The Benefits of Scuba Diving for Positive Mental Health
LYNNE-xx CLAFTON-xx May 13, 2022
The Benefits of Scuba Diving for Positive Mental Health
In the modern world of constant communication, social media and pressure pressure pressure, sometimes life becomes too much. For many, finding a healthy means of escape can often help them manage their way through challenging times.
According to the NHS and many wellbeing specialists, we need 5 elements in our lives for optimal physical and mental; health. These are:
- Connect with others
- Be Active.
- Keep Learning.
- Help Others.
- Take Notice.
How easy would this be to do all 5 in one great activity rather than several? Well, you can with scuba diving. Below I describe how I have benefitted and seen others benefit.
Connecting with others
Scuba is a social activity where you meet others and as a part of the Aquanaut Scuba Club, you can stay connected on diving trips and our socials.
Be Active
Scuba diving is an active sport and it has been proven that physical activity has a huge potential to enhance our wellbeing. Even a short period of exercise can improve our alertness, energy and positive mood. Participation in regular physical activity can increase our self-esteem and reduce stress and anxiety.
Swimming and finning put very little strain on the joints and can improve flexibility. During diving, we are swimming against the resistance of water and currents which strengthen muscles and endurance.
Therefore scuba diving as physical activity can have both mental and physical health benefits
Keep Learning.
Scuba is both a formal and informal learning environment. Not just about the diving but the environment, other countries and the developing technology in diving.
Help Others.
There are opportunities to complete first aid courses as a part of your diving learning. What a superb skill to help others. There are also opportunities to support others as they learn, share your experience or listen and reassure a fellow diver on a bad day.
Take Notice.
Taking notice is about mindfulness and being in the moment. This is very evident in diving as you weightlessly be one with the environment and manage your breathing. It’s Peaceful
One of my main reasons for diving is to escape from the communication I am bombarded with on land. I don’t want them to develop phones, watches, or other devices that I can take underwater to stay in touch. I want to leave them behind.
Silence is known to release tension from the brain and can cultivate mindfulness — recognition and appreciation of the present moment. Scuba diving is just you and the natural world around you.
Weightlessness
For those that don’t scuba dive, floatation therapy has shown to be effective for some in improving sleep quality, reducing stress and anxiety, and letting the body get back to a healthy balance of hormones.
For us divers, we automatically get the benefit of the feeling of weightlessness whilst exploring the amazing underwater world around us. It’s like gravity doesn’t exist and you can freely move around in 3D as if you are flying. This feeling of weightlessness can be one of the most calming feelings.
So, diving can be a great sport for those who want to escape from one real world into another and contributes to all the elements that build wellbeing. The natural calm and sense of peace and tranquillity experienced while diving wins my vote over online gaming any day! So why not give it a go and see for yourself?
