In addition to his efforts in Madagascar, Patrick participates in annual expeditions to Bahia, Brazil, where he was fortunate enough to help connect the iconic Brejões 1 and Brejões 2 caves. As a member of the Dominican Republic Speleological Society (DRSS), he has conducted numerous explorations there and holds a record for the deepest explored caves on Hispaniola, both exceeding 330ft in depth with vast tunnel systems at depth which led to bottom times over one hour.
In 2024, Patrick participated in the Bottom Line Project, an expedition to the mines of northern Thailand. During this remarkable venture, he and his teammate Mikko Paasi achieved the deepest mine dive in Asia. Returning in 2025, Patrick surpassed this achievement, discovering a new 354ft level. This record-breaking dive resulted in a 90-minute bottom time below 229ft and a total dive time approaching ten hours.
Patrick also joined an exploration program on Sipadan, Philippines, in 2025. Collaborating with a local team, he contributed to the exploration and detailed mapping of several cave systems in the area. While the team focused on understanding the unique characteristics of all the caves, special attention was given to Patio Tio, the island’s most-extensive spring system, due to its length and complexity.
Throughout his journey, Patrick remains grateful for the opportunities he has encountered along the way. He is committed to inspiring others to explore the wonders of the underwater world while emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning, physical fitness, and collaboration in their pursuits.
Patrick will be on the Main Stage with Hollywood stunt performer Liz Parkinson (who is also acting as MC), underwater photographer and film-maker Annie Crawley, freediving guru Kirk Krack, and commercial diver Chris Lemons, whose amazing tale of survival in the depths of the North Sea was made into the big-budget movie Last Breath in 2025.
Long Beach Scuba Show
The Long Beach Scuba Show, this year sponsored by Divers Alert Network, is celebrating its 39th anniversary in 2026 (30-31 May), and it represents the first show under the banner of new owners Rork Media Limited, which also runs the GO Diving Shows in the UK and Australia, and publishes the global-multi-edition Scuba Diver magazine, as well as being behind the Scuba Diver Magazine YouTube Channel, and long-established website Divernet.
Fans of the long-running event will be delighted to hear that Rork Media plan to retain everything that made the Scuba Show such a staple on the West Coast diving circuit, and enhance it with new and improved elements, including a Main Stage with a huge video wall right in the exhibition hall itself, a new layout designed to stimulate exploration around the hundreds of booths, and additional interactive attractions including a VR dive on a deep-water shipwreck in the Baltic Sea.
The three seminar rooms have been organised into themes, to make it easier to find speakers/topics of interest, so prepare to dive into Adventure, Inspiration, and UW Imaging.
Whether you’re an experienced diver, a new enthusiast, or just curious about the underwater world, the Scuba Show brings together everything you love about diving under one roof.
Explore hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest scuba gear, dive destinations, underwater photography equipment, training programs, and ocean conservation initiatives. Attend inspiring seminars led by world-renowned dive experts, explorers, and photographers, and connect with dive professionals, travel operators, and fellow divers from across the country.
There is also the opportunity to expand your skillset. The PSI-PCI Visual Cylinder Inspection course is open to everyone who wishes to inspect high-pressure breathing gas cylinders, or just know about the process. These specialty courses support the inspection process with formal function specific training on valve maintenance and repair, and Oxygen Cylinder Cleaning. Inspectors who are at the three-year renewal mark and want to attend the PSI-PCI Update course will be able to take care of it at the Scuba Show as well.
PSI-PCI offers the only training that is formally endorsed, utilized, and referred to by the cylinder manufacturers. The training has been created with the input of industry professionals and experts in each field to provide you with the best training available to meet the Federal requirements for the associated processes. You can join the team of PSI-PCI Professionals at the Scuba Show. Don’t wait, seats will fill up quickly! Click here for more information and to book a slot.
The Scuba Show offers two full days of ocean adventure, hand’s-on experiences, and exclusive show specials, and is where the US dive community comes together to celebrate the underwater world.
Get your tickets now!
Tickets are on sale now for the Scuba Show, and new for 2026, there is a change to the cost of entry – there is now one ticket price, which gets every attendee full access to the Exhibition Hall, and entry to all seminars.
With many of the speakers in the dedicated Adventure, Inspiration, and UW Imaging seminar rooms either only presenting on one of the days, or giving two different talks, plus with the headline acts on the Main Stage, and the plethora of booths, interactive elements and much more, there is plenty to keep you occupied on both days, so why not make a weekend of it?
Tickets are available now – click here – priced at $33 for a day ticket, and $60 for a weekend pass. There is also the option of a VIP Pass, which includes a weekend pass plus 6 issues of Scuba Diver magazine and 6 issues of California Diving News (Magazine delivery US & Canada residents only), and a Scuba Show Dive Team T-shirt, for $100.
Under 16s go free – bring the family and let the kids dive into the fun as well.
Join us for two incredible days, 30-31 May 2026, celebrating the world of diving at the Long Beach Convention Center!
