Scuba diving has always been one activity that has managed to bring people of all walks of life together. It is a sport that can be learned and practiced at almost any age, and as such, it does a great job of bringing those from different generations together. As millennials continue to grow into their own, they should look to scuba diving as a sport that alleviates many of their stresses about the world today.
Ask any seasoned scuba diver and they will tell you, diving fosters a love and understanding of the ocean, gets you away from the constant use of technology and social media, improves a variety of mental health issues, and is a safe inclusive space to make life-long friendships.
Table of Contents:
- Learn More About The Ocean & Raise Awareness
- Step Away From Your Cell Phone and Ditch The Social Media
- Improve Your Mental Health With Underwater Meditation
- Make New Friends In A Judgement Free Zone
- Join The Divers League To Make New Dive Buddies
- Scuba Diving Is The Sport for People and The Planet
Learn More About The Ocean & Raise Awareness
Luckily for our planet, millennials are the generation that is leading the push in climate change activism. Learning to scuba dive will only continue your environmental education and show you up-close and in-person some of the effects that humans are having on our ocean. It also gives you the chance to make a positive impact on our planet.
Once you learn to scuba dive and continue diving in new sites around the world, you will be able to make note of coral health, fish populations, and ocean pollution. You could come face-to-face with creatures you likely never knew existed, like nudibranchs or frogfish. Plus you might have the opportunity to swim with fish that are older than the dinosaurs! Yes, we’re talking about sharks.
There are many classes you can take as a diver that will increase your awareness, like a reef or shark conservation course. As you continue to learn more about ocean conservation, you will naturally become an ambassador and spread the word to encourage others to care for our planet as well.
You can take things one step further and become a volunteer diver for one of the many marine conversation organizations. Jobs might consist of removing invasive species, conducting scientific research, or restoring coral reefs.
Step Away From Your Cell Phone and Ditch The Social Media
According to PCMag, 67.3 % of millennials reported that they are on their phone more than they would like each day. You know one place you really can’t bring your phone? Underwater.
There are obviously a ton of great attributes and perks to both technology and social media. New technologies are being created as we speak to help us save the planet! Plus we use social media to connect with people that we might not have been able to in the past and helps us have a greater worldview. That being said, it is super important to step away sometimes.
When you go scuba diving, not only will you be forced to step away from the screen, but you’ll want to! There is an entire underwater world out there for you to discover. Once you get a taste of scuba diving, you’ll be chomping at the bit for another chance to swap out your smartwatch for your dive computer and get back into the water.
Improve Your Mental Health With Underwater Meditation
Millennials report that mental health is one of their top concerns in today’s world. In recent decades, a new type of therapy has emerged which, according to Steve Taylor at Psychology Today, is just as effective as medication or traditional psychology against depression. Ecotherapy is based on connecting people with the planet to help battle mental health issues.
According to Deeper Blue, a variety of factors relating to scuba diving can have a positive effect on your mental health. For starters, exposure to fresh air, ocean water, and sunshine can lower stress, increase well-being, and raise endorphin levels. Not to mention, physical activity has been proven to have a positive impact on mental health.
Diving always requires you to be very mindful of your breathing, which is a meditative practice in and of itself. One of the number one rules of diving is to breathe continuously. You will begin to take slower and deeper breaths as you become more experienced. These breathing techniques will lower your heart rate and leave you feeling calm and relaxed.
Keep in mind that everyone is different and any mental health concerns you have should be discussed with a professional.
Make New Friends From All Walks of Life
The scuba diving community is one of the most inclusive communities you can get into. Because the sport can be practiced by people of all backgrounds, you will meet people of all genders, religions, and races. Everyone comes together with one common bond, our love for the ocean.
There are a ton of ways you can make new friends through scuba diving. One of the main rules of diving is to always dive with a buddy, so you’ll have an instant connection right there. Even when you join a dive trip solo, you will be paired up with a new friend instantly, and you’ll likely become friends for life.
Dive clubs can also help broaden your circle of dive buddies. There are dive clubs all over the world that will connect you with people who live nearby you that have common interests. You can practice your skills with experienced divers or become a mentor for a new diver.
Online groups or forums are another great way to meet like-minded individuals. Whether you prefer Facebook, Reddit, or one of the many dive forums, you will be sure to bond with someone. Then the fun part begins, planning your next dive trip together!
Join The Divers League To Make New Dive Buddies
The Divers League is the best online community to build relationships with divers from all over the world. It is a safe space to continue your education and make friends with no judgment from others. We are here to cheer on our friends and celebrate each other’s accomplishments!
Our main goal is to create a fun and safe experience while increasing knowledge and building skills. A great way to make a new diving friend is by joining us for one of our courses or trips, which you can check out <here>!
Scuba Diving Is The Sport for People and The Planet
Millennials face many unique struggles in today’s world but scuba diving can bring a bit of relief to some of your biggest stressors. Whether you’re concerned about the planet, looking for a way to decompress away from technology, wanting to get more in touch with nature, or searching for new friends with similar passions, scuba diving is the perfect sport for you.
The wonderful world of scuba diving brings people together with each other and with the planet. Start scuba diving today so that you can become an ambassador for the ocean while improving your life and the lives of those around you! What could be better than that?