October 3, 2023
IS SCUBA DIVING GOOD FOR DEPRESSION?
With over 50% of individuals being diagnosed with a mental health disorder during their lifetime, it’s impossible to ignore this pandemic and how we can not only treat but also prevent it.
That’s why we decided to explore the relationship between mental health and scuba diving in this month's blog feature.
In 2016, a study carried out by the University of Sheffiel’s Medical School showed ‘a significant improvement in the mental health and well-being of military veterans who completed the PADI Open Water Course’.
The study highlighted reduced insomnia, anxiety and depression, suggesting that Scuba Diving can in fact be used as a treatment for those suffering from mental health issues, up to and including *PTSD.
It does this first and foremost through it’s most basic rule and important component — breath work.
In Scuba Diving, ‘long deep breaths in and out help with optimal air consumption and facilitate greater relaxation underwater.’ This is also a key component in mindfulnees practices above water.
Beyond taking long deep breaths throughout the journey, Scuba Diving boasts an underwater adventure like no other, with the exploration of a whole new world of wonder and beauty, bringing and keeping the diver engaged in the present moment — distracted from the thoughts of the past and future that are often what amplify worry and stress.
And finally, given the connection between an individuals mental and physical health, and that the process for both getting certified and diving helps to build strength and improve flexibility and stamina suggests that this is yet another benefit to both treating and preventing mental health disorders.
With that being said, there are some mental health symptoms that do not mix well with Scuba Diving, including fatigue, restlessness and difficulty concentrating and making decisions — which are all required for a safe dive.
This isn’t to say that diving cannot help you improve these things, only that it’s important to ‘take a careful inventory of your current mental health before decided to dive.’
In this way, the desire to Scuba Dive could serve as a motivator for you getting the help you need, through the support of a health professional, so that you may get to a place where it is safe enough for you dive and further improve your mental health in a natural and profound way.
October 3, 2023
IS SCUBA DIVING GOOD FOR DEPRESSION?
With over 50% of individuals being diagnosed with a mental health disorder during their lifetime, it’s impossible to ignore this pandemic and how we can not only treat but also prevent it.
That’s why we decided to explore the relationship between mental health and scuba diving in this month's blog feature.
In 2016, a study carried out by the University of Sheffiel’s Medical School showed ‘a significant improvement in the mental health and well-being of military veterans who completed the PADI Open Water Course’.
The study highlighted reduced insomnia, anxiety and depression, suggesting that Scuba Diving can in fact be used as a treatment for those suffering from mental health issues, up to and including *PTSD.
It does this first and foremost through it’s most basic rule and important component — breath work.
In Scuba Diving, ‘long deep breaths in and out help with optimal air consumption and facilitate greater relaxation underwater.’ This is also a key component in mindfulnees practices above water.
Beyond taking long deep breaths throughout the journey, Scuba Diving boasts an underwater adventure like no other, with the exploration of a whole new world of wonder and beauty, bringing and keeping the diver engaged in the present moment — distracted from the thoughts of the past and future that are often what amplify worry and stress.
And finally, given the connection between an individuals mental and physical health, and that the process for both getting certified and diving helps to build strength and improve flexibility and stamina suggests that this is yet another benefit to both treating and preventing mental health disorders.
With that being said, there are some mental health symptoms that do not mix well with Scuba Diving, including fatigue, restlessness and difficulty concentrating and making decisions — which are all required for a safe dive.
This isn’t to say that diving cannot help you improve these things, only that it’s important to ‘take a careful inventory of your current mental health before decided to dive.’
In this way, the desire to Scuba Dive could serve as a motivator for you getting the help you need, through the support of a health professional, so that you may get to a place where it is safe enough for you dive and further improve your mental health in a natural and profound way.
SOURCES: https://blog.padi.com/how-scuba-diving-can-help-your-mental-health/
https://www.scubadiving.com/diving-depression
*We source our imagery from the internet. If you we've used an image of yours and you'd like to be credited for it's use, please Contact Us and we'd be happy to do so. If you'd like us to take it down, also please let us know by messaging us directly.
SOURCES: https://blog.padi.com/how-scuba-diving-can-help-your-mental-health/
https://www.scubadiving.com/diving-depression
*We source our imagery from the internet. If you we've used an image of yours and you'd like to be credited for it's use, please Contact Us and we'd be happy to do so. If you'd like us to take it down, also please let us know by messaging us directly.
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