Mental Health Benefits of Scuba Diving

It’s pretty rare to come up from a dive and not be smiling. That being said, scuba diving is known to have positive effects on one’s mood and overall mental health. But what is it about scuba diving that brings about these positive effects? Well, lots of different factors can contribute. Let’s face it, either we are living in a time where depression and anxiety is at an all time high, or we are living in a time where we are simply more comfortable opening up and talking about it. Either way, as the stigma around mental health is dissolving, we are finding more research on how certain activities impact our mood and wellbeing, whether for better or worse. Let’s look into some of the many ways that scuba diving can have a positive impact on your overall mental health.

Time in Nature

First off, let’s look at the obvious: Time in nature. Time in nature, whether amongst the trees or in/by the sea, is proven to have calming effects on the mind and body. Many scientists theorize that being in a, what they call, “blue” or “green” space can have a harmonizing effect on the mind and body. This is, in fact, our natural environment, and one that we lived in for millennia before roads and buildings started to make our world look more gray and black. So some primal element of our minds thrive off being in areas like forests and near water—almost like coming home to a place we haven't been to in a few hundred years. Indeed, the mental response to being in natural environments has been studied immensely. The results are almost entirely positive, showing how time in nature can improve focus, concentration, cognitive flexibility and creativity, and even reduce the effects of stress, anxiety, and depression. That being said, a few hours of literally being submerged in nature and surrounded by “blue” space when we are scuba diving could have these same desirable effects on the mind.

Fun Fact: The meditative and peaceful sensation of being in or around water has come to be known as “Blue Mind” and is a legitimate psychological phenomenon based solely on time with natural water spaces.

Mammalian Dive Reflex

Something else that alters the mental state when we are submerged in water is the mammalian dive reflex. Many freedivers are familiar with this considering the mammalian dive reflex relates to the instinctual response to hold one’s breath when submerged in water. Scuba divers obviously should never hold their breath while diving, but they may experience some similar benefits that accompany the mammalian dive reflex. Some of the more notable physical and psychological responses that occur when mammals enter water include an immediate state of calmness, a redirection of blood to the vital organs which can improve circulation and maintain body temperature, and even provide physical recovery as the body and mind relax into the experience. 

Fun Fact: The mammalian dive reflex activates our vagus nerve, a long nerve in the body that stimulates our parasympathetic nervous system, putting us in what’s known as “rest and digest” state for easier relaxation and lower cortisol (stress) levels.

Be Here Now

Since we can’t scroll our social media while underwater, nor would we want to, diving gives us an opportunity to technologically unplug and simply be in the moment. Presence and mindfulness are two of the greatest factors in cultivating a healthy mental state. When we are underwater, exploring nature, it’s hard to be mentally be anywhere else. The past no longer matters and the future will still be there when we get out of the water and back on land. All there is is the moment you’re diving in and the task at hand. This kind of activity and presence is paramount to our mental health. Being in the moment and finding harmony there is exactly what people who meditate seek to practice and cultivate. Some activities, like scuba diving bring about a natural meditative state, altering our perspectives on life on a grand scale and offering us a break from overthinking the past and future on a smaller scale. 

Fun Fact: Being effortlessly absorbed in an activity to a point that you’re not easily distracted and are enjoying the simplicity of the experience itself is known as “flow state”. Some athletes know it as being “in the zone” and are so absorbed in the task at hand that their physical and cognitive abilities are enhanced significantly.

Building Confidence

We can also overcome challenges and less than savory events when diving. As long as we make it through safely and without injury, these challenges are not necessarily a bad thing. When we use our dive training to overcome these challenges and scary moments, however graceful or not, the brain gets a hit of dopamine, rewarding you with a sense of accomplishment and joy for overcoming this obstacle. When presented with that same challenge again in the future, you may even feel less anxious and more sure of your capacity to handle the issue. This sense of self-reliance can have a huge impact on cultivating a healthy mental state.

Breathe Easy

Our final note is on the breath. Scuba diving causes us to maintain a steady breathing rhythm. Our usual day-to-day lives don’t really require that we pay much attention to the breath, so we don’t. Pulling focus and attention on the breath (and hearing it as we do with scuba diving) has incredible effects on our mental state. Think about anytime we’re trying to calm the mind, whether from anxiety or even physical discomfort or pain, we are asked to breathe deep and focus on the passing breaths. Doing this even when we are not in pain or distress still has calming effects on the mind and body and should not be overlooked as a method for greater mental health on a daily basis.

FAQs

Is scuba diving therapeutic? 

Scuba diving can be both mentally and physically therapeutic. When we unplug from all the screens of our day to day life and find ourselves in the moment in nature, we are offering the mind a moment of rest from its usual go-go-go state. Additionally, the way the water bolsters the weight of the body and gives freedom to the joints can be especially helpful for the physical body. 

What kind of brain chemicals are released while scuba diving?

Various brain chemicals can be released when scuba diving. Endorphins come from the activity and movement and dopamine gets released taking on a challenge (and rocking it!). These are two powerful chemicals that can improve our mood significantly. 

What is the mammalian dive reflex? 

The mammalian dive reflex is a physiological phenomenon that happens when a mammal is fully submerged in water, especially around the face. This can be experienced just by placing your face in a bowl of ice water. The body can react by pulling the blood to the vital organs and going into almost a “reserve” mode for conserving oxygen. 

Should I just go scuba diving instead of therapy? 

Absolutely not. While scuba diving can have positive effects on one’s mental health, nothing can replace professional help when needed.