There are so many reasons to like scuba diving. Depending on where you dive, it can so peaceful below the surface of the water. Everything is silence, the only thing you hear are the bubbles as you breathe out. The scenery is mesmerizing, the colors are stunning (if you’re not too deep) and it feels like your learning how to fly. The fishes and sea creatures are just floating all around you as if in another dimension. You just have to breathe in and out, be present and take it all in, watch out for the tiny shrimps or juveniles hiding underneath the corals and hope to see a shark or a dolphin coming out of the blue.

I’ve been a certified diver since I was 14 years old but I was initiated to diving even before that because my dad was a diver. He took my sister snorkelling and made us try SASY (Supplied Air Snorkelling for Youths) when we went on vacation. As soon as I was old enough to dive, I took the classes and got my PADI certification, I just couldn’t wait to be in the water. I mean… how cool is it to be able to breathe underwater for up to an hour?

Other than being able to breathe underwater, Blue Mind is another reason to love scuba diving. Water has tremendous healing power and there are demonstrable physiological reasons for this.

Scuba diving also helps finding calmness in moments of panic because we learn that our breath is always there to ground us. ‘‘Breathing is something we’re all accustomed to doing automatically, usually without any thought. But when we pay attention to it — taking deep breaths or slowing down our inhalations and exhalations as needed — we can feel more in command of our body and mind. Our breath is always there to ground us, support us, and help us think calmly and clearly’’. 

Here’s another example of people experiencing Blue Mind and actually helping them when faced with anxiety and depression.

How the Beach Benefits Your Brain, According to Science

‘‘There is something soothing about the sound of ocean waves, the smell of salt water, and the feeling of warm sand beneath your toes. Recent studies prove that a beach-type environment can have a profound impact on our brains and mental health.’’

Why Being Near Water Really Does Make Us Happier

The immeasurable sense of peace that we feel around water is what Nichols calls our "blue mind"—a chance to escape the hyper-connected, over-stimulated state of modern day life, in favor of a rare moment of solitude. 

I’m still just at the beginning of my diver journey, next on my list is getting my Advanced Scuba Diver and Freediver certifications just so I can be able to spend even more time in the water being a mermaid and playing with the fishies.