Hey, Hey We’re the OZTeks—The Original Tech Rock ’n’ Roll Band 🎶

by John Garvin, and the OZTeks. Imagery courtesy of the band.

Most international dive conferences feature an ‘after party’ celebration.  It’s usually a great opportunity to unwind, catch up and network with other members of the wider diving community. 

The OZTek/ADEX conference, Australia’s biennial event and the highlight of the Pacific diving calendar, take their after-party celebrations to the next level with The Ozteks. The World’s original tech-diving rock’n’roll band.

Frontman and technical diving instructor, John Garvin, recalls the bands inception and ten-year history.

“Coming up with the idea for a diving rock’n’roll band was down to OZTek organizer, Sue Crowe.  A group of us were discussing ideas for the 2015 show and the question was raised – “How do divers like to party?”  The answer of course: Good food, free alcohol and a kick-ass rock’n’roll band. These are the universal ingredients for any great night out.  Rather than hiring in a boring corporate band, we decided to do it ‘in-house’.”

A recruitment email was soon circulated – asking for divers who were also musicians.  Many who replied were only comfortable doing a ‘guest appearance’ for a couple of songs.  But there was eventually enough interest to form the ‘core band’ – which even included appearances from international guest speakers attending the show. 

The OZTek’s first gig took place in March 2015 on the main stage of the Australian Technology Park (Sydney), with other shows delivered in 2017 (The Pumphouse, Darling Harbor, Sydney) and 2022 (Melbourne Public, Melbourne) and 2025 (Pyrmont Bridge Hotel, Sydney).

John believes the key to the band’s appeal is to keep the music raw and simple. “These gigs are just great fun to do. The band delivers an hour-long set of classic pub-rock anthems that everyone can sing and dance too. There’s always a great energy in the room and everyone enjoys letting their hair down. A fun ending to a great weekend.”  

Guest appearances over the years include Theo Starr on guitar (2015), Juliette Myers on ukulele (2017), Bill Stone on guitar (2022), Trevor Anthony on guitar (2022), and this year Nays Baghai on bass (2025), who joined the band.  

“At one point we did a rough calculation of how many 100m+ dives had been conducted by the combined line-up on stage.  I’m not sure if deep diving and rock’n’roll contribute to long-term brain damage.  But we’re going to continue delivering high-octane rock’n’roll cranked up to “11.” Like our Gradient Factors.” 

Unlike technical diving, where meticulous planning is mandatory, The Ozteks take a much looser approach to preparing their gigs. 

“We’ve never rehearsed.” John confirms. “We’ve never had that luxury. The weekend schedule and logistics don’t allow it – everyone is just so busy. So I email out a set list beforehand and everyone learns the songs. We tend to choose pretty standard ‘crowd-pleasing’ songs – simple three chord arrangements and nothing too complex. Then everyone flies in to attend the show. We set up the gear, do a quick sound check and then we’re on.  We’re probably the only band that plays together once every two years and it’s a miracle it doesn’t sound like an underwater train wreck.  The open bar probably helps. The more alcohol consumed – the better we sound!”

Meet The Band

John Garvin – Vocals and guitar.

John has worked as a professional musician since 1990 and has a wide range of experience in the entertainment industry, including stage, screen and television.  Before his diving career, John worked as a professional actor in London’s prestigious West End, where he wowed audiences playing the lead role of Buddy Holly in the original production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and Four Steps To Heaven. 

Samir Alhafith – Drums.

Founder and team leader of the, The Sydney Project – an association of technical divers involved in researching and discovering important historical wrecks in deeper and more challenging locations, furthering The Sydney Project’s on-going mission to discover and document the historically significant wrecks lying in Australian waters and in overseas locations. Samir is one of the original members of the OZteks band, who’s been playing drums and keeping the audience grooving since the band’s inception.

Michael Menduno – Bass guitar

Michael Menduno is an avid electric bass player who plays blues, rock’n’roll, jazz, funk and musicals, and used to play professionally. He started playing bass in High School, and has worked with a variety of bands, including several big bands in the Palm Springs area. 

Nays Baghai – Bass guitar

Nays’ first love before film and diving was music. Since the early 2000s, Nays has played in a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, jazz bands, rock bands, and others, and in 2015, he was nationally ranked fifth in NSW’s Music 1 students. Of the 12 instruments Nays plays, his favourite is the bass guitar, and his work as a composer has been featured globally on national television in Germany, Japan and Australia.

From Sue Crowe, Band Manager & Producer

The OZTEKs came together, as good things are wont to do, at the pub. Looking to make the conference a bit more fun, the OZTeks were hatched, the players rounded up and we never looked back!

The OZTeks is a heartfelt, don’t-take-us-too-seriously, showcase of talent out of the water! Tech divers are an accomplished lot after all. It never ceases to surprise me how willing everyone is to come together, play together, liven the atmosphere and simply enjoy themselves.

Over the years, the OZTeks have played in numerous venues – on stage at OZTek 2017, my first conference. Then they joined TDI/SDI at the Pumphouse (it was felt they were a bit casual for the Gala Dinner!!). And finally, I think we hit the jackpot in 2022 when I ditched the Gala Dinner in favour of the ‘Decompression Party’ and the band played at the pub! Perfect.

It seems fitting that the 2025 Deco Party was held at the Pyrmont Hotel – the late night afterparty haunt of all the previous Sydney conferences, going back in time to 1999.

I love the players, love the effort, the good humour (no one gets paid), the camaraderie – to me the OZTeks band will always be a unique and very special part of the OZTek Advanced Diving Conference.”

From the OZTeks’ Newest Member—Nays Baghai

Joining The OzTeks in 2025 was definitely a massive highlight for me to say the least. There have been few moments where I’ve been able to combine my two biggest passions of diving and music together, so this was a huge privilege, although I actually came into the band by total accident. The original plan was that Michael Menduno and I would do a funky bass duet in between the official band’s main set, but the idea later organically evolved into us splitting bass duties for the main band, and I felt very honoured to have been invited to join the group. When I first read the full setlist, initially I was a little intimidated by the sheer size of it and how many tunes were foreign to me, but eventually (and not dissimilarly to how it is in diving), the fear vanished. Not only was I excited to play with John and Samir for the first time, but I also knew it would be a fun chance to treat it like any other professional gig. 

Similar to how, making a dive with perfect buddies, conditions and scenery can feel so blissful, there is nothing more energising than playing with musicians who have rock-solid chops and ears, are locked into the music, and are just fun to play and hang out with. I cannot wait one iota till the next time we play again.

Could You be in the OZTeks?

Always on the look-out for new talent, The Ozteks embrace an open-mic policy and are welcoming enquiries from any potential new band members for the next 2027 gig.  

No audition, rehearsal, or talent required! 🎶🎶

DIVE DEEPER

InDEPTH: Max Deco & Bubble Trouble Rocked the House! The OZTeks are not the only tech rock’n’roll band!