Exploring Together — The Diving Journey of Mario Koopman

Meet Mario Koopman, a passionate diver from the Netherlands, who has transformed his love for water into a shared underwater adventure with his partner.

Mario works as a mechanic at a community for people with mental and physical disabilities. But once he’s underwater, another side of him takes over — the curious explorer who loves discovering wrecks and marine life.

From an early age, Mario spent his Wednesdays swimming in the pool and his summers at the lake near his home — the same lake where local scuba divers sparked his fascination with the underwater world.

“This is also the lake where there were a lot of scuba divers, which occasionally took me down on the end of the dive on the safe second.”

Years later, during his time in the army around 1996, he took his first dive in full gear and began his Open Water course. Although he couldn’t finish it due to a transfer, that spark never left him.

Fast forward to 2019, when his girlfriend decided to try diving — and Mario joined her.

“We were both hooked right away,” he says with a smile.

Within months, they became Open Water Divers, quickly progressing through multiple specialties including drysuit, Peak Preformance Buoyancy, ect and by the end of the year they were both certified Advanced divers.

Today, Mario mostly dives in sidemount configuration, preferring wrecks, while his girlfriend enjoys photographing fish — a perfect pairing, since fish often gather around wrecks.

His most unforgettable dive?

“Definitely the dive on the USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg in Florida waters, visibility was stunning, and it is a huge wreck which can be entered from many places”.

When it comes to equipment, Mario trusts OrcaTorch.

“Since I started sidemount diving, I’ve been using the OrcaTorch D630 (v1.0) — I love this canister light. It’s the perfect companion for sidemount diving,” he says.

He also carries the D560-GL, ideal for pointing out small marine life, and previously used the D710 as a backup light — one he plans to replace soon.

For Mario and his partner, diving is more than a hobby — it’s a shared passion and a lifelong journey of discovery.

Looking ahead, Mario and his partner are preparing for a two-month dive trip in 2026 that will take them through Australia, Tasmania, and finally Palau. After the trip, they plan to begin their Divemaster certification.

“We keep diving because there’s still so much to see underwater — and our list of dive sites just keeps growing.”