Why learn to Scuba Dive? At Dive Station Pattaya, this question, we get asked a lot. Why learn to scuba dive? And it’s a really good question. Every diver will have their own reasons for learning to scuba dive, but here are some of the top reasons why we think you should give it a go!
Reason 1 – Explore The Ocean
We can get very caught up in our day to day jobs and city life, that we forget to enjoy what there is on this planet. And when we do venture out to see what mother nature has to offer it is often nothing more that spending a Sunday going for a nice long hike. However, over 70% of the planet is cover by water and nothing quite compares to the sights that are hiding below there surface.
The underwater world has so much to offer. Tropical reefs, stunning underwater scenery, amazing wildlife, fabulous underwater wrecks and more. The variety of different life found in a small area of a tropical reef is staggering. As a scuba diver, we get to become underwater tourists in a mysterious world that is critical to all life on earth and it is mysterious we know more about the surface of the moon that we do about our own oceans. Believe me, there is nothing more relaxing than drifting along a reef wall, watching thousands of species of marine life going about their day to day life. Those moments of utter peace and tranquillity can not be easily replicated above the water. Knowing that the only noise you will hear is that of your own bubbles is a feeling that is very difficult to describe with words!
Reason 2 – Protect The Ocean
People sometimes (always?) forget how important the ocean is to us and how much it does for us. For example did you know the ocean supplies more than half of the oxygen in the world?
The human race is the the biggest threat to a healthy ocean, it should be all our responsibility to make sure we do all we can to protect it. As a scuba diver, you will become a lot more aware of the damage we are causing, as you will see some of this first hand. As a scuba diver you will naturally become an “ocean ambassador” and do your part on every dive.
You can pick up anything you see during a dive that doesn’t belong in the ocean (and log it on the PADI Project Aware App) or do dedicated clean-up dives with your buddies or local Dive centres (contact us for about our next clean up dive) .
You can practice good diving skills ( think about taking the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Speciality Course) and etiquette to make sure you do not cause any harm while underwater, and educate others to do the same.
Reason 3 – Marine Life
Fascinated by “Finding Nemo”, fond of “Finding Dory’ or just besotted by the Blue Planet. Everyone has seen a glimpse under the sea in some form or another but did you realise that 70% of the globe that cover in water provides the venue for the most diverse safari on you can ever go on.
There are creatures in the ocean that are as weird and wonderful as those seen in sci-fi movies and some are just simply beautiful and majestic. Who knew nudibranch (a type of sea snail) could be so flamboyant and cause so much interest? For some, its this small stuff is the draw to the ocean. Others prefer big encounters with sharks, mantas, dolphins, and whales.
Marine life also poses amazing opportunities for those interested in photography, as you get to capture some beautiful shots on camera and share them with family and friends. Or it allows you to indulge in your blossoming interest in becoming an Underwater naturalist!
Reason 4 – Explore Wrecks
Many divers learn to dive because they want to diver on a wreck – and then that particularly unsinkable ship is just a little outside the scope of even technical diving and they don’t have submarine in their garage.
Joking apart, diving on a wreck is special, there is a tingle when you descend onto a wreck for the first time that never goes away. It’s awe-inspiring and mind-blowing blowing as you see the silhouette of the wreck appear out the gloom for the first time. It really is life-changing. You can admire the huge structures from outside of the wreck, or penetrate the many different sections inside it, if you are trained to do so. The best part of being on the boat after a wreck dive is that each diver’s reason for being there is different. The history, the natural habitats created, the exploration or just the adventure and no 2 dives on any wreck is the same.
You don’t need to be a marine archaeologist, you just need a sense of adventure. There are more wrecks in the ocean than you can even imagine. Every one of these is a scuba diver’s playground.
I would rather be underwater mooching around any wreck than stranded on land forever. Personally I have dives there wrecks here in Pattaya hundreds of times and I still feel the same tingle on the back of my neck every time I see the silhouette of the wreck
Reason 5 – New Holiday Destinations
I learnt to dive because I was going to Hawaii on holiday – thought you had to do that far to dive – little did I know. Becoming a scuba diver will change the way you go on holiday. You will read about places you never even heard of and will seek the most exciting sites in the world to go diving. It will open lots of new opportunities and it will make you see the world in a whole new light.
After you have learnt here in Pattaya, depending on what you are interested in, the world is your oyster. You could end up diving the Cenote caverns in Mexico, dive between two tectonic plates in Iceland, dive the diver paradise that is the Red Sea or enjoying the drift dives of the Maldives
One of the best ways to experience a dive holiday is to join a liveaboard. Does a week of eat, sleep, dive, repeat sound good to you? Yeah, same here!
But this does not mean you can’t go on holiday with a non-diver! There are plenty of places that allow you to combine some shore-based diving with land-based adventures to get even more out of your downtime no more so than here in Pattaya, Thailand
Reason 6 – Learn New Skills
Scuba diving is incredibly educational. You can do a wide range of courses that will teach you about physics, physiology, the environment and the ocean currents.
It also allows you to expand on some knowledge you may already have, such as learning more about photography, fish species, or even do a first aid course.
Learning how to scuba dive will teach you some brand new skills, which will give you a great sense of achievement. You can keep building on these skills and learn lots of new ones, so you’re never far from a new challenge or achievement.
It’s definitely great learning new things about something you love as we say here a Dive Station Pattaya every dive is an education
Reason 7 – Meet New People
Although you can’t talk underwater, scuba diving is an incredibly social sport. After all, you can’t really go on a dive by yourself.
You will meet people from all walks of life and spend time sharing experiences about favourite dives and destinations. Many of these people will definitely become friends for life, especially as you’ll add them on Facebook!!
Diving is a great leveller, when you are on a dive boat you are surrounded by divers, people who share your passion for the ocean. On a dive boat it doesn’t matter what car you dive, or what you do for a living in the real world it’s all about share the moment with friends old and new. Remember there is an old saying strangers are just friends you have not met yet.
Reason 8 – Good For Your Health
As a new diver you maybe forgiven for thinking, scuba diving does not to seem to be an incredibly strenuous activity, because most of the time this is true. However, you still need a basic level of fitness and be able to perform some moderate exercise without difficulty. This is just to make sure you do not tire yourself out too much during a dive.
Scuba diving is therefore pretty perfect way moderately increase your fitness levels. Moving through the water works your muscles harder than on land, especially if there is a bit of a current. This means that your legs are getting a lgentle workout and your core is also strengthened, which is important for an overall good posture in everyday life. But the water is also helping you by supporting your weight, so you are not stressing any joints while you exercise.
Also the way we breathe while underwater is not dissimilar to meditation. The slow and deep breaths, combined with relaxing underwater surroundings, induces a state of calm that is very difficult to achieve on land. This can help you to leave your everyday worries on the boat and just you just enjoy tranquility of of the day days dive site.
A relaxed and calm mind promotes a positive mental attitude, which helps to deal with any problems you may have in a calm and rational way.
Reason 9 – Do Something Different
A diver looks at their holidays (or weekends if they dive at home) as a chance to explore. There is nothing better than getting back into the office after your annual holiday and exchanging stories with your colleagues. Telling them about a World War II wreck that you dived, or that whale shark encounter. It sure beats the more “normal” holidays and weekends that many of my friends have.
It is true everyone has a different. Some people are comfortable simply running the rat race, plodding along and going to to the pub with their mates. Scuba divers view life in a different way. Sharks are friends. Wreck diving is a Saturday Morning activity. Having dolphins riding the bow of the boat on the way back from the dive is normal. Oh and we get also still get to go to the pub too.
Reason 10 – Experience Weightlessness
Elon Musk and Sir Richard Branson are tempting us all to part with vast amounts of cash to go into space were we will experience the once in a life to experience of being weightless. However, what would you say if I told you you could experience weightlessness this afternoon and at any time you felt like it?. Probably, yes please sign me up now!
Well that learning to Scuba Dive, on your PADI Open Water Course you learn how to get to the sweet spot of neither sinking nor floating, so that you can experience zero gravity..
In order to achieve this feeling, you will learn a lot about buoyancy control during your Open Water Course. The focus on this may seem excessive at first, but it is an essential skill that when mastered, will allow you to effortlessly glide through the water as if weightless.
Bonus Reason 11 – Bucket List Activity
The Blue Planet, Blue Planet 2 etc, basically David Attenborough, has wetted everyones appetite for the sea, so they have added to their bucket list. For those who already dive, we simply add new dives or destinations to their bucket list. Whatever your list is, it will definitely expand when you become a certified diver
Strangely, for me it wasn’t David Attenborough that caused me to add Scuba Diving to my bucket list it was one of the finest pieces of cinema there is Jaws. Yes it scared most people out of the sea for me it just fascinated me, so much so I still use the same fin Richard Dreyfus character uses in the film. Just don’t be like me and weight about 15 years to tick it off your list.
And now I want to hear from you:
What’s your top reason why you learnt to scuba dive?
