Dear Team Member,
It is with a sense of great sadness, shock, and a heavy heart that we announced the untimely passing of a beloved partner, father, and co-founder of DDE, Captain Martin Cridge who passed away on Friday 18 June 2021 in Majuro, Marshall Islands.â
â This news was very unexpected, leaving friends, family, and all the people across the globe that care about him shocked to the core.â
Martin made an immense impact on the diving industry over his long and iconic career and, his memory shall live on in our hearts.
As we all take time to soak up the news, we have been commemorating our great friend, colleague, and diver, Captain Martin Cridge.
Loved by many, join us as we dive deep into the kind and moving words shared by people all over the globe.
Master Liveaboards wrote: "There are very few people that knew more or were more passionate about the wrecks and the diving in Chuuk and Bikini. Anyone who dived with him will have felt his infectious enthusiasm. Everyone who dealt directly with him at Master Liveaboards and The Dirty Dozen felt it too. Martin was pivotal in us developing Bikini Atoll as a destination for Master Liveaboards as well as building the reputation of Truk Master as a highly respected technical diving operation. Not only this but he was instrumental in the set-up and success of The Dirty Dozen Expeditions in Truk and Bikini."
The news also brought a flood of tributes from luminaries of the scuba diving world, expressing their appreciation for the good times shared and his great wealth of knowledge.
ARON ARNGRIMSSON (OWNER, DIRTY DOZEN EXPEDITIONS)
The diving industry has lost one of its brightest figures and his family and friends have lost a father, partner, son, and a friend. Martin changed my life and career drastically for the better, being instrumental in coming up with the Dirty Dozen Expeditions. He came up with the name while sharing a cold beer on deck after a hard week on the boat, and was involved until his last day. During the years we spent together on the Truk Master on countless expeditions in Truk Lagoon, Bikini Atoll, and beyond, he was never shy to share and pass on his vast knowledge about wreck-diving, wreck photography, history, and the things that made a difference from a customer having a good trip to an unforgettable one.
Some of the most memorable dives of my career were when Martin and I sneaked off the boat together exploring long rebreather dives. Martin's strong personality was a force to be reckoned with on deck, which commanded his crew's respect but deep inside they knew him to be a good and kind soul. After I left the boat and started Dirty Dozen full time, we stayed in touch nearly every single day and further grew our friendship and shared many more breathtaking adventures through Dirty Dozen which were an outlet for both of us to share our passion to the limit. Martin was a great skipper, outstanding trip leader, incredible wreck photographer, and a dear friend which we lost way too soon, and he will be more than missed. Let us all remember his dry sense of humor, resolve, and kindness. He will be with me on every dive in Truk and Bikini in spirit and is forever a part of Dirty Dozen's legacy.
Until next time, skipper.
STEVE JONES
Earlier this year, when I was reminiscing with Martin about his favorite Truk Lagoon wrecks for a feature in DIVE, I couldnât imagine that within months Iâd be penning words of remembrance about him. Martinâs untimely passing is particularly poignant because he leaves behind his young son Tyke and his partner Elaine, a devastating loss for them. There was simply so much life left for him to live and so much life that he was a part of.
Martin was an instantly likable character whose knowledge and enthusiasm rubbed off on those around him. He was in his element underwater and was a talented photographer in his own right, therefore his input and guidance were invaluable to me as we navigated through the labyrinths inside the wrecks of Truk. I spent some of the most enjoyable hours of my diving career here with him. In deep water and far inside wrecks that I was unfamiliar with, it was the implicit trust I had in him that enabled the creation of each image, a team effort like no other.
What Iâll always remember most about him though is his warmth, that sense of humor, and above everything else just what a genuinely nice guy he was.
Read Steve's Interview with Martin from the Spring 2021 issue of DIVE
JILL HEINERTH
Anyone that met Martin might call him a guru. He was a wealth of knowledge with raw diving talent. He had the heart of a generous humanitarian and, whether he was guiding divers or delivering supplies to a remote community, his home was the sea.
PETE MESLEY
I always enjoyed catching up with Martin. We would meet up at the Sunset Bar at Blue Lagoon In Truk and catch up over a few beers or wines. He could never understand why I asked the guys to put my bottle of wine in the fridge. We would joke and complain about the world and just enjoy spending some time together. He was a good soul, pure of heart, and genuinely cared about people. Whenever I am at the Sunset Bar I will look over to the place where you used to sit and raise my (chilled) glass of red wine in your memory. You are what we call a GB (a Good Bast*rd). The world is a smaller place without you mate.
RICHARD LUNDGREN
A great loss of a kind soul and expert wreck diver. My heart goes out to the loved ones left behind.
MARK POWELL
Martin was one of the nicest guys you could meet and a fantastic skipper.
ANDREW COLDERWOOD
There were so many fond memories from our trip with Martin to Bikini Atoll but one that springs to mind was from an encounter with one of the regionâs apex predators. Over a couple of days, we had started to be watched by the first one and then up to three tiger sharks. The largest of these came in closer and closer until on one dive it was getting VERY close. I was next to Martin on the deco bar, he looked at my computer which said 40 minutes of stops to go, and then he showed me his, which had a similar amount. Not a comfortable situation to be in! He paused momentarily and then calmly unclipped his bailout bottle as if getting it ready to use against said shark should things get dicey. When we got out, he calmly joked âI wonder how that shark would get on with no teethâ, such was his sense of humor after an undeniably intense and unforgettable encounter.
PERRY BRANDES
From the moment you would step onboard Martinâs passion and knowledge of these wrecks would rub off on you. His smart banter and ability to walk through a whole section or room of a wreck from memory was awe-inspiring. With a massive love for the location and of course the people, experiencing the Pacific the way Martin did can only be spoken by sailors' wishes and divers' dreams.
PAM PELHAM
2017 was the first time I met Martin, 8,000 miles from my home back in the UK, turns out Martin hailed from over the hill in Huddersfield. Over the years we stayed in touch, swopping updates on family, diving trips, and Huddersfield United (football club). Martin threatened to rush back to the UK if they got back into the premiership but it wasnât to be. Martin, thanks for the fantastic trips, the help, and advice⊠you will be missed.
DOMINICK MACAN
So tragic to lose such a pioneer and good man and our hearts go out to his wife and family, and those in his team who will miss him so much. RIP Martin.
BYRON CONROY
Martin was an incredible man. Such a generous man with both his time and knowledge. He will be greatly missed in our industry.
KEITH WOOLGAR
He'll be sorely missed not only by family and friends but the wider diving community who encountered his experience and knowledge of Truk Lagoon!! Not to mention the photography!!! May he rest in eternal peace!!
TANYA SMITH
Vale Martin Cridge, thank you for all you have done in the diving world and beyond. You will indeed be missed.
MIKE CUNNINGHAM
RIP Martin a great guy, diver, photographer, skipper, and family man. He will be missed thoughts with his family.
KARL KRUGER
Terrible news, great skipper, learned his craft in the Royal Navy & a true professional⊠My thoughts with his family & friends, heâll be sorely missed. RIP ShipmateâŠ
BILL COLTART
Terrible news. Martin was a competent skipper, larger than life personality, and will be missed during our future visits to Micronesia.
GEOFF CREIGHTON
Such a shock. A truly brilliant and knowledgeable skipper, he will be missed.
JESPER KJĂLLER
What an absolute tragedy! So sad to hear that. He was a great guy. What a loss for his family, and all of us that knew him.
MEHDI ZINETTI
Nobody can say "Aikoku" like Martin. RIP captain.
ANTTI APUNEN
I will miss you, Martin. We have lost a friend and a great wreck diver. I will also miss your inspiring stories and common dives beneath the Pacific waves.
Rest in peace, my friend.
DIDIER B. FOLLAIN-GRISELL
Indeed, shocking news! Martin was such a good guy! Quiet, extremely knowledgeable, a great photographer, and of course Captain. He will be missed by all that knew him.
JOEL CPRS DT
Iâll remember Martin in many positive ways-with a big smile and a great sense of humor, always great with a story. My condolences to your wonderful family. Rest in Peace Captain!
MARISSA ECKERT
I was lucky enough to get to know Martin when I was Truk and I really enjoyed getting to do several CCR dives with him. We had some surreal moments in engine rooms and Iâll never forget our one dive at dusk on our rebreathers as sharks swam around us feeding. It was amazing. And he knew so much about the wrecks. He was so much fun to talk to. He will be sorely missed.
MATT JEVON
So sad to hear this about Martin. Martin was a super nice guy and so helpful. As well as being a top diver, skipper, and photographer. Thoughts with all who knew him and especially to the family.
I was lucky enough to be on the inaugural dirty dozen trip and Martin was a huge part of making that special. Not just as a skipper but also he dived with us, took some awesome pictures, and showed us parts of the wreck only someone with his time in Truk could have got us to.
CLIVE MARTIN
Unbelievable news, sorry to hear this. Thoughts go out to the family and God speed on returning you home to your loved ones. Thank you for your time with us in Cyprus.
KATE & MATT ROBINSON
Terribly saddened that this has happened to such a genuinely nice guy. We enjoyed our time with him in Truk. His knowledge and passion for expedition diving were infectious. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
ISABELLE DECHAMPS
Martin was part of the Master Liveaboards family. His knowledge and passion for wreck diving and WWII were contagious and he will be missed. I will always remember a visit in the Philippines where we stumbled onto a small WWII museum and the stories and history of the US military presence in the Philippines and role in SEA he recounted. Thank you, Martin.
CONDOLENCES
Captain Cridge leaves behind his wife, Elaine, and young son Tyke.
If you would like to pass on a message to Martinâs family, please email us and we will be sure to pass it on.
Alternatively, please do visit the Go Fund Me page to support Martin's family and assist in his repatriation to Micronesia.
www.gofundme.com/f/martin-cridge-memorial-fundraiser.
All donations are so welcomed, and no donations are too smallâŠ
That wraps it up for this time on a somber note. Raise a glass for our Captain tonight and remember all the good memories that he leaves us with.
Dirty Dozen Expeditions looks forward to continuing Martinâs great legacy moving forward by sharing that awe-inspiring passion about the best wreck destinations on the planet with our community.
Best,
Aron Arngrimsson and the DDE Team