Tom Steiner sat down with us for an interview before his seminar — his first-ever visit to Taiwan.
What comes to mind when you think of technical diving? Descending 200 metres into the open ocean? Cave diving? Sidemount? Diver propulsion vehicles? Whether you're curious about entering the world of technical diving or already knee-deep in it, there's one name you absolutely cannot miss: Tom Steiner. Originally from Switzerland, Tom has been diving for 46 years, logged over 16,000 scuba tanks / cylinders, and clocked more than 2,500 hours on a rebreather. He now lives in Malta, where he founded Gozo Technical Diving (GTD). This visit to Taiwan was at the invitation of YUHSIN System INC. (hereafter YUHSIN), who brought him over for a product experience event and a series of workshops.
For Tom, this was his first time in Taiwan — and the sweltering heat didn't faze him at all. Living in Malta, where high temperatures are simply part of daily life, had prepared him well. We sat down with him for an in-depth interview ahead of the Amtide Technical Diving seminar.
Starting on a Lake, Settling by the Mediterranean
Unlike most divers, Tom's journey began on the lakes of Switzerland. A lover of water from childhood, he studied hotel management — a path his parents hoped he would follow — but diving pulled him in a completely different direction. Still, chasing a passion while keeping food on the table in high-cost Switzerland forced him to think creatively. He began exploring dive destinations around the world: the Maldives, Palau, the United States, Jamaica, and even South America. Eventually he settled in Egypt, spending time in Sharm El Sheikh before moving to Dahab, where he helped run a dive shop. As the routine of daily life began to feel a little stale, he decided to open his own technical dive shop in Egypt.
That path wasn't without hardship. There were days when he earned just US$20, and times he had to ask his parents to buy plane tickets just so the family could holiday together. Tom reflected that in order to last in this industry, you need to find a speciality that truly excites you — and for him, that speciality was technical diving.
During his 16 years in Egypt, he dived the Blue Hole in Dahab — one of the most iconic dive sites in the world — more than 1,000 times. What many divers dream of as a bucket-list destination was simply his three-or-four-times-a-week workplace. When the Egyptian Revolution prompted him to move on, he chose Gozo Island in Malta, where he opened a new shop: Gozo Technical Diving (GTD).
Before the seminar, Tom showed his warmth by greeting everyone individually with a handshake. He then spoke about his personal diving journey, introduced GTD, and outlined his plans for the future.
A WWII Wreck Haven — One of the World's Best Dive Destinations
We were curious about what makes Malta special as a dive destination. Tom explained that while Malta is widely regarded as one of the world's best, it actually has very few fish — not due to overfishing, but because the natural environment supports little plankton. That same characteristic, however, produces extraordinary visibility of over 100 metres. What the waters lack in marine life, they more than make up for in wrecks, caverns, and superb conditions for deep diving. Gozo Island, where GTD is based, measures just 14 km wide by 7 km long, yet boasts 93 dive sites — enough to keep you busy for a full four weeks if you wanted to explore them all.
Malta's diverse dive landscape includes 10 to 15 wrecks within 45 metres for recreational divers; for technical divers, there's an even broader range of options waiting to be explored.
With 36 years of teaching experience, Tom's expression visibly changed the moment cave diving came up in conversation. Despite having trained the European Space Agency and the Greek Navy, and having dived to 212 metres, the thing he loves most — and finds most endlessly fascinating — is cave diving. Malta, he said, is like a playground. Mexico is like Disneyland — spectacular but with a lower barrier to entry. His favourite destination, though, is Spain, where he spends four months each year teaching and diving in volcanic caves. Even after countless dives in the same cave systems, he still finds pure joy in every descent.
A Technical Diving Legend Touches Down in Taiwan
Alongside the YUHSIN product experience event, Tom jumped in the water to share some technical diving techniques firsthand.
Tom's visit to Taiwan was at YUHSIN's invitation — to share his technical diving expertise and run several workshops. He even obtained a work visa, laying the groundwork for future course offerings here.
The connection started during the pandemic, when YUHSIN reached out with an invitation to trial their equipment. Tom, who doesn't typically accept manufacturer sponsorships, was genuinely impressed by the quality. He used the gear across two full years — in saltwater, freshwater, cave diving, and deep diving — without needing a single repair. Add to that the fact that many Taiwanese divers have trained at his shop in Malta, and the bond between Tom and Taiwan has grown steadily stronger. Just before our interview, he had returned from a dive trip to Xiaoliuqiu. Visibility couldn't quite match Malta's, but the sea turtles and wrecks left a strong impression — he clearly enjoyed every moment.
One thing Tom particularly admires about YUHSIN, compared to other equipment brands, is their willingness to truly understand users' real-world needs before optimising — and even customising — their products.
Looking ahead, Tom plans to partner with dive shops in Taiwan to offer technical diving training, sharing his passion and knowledge with a wider audience. He hopes to find long-term instructor partners here — so that he can eventually retire and lie on the beach (he laughs).
The collaboration won't be limited to Taiwan either. At GTD in Malta, a dedicated YUHSIN equipment display space is in the works, with Malta serving as a hub to promote YUHSIN gear across Europe — a fresh injection of energy into the European dive equipment scene. Taiwanese instructors are also warmly welcome to come for training abroad; disciplines like Trimix, which are difficult to conduct in Taiwan, could be run in Malta instead. Best of all, you won't need to haul a full kit across the world — YUHSIN equipment will be available to rent on-site.
Although GTD runs only about five Open Water courses per year on average, recreational and technical divers alike are equally welcome. With a strong emphasis on diving skills, the team genuinely looks forward to passing on some of their hard-won knowledge.
GTD's commitment to educational quality means that even recreational divers are taught to technical diving standards from the very beginning — including trim and kick technique training — shortening the transition period for those who eventually move into technical diving.
What It Takes to Be a Technical Diver: Self-Discipline and Strong Communication
To close the interview, we asked Tom for advice to anyone thinking about entering the world of technical diving: train seriously, and find an instructor who is patient, conducts courses regularly, and can build a genuine mentor–student relationship. As for the qualities that define a competent technical diver, he highlighted choosing the right dive buddy, respecting nature and the environment, holding yourself to a high standard of skill, and maintaining strong communication within the team.
During this visit, Tom dived everywhere from Xiaoliuqiu to the Northeast Coast, and engaged in meaningful exchanges with divers at the product experience event. We can't wait to see what comes next from his partnership with YUHSIN and Taiwan's dive shops!
On this first visit to Taiwan, Tom didn't just try out equipment and share his experiences — he laid the foundations for a lasting collaboration between Taiwan and Malta. Whether it's his decades of accumulated teaching expertise, his uncompromising standards for equipment quality, or his passion and philosophy for technical diving education, everything about Tom makes you eager to see the sparks that will fly when he connects with Taiwan's dive shops, instructors, and divers in the chapters ahead.
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