It should be self-evident that I quite like scuba diving. I spend an inordinate amount of time, money, and effort doing it (not to mention writing about it). There’s nothing I like better than getting out — whether in the UK or a more tropical location, and diving.
However, it’s not all rainbows and whale sharks. After diving for long enough, the odd thing starts to grate. So here are five things, both big and small, that grind my gears about scuba diving.
1. Crowds
Scuba diving is an excellent form of escapism: you and a buddy, maybe a small group, exploring the underwater world together. The sense of calm and adventure is a big part of the appeal. One of the quickest ways to pull me out of this zen-like state is large crowds of other divers.
I’m realistic, I know you can’t expect private access to popular reefs in busy diving destinations like the Red Sea. However, at certain sites I’ve dived recently, I think the authorities need to do more to manage access and control diver numbers.
On a dive at Elphinstone Reef, I counted at least eight liveaboards moored up, which probably equated to around 200 divers. It degrades the experience for everyone and, more importantly, can’t be good for the overall health of the reef.
2. Loud Noises!
There are plenty of accidental reasons for loud noises when prepping dive kit. Cylinders get dropped and O-rings burst; it’s part of diving. What can be helped, however, is blow-drying your first stage right next to my face as I’m packing my dive kit away.
Too many divers seem to be totally oblivious to the fact other people may value their hearing…
If you really want to dry your first stage with the cylinder (apparently it’s not a good idea anyway – it forces moisture inside) all that’s needed is a little warning and consideration. The same goes for bleeding lines or whips on compressors. It needs to be done but have a bit of courtesy.
3. (Parts of) The Diving Community
The diving community is a broad church. There are many communities within diving: underwater photographers, technical divers, etc. and all are affected by a certain type of person: the opinionated know-it-all.
I’m sure all hobbies are afflicted by this sort of individual. The people who are always ready to tell you how to do something and always have incredibly strong views about it. How your gear is configured, what qualifications you have — the list goes on.
The thing is, there’s normally more than one right way to do something in diving. If one of these people ends up on your dive boat, it’s normally hard to get away from their unsolicited and constant advice. A potential dive-trip ruiner.
4. Check-Out Dives
You’ve travelled far for your dive trip, spent a lot to get there, and may only get a handful of dives once you finally arrive. So it always feels like a kicker for your first underwater experience to be a mandatory 15m dive on the resort’s house reef: a check-out dive. Oh, and don’t forget you still have to pay for the privilege.
I understand why check-out dives exist, and they do serve a purpose. They’re a useful refresher to check kit and, particularly for those who don’t dive frequently, reacquaint themselves with some basic diving skills. My issue is when this is applied rigidly to all divers. I’ve seen it on recent trips where everyone has to do a check-out dive, regardless of how recently they last dived.
5. Ticking Clock
This one is slightly more abstract. On every dive, you’re on the clock. With a limited supply of gas and decompression obligations growing, all dives are fleeting experiences. However, my frustration around a lack of time is broader than that.
The truth is: there won’t be a better time to dive than right now. The world’s oceans continue to be overfished, polluted, and damaged by climate change. In the vast majority of places, the diving is only getting worse. It was likely better last year, better five years ago, and so on.
There are pockets where marine habitats are being recovered or effectively protected, but the overall trend is still one of decline. When I look at photos of bucket-list destinations in magazines or on social media, I wonder what they’ll be like if and when I eventually get to dive there…
So get out and go diving, the clock is ticking.
