Scuba Diving and Mental Health

We all know that scuba diving is good exercise: the lifting and carrying, the resistance of water, and the struggle of getting into and out of our wetsuits! But, did you know it’s not just our physical health that it’s good for?

Outdoor blue spaces are believed to have positive effects on mood and stress levels, and diving itself is known to reduce blood pressure, increase blood circulation and have a positive effect on our respiratory systems.

I’ve read a variety of studies to research writing this blog and one thing remains clear: people experience an improvement in their mental wellbeing following scuba diving. Even just spending time in blue spaces, much like green spaces, helps us to relax.

Let’s have a little look at some of the reasons we respond so well to diving:

1.     Outside time: As divers, we spend quite a bit of time outside. Whether we’re setting up our kit, sitting on a boat or enjoying a surface interval before we get back in the water. Time outside exposes us to sunlight - while not taking our skincare into account can have negative effects, if we ensure we have our SPF 50 (in my fair skinned, pale state!), stay hydrated and have our hats on, our mental health will love it! That warm sun on your skin isn’t just keeping you warm, it’s helping our bodies produce vitamin D which has been linked to improved emotional regulation and in preventing mental health conditions such as depression. Sunlight promotes the production of serotonin which works with melatonin to help us get a good night’s sleep! It also increases the production of dopamine: the “happy hormone”. If I’m feeling down, a walk to the beach always makes me feel a little better, lets the sunlight in and blows away the cobwebs (the exercise is good too!).

View from the boardwalk on Littlehampton's West Beach

2.     Mindful breathing: The way we breathe when we dive is very important, we know never to stop breathing and that we adjust our buoyancy with breathing too but it’s those long slow breaths in and out that are helping to calm our nervous system. It’s not just calming our brains but our whole body. It helps boost our immune system, increases our stamina and helps to clear the mind for better focus. I know when I’m diving, I’m not thinking about anything else and being there, in the moment, is something that really reduces stress and anxiety.

3.     Meditation: You may not realise it but when you’re diving, you’re secretly meditating too! Meditation is an amazing tool used for controlling anxiety, reducing stress, reducing age-related memory loss, fighting addiction, calming the mind, promoting emotional health and self-awareness and you don't have to sit still to do it. Meditation is about focus – focusing on one thing: diving and being in that moment takes our minds off our worries and makes life seem a little lighter.

4.     Lower blood pressure: Obviously we should all take our blood pressure seriously. The stresses of modern-day life can cause our blood pressure to rise, in some cases, to dangerous levels. Don’t let it get that far – go for a dive! Even if your heart rate is increased because of that cool thing you just saw or the current you had to swim across, the overall experience of diving is likely to be a relaxing one. Studies show that diving improves blood circulation and lower temperatures, can lower your heart rate and blood pressure too.

5.     Sleep: We all need it but some of us don’t get enough of it; unless you dive that is! Ever had insomnia only to go for a dive and get the most restful night’s sleep afterward? Me too! Yes, we’ve exerted ourselves physically and sometimes had to get up at 5am to travel to a dive site, and that does contribute but, the mindful breathing, meditation, flowing movements and beautiful experience all helps us to get off to sleep more easily.

6.     Social interaction: Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, spending time with others is important to our mental health – humans evolved to benefit as a group, not as individuals. Social affiliation with a group, feeling responsible for each other’s safety as well as our own, acceptance trust and help from others; it all makes us feel valued and accepted. There’s a reason some therapy is done in groups – it makes us feel good to be with people who have similar experiences. It encourages personal growth and gives us an outlet to discuss our passion with other like-minded people.

The next time you’re feeling down go for a dive. If you need a buddy, ask on our WhatsApp group.

Thanks for reading - See you soon!