What Does Scuba Diving Feel Like?

When we look at pictures of incredible underwater scenes, the thought of being immersed in water, right in the middle of such beauty holds an obvious appeal. But as we make our way around on land, it's pretty challenging to imagine what scuba diving might actually feel like.

Things like breathing underwater, feeling weightless, and being completely submerged are simply not what most of us experience every day, and they can be difficult to imagine.

With that in mind, today we're going to answer the burning question: what does diving feel like?

Read on as we explore everything from navigating water temperature to weighing up scuba diving without a wetsuit.

Let's "dive" right in!

What Does Diving Feel Like?

It's safe to say that there aren't many things that come even a little bit close to the experience of scuba diving. In fact, the only common parallel that you'll hear is between the experiences of the diver and the astronaut!

Just like intrepid outer-space explorers, scuba divers get to experience total weightlessness with the capacity to move up, down, left, and right, as well as to float perfectly still, in absolutely serene silence.

The weightlessness of scuba diving offers an incredibly liberating sensation, but it can take a little getting used to.

We have to release our landlubber instincts, like the sense that we need to move so we don't sink or that we have to battle against the water. Instead, the budding scuba diver will learn to trust their buoyancy aids and to move far more slowly through the water.

Is Scuba Diving Scary?

When trying to imagine, what diving feels like, it's understandable that some people worry that they are going to find it scary.

One of the best ways to mitigate this is to prepare by getting familiar with the elements of scuba diving that can feel strange. When you know what's coming, it's far easier to not find it scary at all!

Scuba diving can be a little bit challenging for those who experience fear of heights or vertigo on land. Because we move in three dimensions under the water, we can be faced with seeing the seabed quite far below us.

When diving, there is obviously no danger of falling. But it can take our brains some time to get used to this.

In some dive locations, divers may encounter underwater cliff edges, where the floor drops away very quickly. In these moments, it's important to remember that your buoyancy aids counter gravity, which has far less impact underwater anyway, so whether there is anything beneath you or not, it won't affect your movement.

The reduced field of vision that comes with wearing a scuba mask can also take some getting used to. Some divers find that this makes them feel claustrophobic. However, once you get used to turning more directly to look where you want to, it gets easier to forget that your vision field is smaller than usual. It's just like having a blind spot in your car!

Other aspects of being underwater while scuba diving that can feel strange include the way that sound is different in a submerged environment.

While it is very peaceful below the surface of the water, sound actually travels more efficiently because water is so dense. At the same time, it can be much more difficult to tell which direction a sound is coming from.

Meanwhile, water also creates a bit of an illusion when it comes to our depth perception. Things will appear about a third closer underwater than they actually are.

But don’t worry - the more time you spend scuba diving, the more your mind will automatically adjust to all of these anomalies!

What Is It Like To Breathe Underwater?

If you think about it, all of us share a very logical instinct that it's not safe to breathe underwater. When we first start scuba diving, we have to let go of this idea, which for some only takes a few breaths but for others can take a little longer.

The place to begin is with getting comfortable breathing through a regulator out of water. Once you feel happy with the sensation and only breathing through your mouth, you can try breathing underwater for the first time.

A common trick is to breathe out as you drop your head below the surface, which makes that first instinctive in-breath all the easier.

Many divers are surprised by how noisy breathing underwater is. We mentioned that sound travels very well underwater. When you first start scuba diving, you may find the constant soundtrack of your own breath a little bizarre. However, your mind will quickly filter out that sound so you can enjoy the peaceful sensations of being down in the deep.

With practice, you'll be taking slow, calm breaths and enjoying your underwater experience without thinking about it at all!

What Does Wearing a Wetsuit Feel Like?

When you first put on a wetsuit, it's normal to feel a bit concerned. When on dry land, wetsuits are cumbersome and pretty uncomfortable—not the most dignified outfit! But, as soon as you enter the water, everything changes, and you can hardly feel that the wetsuit is there at all.

Wet suits are important for helping us to regulate our body temperature when the water temperature is lower. In some cold-water coastal or fresh-water environments, scuba diving without wetsuit or drysuit options to wear can be dangerous.

It's also important to remember that beyond temperature, a wetsuit safeguards against jellyfish stings, accidental scrapes, and sunburn.

That said, if you do want to go scuba diving without a wetsuit, there are some other possibilities to explore.

What About Scuba Diving Without A Wetsuit?

In very warm scuba diving locations, scuba diving without a wetsuit is entirely possible, although you might want to invest in a rashguard—which is a specially designed top or body suit—to protect your skin from chafing.

It is also important to remember that neoprene is naturally buoyant, so going from diving with a wetsuit to diving without one requires making some adjustments! You'll need to carry fewer weights on your belt to maintain neutral buoyancy.

On the other end of the spectrum, some scuba divers prefer to wear a drysuit which, unlike a wetsuit, creates a seal around the neck, wrists, and ankles so that your body stays completely dry underwater. This choice is ideal in cold-water conditions.

Just keep in mind that switching to a drysuit will also impact your buoyancy.

In Summary: How Does It Feel To Scuba Dive?

It's true that scuba diving takes some getting used to, but for those who dream of trying it, every adjustment is worth the effort.

In terms of the question “what does diving feel like?”, it's safe to say that it doesn't feel like anything else you’ll have experienced before!

Scuba diving means feeling weightless, moving in three dimensions, and breathing underwater. You’ll be entering a totally different world, unlike anything that we can experience above or even on the surface of the water.

Hopefully, this article has helped you feel more informed about what to expect from your first scuba diving experience, as well as important decisions like scuba diving without a wetsuit or with one.

Are you ready to take the plunge?

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