Do you remember your first dive? That feeling when you breathed underwater for the first time? Fascinating, isn’t it? Scuba diving offers an adventure like few other sports – and it’s safer than cycling, if you follow the rules. No wonder more and more people are falling under the spell of the blue depths.
But how do you move from basic skills to true diving confidence? Let’s take a look at five key skills that set the ordinary diver apart from the exceptional.
- Buoyancy – the art of floating
Good buoyancy is like dancing underwater. Beginnings can be awkward – you’re bumping into everything around you, swirling sand and consuming air faster than a sea otter.
When I first started, I felt like an elephant in porcelain underwater. But every experienced diver told me the same thing: “Don’t worry, it will come in time.”
And they were right. With a little practice, you can learn to float above the reef with minimal fin movements, as if you were part of the water world. Suddenly you’ll find that diving is not a chore, but a meditation.
Tip: Practice your balance on land too. Stand on one leg while brushing your teeth or try yoga. Your brain builds up patterns that are useful underwater.
- Physical fitness – your underwater drive
Diving is not just about lying on the surface and looking at fish. It’s an activity that can sometimes give you a hard time.
I remember my first dive in the current. I thought I was in decent shape, but after twenty minutes of swimming I was exhausted. I have since incorporated swimming into my weekly routine and the difference is noticeable.
You don’t have to have the physique of an Olympian, but basic fitness will not only help you enjoy the dive more, but also handle unexpected situations. And after a hard day of diving, you’ll still be fit to hang out with friends in the evening instead of falling over with fatigue.
Good advice: The best exercise is the exercise you enjoy. Just do it regularly.
- Mindfulness – eyes wide open
“Look, listen, feel,” my first instructor said. And he was right.
Underwater, it’s important to perceive – not out of fear, but out of healthy alertness. Watch your computer, check on your partner, notice changes in the current or the behavior of the fish around you.
The best divers almost have a sixth sense. They know where to look for interesting animals, they can sense changes in the environment, and they always know exactly how much air they have left and where they are.
This isn’t innate – it’s a habit you can cultivate. Become consciously aware of your surroundings even on land. You’ll be surprised how many things you normally overlook.
- Endurance – the diving superpower
I once waited half an hour in one spot to take a picture of a shy seahorse. And you know what? It was worth it! Diving teaches you patience like few things.
Your journey to becoming a good diver will have ups and downs. There will be days when everything goes great, and then there will be a dive when you feel like a complete beginner. That’s normal!
The best divers don’t give up. When they’re not good at something, they practice again and again. When they make a mistake, they learn from it. And most importantly, they dive every chance they get because they know that practice makes perfect.
From experience: with every 50 dives I become a better diver. Things that were once difficult, I do automatically. It’s like any skill – hours of practice just shows.
- Swimming – the foundation of everything
The last but equally important skill is swimming. Although it sounds obvious, a surprising number of people sign up for a diving course without knowing how to swim properly.
You don’t have to be an Olympic swimmer, but you should feel at home in the water. When there’s a problem underwater (and believe me, sometimes there is), good swimming skills can be the difference between a “little inconvenience” and a “big trouble”.
Plus, effective swimming technique saves energy and air. Try different styles and find one that suits you. For diving, a modified breaststroke style with long, steady strokes often works best.
One last thing
Being a great diver doesn’t mean diving as deep as possible or having a wall full of certificates. It’s all about having fun underwater, respecting the marine environment and always learning something new.
Some of the best divers I’ve met had no advanced courses – just a lot of dives under their belt and an undying enthusiasm for the underwater world.
Whether you’ve just completed your first course or have been diving for years, take every dive as an opportunity to learn something. Perhaps that’s the most important tip of all: stay curious.