“Scuba diving is like meditation.”

I hear this phrase frequently from both new and experienced divers.

New divers are surprised by the tranquility of the ocean. The peace they feel in the water. The lack of communication from other humans. And, the intense presence they experience as they focus on nothing but their breathing and buoyancy while taking in the underwater sights.

Experienced divers feel these same emotions, but with even greater intensity. Divers with 20+ years of experience have told me that diving is their favorite mindfulness practice. When life on land becomes too loud and busy, diving is the thing that brings them back to the present moment. The tranquility of diving creates the space they need to reorganize their thoughts and come back to a calm center.

“Scuba diving heals my soul.”

I also hear this phrase frequently.

The feeling of floating effortlessly in the water brings a renewed sense of peace and tranquility to intentional divers.

Following this statement, some divers take to the water to navigate difficult times. The forced time for introspection without distractions helps them see more clearly. The simple natural beauty of the reef inspires them to think differently.

And then – there is the feeling of safety. The water envelops you completely, wrapping you in love from Mama Earth. Divers who practice mindfulness feel this very strongly, encouraging them to go on more dives to feel more connected to nature.

So, what is Mindful Diving?

Mindful diving takes these concepts that many divers cherish and adds intentionality behind them. A good diver does their best to take care of their buddies and the ocean.

A Mindful Diver creates intentional introspection in every dive. They realize the cause and effect they have on the environment – and that the environment has on them. They ask themselves probing questions about their existence.

If this resonates, you might already be a mindful diver.

On your next dive, try to practice any mindfulness techniques you already have.

Ideas for Mindful Diving Techniques:

• “Art of Noticing”
  • Essentially a macro dive, place your focus on noticing all of the new, tiny species of the reef you may have never noticed before. This technique forces you to slow down and be completely in the present moment as you take in your surroundings in a different way.
• 1-to-10 & Start Again Breathing
  • This meditation technique forces you to be present as you count your breaths. For this moving meditation, you count each inhale and exhale as one. Once you have counted 10 breaths, you begin back at one. This simple cue requires more focus than you might think, and can put divers in a conscious meditative state.
• 4-and-6 Breath Counts
  • Inhale 4 slow seconds. Exhale 6 slow seconds. This 4:6 ratio is perfect for divers because it also helps maintain steady buoyancy.

If you have ideas for mindful diving practices, add them in the comments!

Mindful diving is great because we can practice on every dive. To go deeper into your practice, try a full meditation dive.

Or, dive with me in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and experience the magic of underwater meditation for yourself!

Ready to join a worldwide group of Mindful Divers? Join the Facebook group to talk about all things mindfulness and diving.