Is Scuba Diving Hard for Beginners?

Is Scuba Diving Hard? Some people perceive scuba diving as a challenging skill to learn.

This is a myth! Diving is an inclusive, mentally, and physically beneficial sport.

Ensuring individual safety is the goal behind the design of scuba training and certification process.

The sport requires an average level of physical fitness, ability to swim, and a desire to learn new skills.  

Scuba diving isn’t hard; it’s all about gaining a valuable new skill. With good training and practice your scuba diving will improve significantly.

For some people, the biggest hurdle is getting started.

Article Summary

1. Six Common Myths About Scuba Diving Difficulty
2. The Crazy Good Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Scuba Diving
3. How to Find a Reputable Dive Shop for Your SCUBA Certification
4. What Every Beginner Should Know About the Scuba Certification Process
5. Top 6 Challenges for Rookie Divers and How to Overcome Them
6.  3 Key Tips to Ensure a Risk-Free Dive Experience
7. Scuba Diving Tips for Beginners and Nervous Divers
8.  Florida is Beginner Friendly! Four “Bucket List” Scuba Diving Destinations
9. A Few Last Thoughts

1. Six Common Myths About Scuba Diving Difficulty

Myth 1: You need to be an excellent swimmer.

You do not need to be an Olympic swimmer to scuba dive.

It’s only necessary to swim 200 meters (8 laps in a standard-sized pool) to pass the swim test portion of scuba certification.

The focus is on completion not time, and you can use any combination of strokes you want.

Myth 2: Scuba diving requires extreme physical fitness.

No, you don’t need to be in peak physical condition, but good health and a decent level of fitness will make your dives safer and more enjoyable.

Scuba diving is an inclusive sport.

Open to a wide range of ages and body types including “adaptive scuba diving” for the handicapped.

Myth 3: Scuba diving is too technical for beginners.

Scuba coursework is all online now. You can review and re-take the unit quizzes as many times as you need to.

Instructors review the online coursework with you, in person, breaking down any difficult topics into understandable information.

Students complete coursework, then participate in practice pool sessions and open water training before earning their certification.

Myth 4: Scuba diving is dangerous.

Driving a car or running a marathon is more dangerous than scuba diving.

Scuba diving is one of the most inclusive sports a person can participate in.

Divers range from 12 to 70+ years old, while people with missing limbs and soldiers with PTSD benefit from tailored scuba diving programs.

Over 2 million people in the U.S. are scuba certified and the sport continues to grow around 10% every year.

Myth 5: A shark will attack you.

Dogs and cows are more dangerous than sharks. I had an irrational fear of sharks that initially stopped me from scuba diving. Allowing an unfounded fear of sharks to postpone my scuba certification is a decision I deeply regret.

It took a few years of diving to build up my comfort level around sharks. Now I pay extra to go on specialized shark dives. It’s absolutely one of my favorite activities!

Honestly, it is rare to see a shark when diving and if you do, they will usually swim quickly away. They want nothing to do with you. Unless you are spearfishing, then a shark might follow you to grab any fish you spear before you can get to it. Hey, it’s an easy meal for them.

Myth 6: Scuba Diving is too expensive.

Scuba is not the cheapest or the most expensive. If you fall in love with diving, like anything else in life, you will find the time and money for it.

I bought my gear “gently used” and had it inspected for safety at my local dive shop.

My equipment gets yearly “bench checks” for safety. My “gently used” regulator is now 12 years old. I replaced my original BCD a few years ago, with a discontinued Mares travel BCD I got for a great price. Check Facebook Marketplace for equipment but make purchases only after careful research.

Volunteer for local scuba clean-up dives, or clean tanks at local zoos and aquariums. Both are great ways to gain experience and dive for free.

Zoos and aquariums often provide gear for volunteers to use, so it is not necessary to own more than a mask and fins.

2. The Crazy Good Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Scuba Diving

I love the water; it has a calming and magical effect on me.

Science supports the mental health benefits of being underwater; don’t let minor anxiety hold you back!

Neuroscientists and psychologists are publishing data to prove that our brains are “hardwired to react positively to water”, much of this information is contained in the bestselling book Blue Mind.

Scuba diving is a life-changing experience, offering an incredible blend of amazement, exploration, and adventure.

When you dive, you escape the ‘noise’ of everyday life, which lowers stress and creates a transformative experience.

An excellent low-impact activity, scuba diving is easy on joints, strengthens muscles, and improves coordination.

This sport burns around 300 -600 calories per dive, plus additional calories for carrying, loading, and unloading gear.

3. How to Find a Reputable Dive Shop for SCUBA Certification

Ask around for a referral or find a local scuba Facebook group.  Facebook groups are a terrific source for scuba shop recommendations. You can search previous posts or post a question to the group about finding a reputable diving center or instructor.

Dive shops offer courses certified by one of these three 3 organizations – PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) or SSI (Scuba Schools International).

PADI is the largest and most recognized globally. NAUI is a non-profit and known for its rigorous training standards. SSI emphasizes digital learning and has a streamlined approach to certification.

Open Water Diver is the first level of scuba certification.  Divers are certified to dive in up to 60 feet of water.

PADI and SSI’s minimum age for the course is 10 years old, with a depth restriction of 40 ‘until age 12. NAUI’s minimum age is 12, with a depth restriction of 60’, the same as adults.

Dives are typically around 45 minutes long, but depth and rate of air consumption are factors. New divers tend to use air up at faster rates than experienced divers.

Shallower dives use less air than deeper dives. For example, I can easily dive for an hour and a half on one tank at 20′ but on a 100′ dive my tank lasts for about 40 minutes.

You need to know how to swim, but the course often includes the rental cost of scuba gear.

Most shops recommend purchasing a mask, snorkel, and fins. The BCD (buoyancy control device), weights, computer, and regulator are provided by the shop.

Optional equipment includes a dive light, dive knife, compass, and underwater slate.

4. What Every Beginner Should Know About the Scuba Certification Process

Every Open Water Diver certification starts with online classes.

There are quizzes at the end of each module and one comprehensive test at the end. It is possible to re-take the unit quizzes and tests. Free scuba study sets available on Quizlet.

After the online coursework is complete, there is a combination of in-person classroom sessions, pool training, and open water dives in a natural area (ocean, lake, spring, quarry, or river).

During the classroom sessions, you’ll learn about scuba equipment, safety procedures, dive planning, and underwater skills.

In the pool sessions, you’ll practice diving skills like mask clearing, regulator retrieval, and buoyancy control.

Finally, in the open water dives, you’ll apply what you’ve learned in the pool.

All of these happen under the supervision of your instructor.

After successful completion of the course work, pool, and open water sessions you’ll receive your scuba certification card.

5. Top 6 Challenges for Rookie Divers and How to Overcome Them

Each issue offers a learning opportunity to build scuba diving skills, confidence, and experience.

Remember, every experienced diver was once a beginner too!  I experienced most of these issues at one point or another, during the ten years I have been scuba diving.

1. Equalizing or “Ear Squeeze”

Adjusting the pressure in your ears, known as equalizing, is important as you descend. 

It might seem weird, but soon, actions like swallowing, wiggling your jaw or pinching your nose will become automatic.

Typically, this happens at the beginning of a dive when descending.

Slowing down and focusing on ear-clearing techniques usually solves this problem.

If the pain persists because the ears do not clear, the diver typically ends the dive and returns to the boat.

Sinus issues can cause “ear squeeze”. Divers sensitive to sinus problems use allergy pills or nasal sprays before diving (me included).  

2. Mask Clearing

Practicing removing water from your mask while diving is both simple and necessary, whether you’re in a pool or the open sea.

The first few attempts might be nerve-wracking, it feels uncomfortable when water enters your nose.

During the underwater sessions, you’ll learn to clear your mask of water. The more you practice in the pool the more comfortable you will feel in open water.

3. Buoyancy Control

Learning how much weight you need to wear underwater to achieve neutral buoyancy takes time and practice to learn.

Choosing the correct weight to achieve perfect buoyancy is a common issue for new divers (me included).

Overweighting requires increasing the air in a divers BCD to lift them off the ocean floor, while underweighting can result in slowly rising to the surface, especially as the air tank empties.

Factors that affect buoyancy include wetsuit thickness, new equipment, 10+ pounds of weight loss or gain, and freshwater vs salt water.

Scuba hack! Write down the amount of weight you use on every dive in your dive log. This will help you remember the correct weight to use in various diving conditions.

4. Managing Fear

Anxiety stems from a fear of the unfamiliar, especially when it involves being under the water.

Gaining comfort and confidence in scuba diving usually comes with spending more time practicing in aquatic environments.

5. Seasickness

To prevent seasickness, it’s crucial to pre-load your system with seasickness medication (Dramamine or the less drowsy Bonine) 1-3 days before diving, especially if you’re susceptible to it.

Taking a pill at night a few days before you dive and then on the morning of your dive, it can be a game-changer in preventing seasickness.

6. Marine Life Encounters

Larger ocean animals, such as turtles, sharks, and rays want nothing to do with divers and swim away.

The issues I have are with the small stuff – stings from fire coral and jellies. This is a minor irritation, like having a mosquito bite.

I wear a dive skin (basically a rash guard and yoga pants) over my swimsuit when I dive. Most of the time this stops any stinging issues.

If stung by a jelly on an area of exposed skin, vinegar immediately takes the sting away. I keep a small bottle in my dive bag for this reason. I used vinegar once (in 300-plus dives) to stop a jelly sting.

Brushing up against fire coral, I get an itchy rash that lasts for days. The only solution to stop the itching is a sunburn spray like Solarcaine.

 6. Three Key Tips to Ensure a Risk-Free Dive Experience

Scuba Safety guaranteed when you follow by the rules taught during the certification process.

Safety training takes the lead in every scuba certification course, instilling the mantra “Plan your dive and dive your plan” to ensure a risk-free adventure.

These three scuba diving risks are 100% avoidable with proper planning:

Nitrogen Narcosis

If you’re a beginner diver, staying within the 60-foot depth prevents nitrogen narcosis.

On the off chance you experience it (at greater depths of 100+ feet) it’s a brief and reversible condition. Narcosis that fades as you ascend, symptoms are similar to feeling drunk.

Lung Overexpansion

Lung overexpansion is a non-issue for divers who follow their training and exhale while ascending.

This is a skill that becomes second nature during your initial scuba training. I’ve never heard of anyone affected by this condition.

Decompression Sickness

The infamous “Bends” are rare because of the safety protocols built into all scuba certifications. A slow and steady ascent, along with a 3-minute safety stop, is your ticket to avoiding DCS.

I add a one-minute safety stop at 40 feet on all dives deeper than 90 feet as an extra safety measure.

Following the dive table guidelines and/or your dive computer for rest intervals ensures you’re diving within your limits and DCS will not affect you.

7. Scuba Diving Tips for Beginners and Nervous Divers

Scuba diving articles abound, but this section zeroes in on advice for newcomers and those with “scuba nerves”.

These nine tips will boost your comfort and confidence underwater.

1. Ask for Scuba Shop Recommendations

Do your homework on scuba certification by exploring blogs, websites, and books. Join Facebook scuba groups in your region for shop and instructor recommendations.

2. Test Masks Before Purchase

Even with rental gear, always select a mask that fits snugly and comfortably to avoid leaks and fogging. Pre-treat your new mask with mask scrub at least three times.

3. Ease Initial Underwater Anxiety

To combat initial regulator anxiety, first practice breathing with your regulator while standing in shoulder-deep water. Lift your head up at any moment of discomfort or anxiety. Repeat until comfortable.

This simple exercise can significantly increase your comfort underwater.

4. Maximize Pool Time

Use every moment in the pool to practice your scuba skills. Repeated practice builds muscle memory, which is important for open water sessions where visibility, depth, and currents come into play.

5. Get Certified on Vacation

Consider getting your scuba certification at a vacation destination like Florida or the Caribbean. The clear, calm waters can make learning more comfortable, especially for anxious divers.

6. Confront Irrational Fears

Don’t let fears, like those of sharks, deter you from diving. Most sharks will ignore you, and diving provides a different, safer shark experience than floating on the surface.

7. Familiarize Yourself with Gear

Get hands-on with your gear, even if it’s rented. Learn to assemble and disassemble it. Keep instructions handy on your phone for quick reference, especially about dive computer settings.

8. Dive Regularly

Dive as often as possible to become more comfortable in the water. Volunteer for cleanup dives, join local scuba groups, clean tanks at aquariums and zoos, and consider additional certifications to enhance your skills.

9. Try Scuba First

If you’re hesitant about full certification, try a one-day “Try Scuba” experience offered by all three scuba certification companies to see if diving is right for you.

8. Florida is Beginner Friendly! Four “Bucket List” Scuba Diving Experiences

Florida is a worldwide scuba diving destination.

Millions of people visit Florida every year to scuba dive, and over one million come just to dive the Florida Keys.

Florida is the only state in the continental U.S. with reefs. From manatees to natural springs, to reefs, the entire state has a diversity of scuba diving experiences to offer.

These four unique FL dive experiences are good for all levels, from beginning to advanced scuba divers.

Articles are written from personal experience and include dive operator recommendations along with hotel and restaurant suggestions.

• Islamorada FL, is the “hidden gem” of scuba diving in the Florida Keys
• Devils Den Prehistoric Spring– Williston, FL
• Homosassa, FL. Where to swim, snorkel, and dive with manatees for free.
• Venice, FL. Hunt for Megalodon and Shark Teeth

Do you have a favorite dive spot? Tell me about it!

Leave a comment below, I am always looking for new dive experiences.

9. A Few Last Thoughts

Discovering the underwater magic of scuba diving is easier than you think!

Despite common misconceptions, scuba diving isn’t hard; it’s an enriching experience waiting for you to explore!

From debunking myths about scuba difficulty to uncovering the physical and mental health benefits you can dive into scuba with confidence!

Bookmark our site, follow us on social media @reesehwanderwild, and let’s keep exploring together.

See you back here soon! Remember, the best stories happen underwater.