Stuart is a highly experienced maritime professional with over 30 years of hands-on experience in the industry. His distinguished career began in the Royal Navy, where he served as a commissioned officer. His naval service was diverse and demanding, seeing him operate beneath the waves as a Submariner and on the surface as a Navigator for both Minesweepers and Frigates.
At South West Maritime Academy, Stuart specialises in Powerboat instruction. He is known for a teaching style that bridges the gap between theory and reality, frequently utilising MAIB accident reports to illustrate the importance of safety culture and preventing complacency. He has a particular talent for building student confidence in "close quarters" handling, teaching boat owners how to manage their vessels calmly and effectively in tight marina spaces. His philosophy is grounded in safety and common sense, famously advising students that the best decision a skipper can sometimes make is to "stay in the cafe."
- Royal Navy Veteran: Commissioned Officer, serving as a Submariner and Surface Fleet Navigator.
- Instructor Qualifications: Advanced Commercially Endorsed Powerboat Instructor and Hovercraft Pilot Instructor.
- Diving Expert: Commercial Dive Instructor with over 22,000 logged dives.
- Educational Leadership: Former leader of a Combined Cadet Force (CCF) unit and outdoor education instructor (abseiling, sub-aqua).
- World Record Holder: Guinness World Record for the "Most People Ironing Underwater" (Fundraising for the RNLI).
- Sports Coaching: STA Aquatics Tutor and International Fencing Referee/Coach.
Stuart’s life outside the classroom is defined by a love for adventure and the underwater world. He is a prolific commercial diver with an astounding log of over 22,000 dives. Throughout his diving career, he has had the honour of laying memorial wreaths on underwater war graves, including the wreck of the RMS Lusitania.
Beyond the water, Stuart is an accomplished Fencing Coach and International Referee. He also holds a unique claim to fame: he is a Guinness World Record holder for "Extreme Underwater Ironing." As part of a team of 86 divers, he helped set the record for ironing garments underwater, an event that raised over £15,000 for the RNLI - proving that he approaches even the most unusual challenges with dedication and humour.
