Are You a Fearful Diver?

10 solid tricks to overcome your fears - From a former nervous diver

Fearful/nervous diver? We gotchu! These tried and tested tricks helped yours truly over the almost animalistic fear of breathing underwater. The kind of fear that has every cell in your body screaming Get The H*ll Outta Here!

Overcoming the fear of scuba diving has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. Becoming part of the underwater world and the universe it opens... Guys so worth it.

Oke, lets get to it:

Tip #1 - Go with a guide who doesn’t rush or push you. 

Your dive leader needs to know you are nervous. So use your words and tell already when you are booking that you are nervous and want to go with someone who will take all the time in the world, go slow, be right next to you, and keep eye contact as you descent.

We pride ourselves in being a dive shop that helps divers over the hump of that fear. So put that ego aside, request a guide who has experience with nervous divers, and ask for a private session.

Tip #2 - Let your body do its thing

Listen to your body, and try to stop overthinking risks and rules. Your body knows naturally how to move in water, let it do it’s thing. Notice how easily it moves, takes shape, flies?

It’s like learning to drive. At first your mind is flooded with all the risks and horror scenarios, but the more you do it, the more intuitive it becomes.

"The Mammalian Dive Reflex: The moment your face is submerged in water, your body undergoes immediate physiological changes to optimize for a liquid environment."

Tip #3 - Get your own key gear NOW

Get your own mask like yesterday.

Get your own computer today.

If you’re committed, get your own regulator.

This removes the stress and anxiety over rental gear, your doubts on their condition, and having to use different kind of gear each time.

Simply removes an extra layer of anxiety, and adds a comfy layer of familiarity and confidence in your gear.

Tip #4 - Breathing exercises while snorkeling

You get used to hearing your own breathing (another anxiety trigger), and you can test out different breathing patterns that feel comfortable to you. Good one to start with is the 4-8 exercise. Count to 4 when inhaling, and to 8 when slowly exhaling. Count.

Also, try this hyperventilation simulation: swim rigorously with a snorkel until you get out of breath. Practice how to calm your body through breathing, and how it feels to regain control of your breathing again. It really builds your confidence when you know how it feels, but also know you can control it.

Tip #5 - It IS uncomfortable at first

Accept that in the beginning it’s just gonna feel uncomfortable.

Mask leaking, feeling out of breath, shitty buoyancy...

Until you just get used to it, yeah, it’s gonna be uncomfortable. Accepting it means you won't fight it anymore. Makes life heaps easier.

Tip #6 - The Switch Trick

Fear of reg malfunction, try the ‘switch’ mindtrick.

Switch between your primary and octopus when ever your mind starts spiraling about your regulator. Why?

Knowing you have a back up on you, and breathing through it reassures you.

The phsycial act of doing the switch distracts your brain from spiraling, and makes you feel in control.

It really works.

Tip #7 - The Buddy Soothing trick

When you’re spiraling, signal your buddy to come close, look you in the eyes and make the breathing motion with their hand.

In...out...in...out...in...out...

Works every time, you’ll be calm in 15 seconds and off you go continue your dive. It's almost like a magic trick how quickly that adrenaline and panic dissipates, and your body calms down. It happens in seconds.

Tip #8 - Stats: Surfing is way more dangerous than scuba diving

Fear mongering is common in scuba culture. There’s safety awareness, and then there’s unnecessary alarmism.

Statistically you're way more likely to get in trouble on a surf board than underwater with your gear.

Even children can do it, so don’t overthink it too much or you will talk yourself out of an amazing experience.

Tip #9 - Concentrate on the cool shit around you

Be in awe of the beauty of the underwater world.

Being enmeshed in that magical universe fully counterbalances any fears you may have. Suddenly you forget to think about your breathing, or that rising panic. You see a cool thing, you hype yourself up, Omg How Cool Is This?!

And lastly: Reps, reps, reps, reps

Do it so many times it almost becomes boring. The more you do it, the more often you do it, the faster you will get over it. It can take a while, not gonna lie (took me a good few months), but if you stick to it, and just dive over and over again, you will eventually get over it. Just maths.

So? Shall we? 🤿