Fear of Scuba diving? How I Overcame My Underwater Anxiety
Are you afraid of scuba diving? I’ll share how I overcame my fear of scuba diving, earned my Padi certification, and gained confidence underwater.
Fear of Scuba Diving: You’re Not the Only One
When people see my photos diving with sharks, they assume I was always comfortable underwater.
Not even close.
Before my first certification dives in Bali, I worried about nearly everything. I was scared to think, what if I couldn’t breathe properly? And, what if I panicked underwater? What if I ran out of air? Or worse yet, what if I encountered a shark? I had so much SCUBA diving anxiety.
That fear eventually became part of a much bigger journey for me. I’ve faced a lot of travel fears over the years, from solo travel and diving with sharks to volcano boarding and spending months on the road. I wrote about those experiences in How to Overcome Travel Fears: 9 Bucket List Adventures that Expanded My Comfort Zone.
Years later I’ve gone diving in some of the world’s most famous dive destinations, including Sipadan in Malaysian Borneo and Malapascua in the Philippines. But I still remember exactly what those first nervous dives felt like.
If you’re afraid of scuba diving, that’s completely normal. Most new divers have at least some anxiety before their first open water dive.
Why I was Afraid of Scuba Diving
At first I was scared to scuba dive. I had so much fear of scuba diving that I almost didn’t try it. While it’s tempting to act like I was always comfortable underwater, that certainly wasn’t the case. Here I’ll break down my top scuba diving fears.
My Biggest Scuba Diving Fears include:
- Running Out of Air
- Sharks and other scary marine life
- Breathing Underwater
- Feeling Trapped Underwater
- Pressure while diving
- Water in my mask
Running Out of Air
First, let’s start with running out of air. OMG! This was my biggest concern before getting certified. What if I run out of air? Suffocation is terrifying. That’s so scary. The mere thought of it gives me so much anxiety.
The reality is that scuba diving is built around monitoring your air supply constantly. You and your dive guide know exactly how much air remains throughout the dive. This first one still gets my heart beating just a little too fast when I get in the water. However, that’s why you have training, equipment, safety checks, a dive buddy, and a dive master.
Sharks! and other scary unknown marine life
Secondly, what if I get eaten by a shark?? Like many people, movies shaped my opinion of sharks. I was terrified of sharks! Then I started learning about them and eventually saw whitetip reef sharks while diving in Indonesia and Malaysian Borneo.
Have you seen Jaws? Ahhh! I knew that sharks were typically not aggressive, but what if one had a bad day? What if he took it out on us? What if he got curious, and took a little test bite. Even if the shark decided we’re not delicious, you’d bleed out in the water. Scary!
However, marine life keep their distance as they are more afraid of you than you are of them. This applies for all creatures big and small. Yes you can dive with sharks safely even without a cage. I’m still not comfortable diving with all sharks, but I’d dive with most. I’m still not yet comfortable diving with bull sharks, tiger sharks, and great white sharks without a cage.
Remember, you’re about 6-7 feet when adding your fins, and that’s intimidating for most fish. It’s also taller than some fish, including many sharks.
Marine life is also one of the things that I came to LOVE about diving. There are so many beautiful and peculiar fish underwater. I loved swimming with sea turtles, manta rays, and even whale sharks! There’s a whole new amazing world underwater!
Breathing underwater
First, breathing underwater is so different and scary for some people. Initially that included me. I didn’t think I’d get used to breathing underwater. Breathing without fresh air sounded terrifying. Also, breathing through my mouth all the time, instead of my nose, sounded like something I wouldn’t get used to.
Fortunately, these are temporary concerns that erode with practice. Your SCUBA regulator is designed to give you all the air you need underwater.
Also, learning how to breathe underwater is actually a skill that you can develop. The more you go diving, the more natural this will feel.
Today some of my favorite underwater memories involve sharks.
Eventually I even went diving with reef sharks in Borneo. I loved it!
Feeling Trapped Underwater while diving
Another fear of scuba diving comes from feeling trapped underwater. Ahhh! Many first-time divers worry about feeling confined.
I discovered the opposite. Once I became comfortable breathing through a regulator, diving felt surprisingly relaxing.
Pressure on my body – fear of scuba diving
Many people feel claustrophobic. The thought of pressure against my body underwater sounded terrifying. I imagined it would feel like being in a vice that applied pressure from every angle.
Do you remember being on a plane when your ears pop? That’s a similar pressure to being underwater, but fortunately you can control this too. In fact, it’s not just uncomfortable but actually essential to learn how to address this.
Similar to how chewing gum helps on a plane, jaw movement and other tricks help you equalize too. Eventually you learn to equalize without thinking about it.
Water in my Mask caused my fear of SCUBA diving too
Lastly, another fear of scuba diving was getting water in my mask and not being able to see. I understand that this may sound silly to some people. Many fears seem irrational.
I was scared of being underwater and having water get in my mask. For context, I had gone snorkeling about a half dozen times. Sometimes the water gets in your mask during the experience. My eyes would start to hurt and then the water would impair my vision until I dealt with it. To fix it I’d pop out of the water to clear it. But underwater you can’t just pop out of the water. This seemed impossible. What if I couldn’t do it? I’d be doomed! Such scuba diving anxiety!
Fortunately, this is easily addressed with three elements that I just never learned. It’s important to get a mask that fits your face. Then, there’s a way to have your mask stay on your face. And lastly, the PADI certification course teaches you how to easily clear water from inside your mask.
What Actually Happens During Your First Scuba Dive?
Consequently, knowing exactly what to expect before you step into the water is the fastest way to shut down your scuba diving fears. Your very first experience underwater is highly structured, incredibly controlled, and broken down into these exact, manageable steps:
- The Briefing: First, your instructor will walk you through a detailed briefing on land. Because communication is vital under the surface, you will learn the exact hand signals and basic safety rules before anyone even touches the water.
- The Equipment Check: Next, you will perform a thorough equipment check. Your guide will double-check every single piece of your gear to ensure everything is functioning flawlessly, which immediately builds your confidence.
- The Practice Skills: Following the gear check, you will practice a few foundational skills in shallow water where you can easily stand up. For example, you will learn how to clear water from your mask and practice breathing comfortably through your regulator.
- The Slow Descent: Once you feel completely ready, you will begin a very slow, controlled descent. You will equalize your ears step-by-step, meaning you only go as deep as you feel comfortable with.
- The Short, Shallow Dive: Afterward, you will enjoy a short, shallow dive to explore the marine environment. This initial dive keeps you in shallow territory so that the light is bright and the water pressure is minimal.
- Constant Supervision: Ultimately, you are under constant, direct supervision from a certified professional the entire time. They stay within arm’s reach during every single second of the dive, ensuring you remain safe, calm, and completely focused on the experience.
What Helped Me Overcome My Fear of Scuba Diving
Practice Breathing Slowly
The regulator feels strange for about five minutes.
Focus on One Skill at a Time
Don’t think about the entire dive.
Trust Your Training
Certification courses teach emergency procedures repeatedly.
Dive With Experienced Professionals
A good instructor makes a massive difference.
In this post I’ll share the fears I had, what actually happened, and what helped me become comfortable underwater.
The thought of SCUBA diving can be scary, until you try it. At first I didn’t think I’d enjoy SCUBA diving, but I’m so glad I overcame these. Amazingly, it’s a new passion!
Here’s a list of the top SCUBA Diving fears, and how to overcome them:
Conclusion
SCUBA Diving can be awesome, after you’re properly trained and prepared. Getting PADI open-water certified will get you comfortable. Then every dive adds more experience.
Have you gone SCUBA diving? Let me know in the comments below.
My Favorite Diving Experiences
Sipadan diving in Malaysia
One of the best diving destinations I’ve visited.
Diving With Thresher Sharks
A unique dive experience in the Philippines
Swimming With Whale Sharks
My closest encounter with the largest fish in the ocean.
Reef Sharks in Borneo
The dive that changed how I viewed sharks.
My favorite dive experience might have been a live-aboard boat trip in Thailand. There’s so many amazing scuba experiences all over Asia.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scuba Diving Fears
Is it normal to be afraid of scuba diving?
Yes. Most new divers experience some anxiety before their first open water dives.
What if I panic underwater?
Divers are taught how to stop, breathe slowly, and communicate with their buddy or instructor.
Is scuba diving dangerous?
When conducted properly with training and within recreational limits, scuba diving has a strong safety record.
Can non-swimmers scuba dive?
Requirements vary by certification agency, but basic swimming ability is generally required.
Are sharks a danger while scuba diving?
Most shark species pose very little risk to divers and are more interested in avoiding humans than approaching them.