Getting Past the Covid Funk

Saba and Gus enjoying the sunset over the bay

Covid 19 has forced the world to hit a giant pause button. It’s a collective trauma that everyone is trying to manage to get through, somehow.  As divers it has been a punch to the gut.  Dive travel is on hold, local restrictions impact our go to dive sites, and training has been forced to take on a new look. We look around saying now what, darn it I want to get wet. 

Throughout my professional dive career I have always said diving is not a sport but a lifestyle. I my career as a psychotherapist I have promoted diving as one of the best contributors to support mental wellness.  During Covid 19 our lifestyle has been threatened and our mental wellness is being challenged. As I work with both my clients and students I try to help them manage until things open up a little bit more. Here are a few tips that have proven useful.   

Open Water Student John Martin taking it all in.

GO DIVE

It is very simple, call your dive buddy, grab your gear, and go diving. People all over the world are giant striding into the big blue right now. The thing is they are doing it a little differently.  The dive industry has gone to great pains to make diving a safe and fun activity.  Guidelines from both Divers Alert Network and the World Recreational Scuba Training Committee quickly published ways in which divers, shops, charters, and training agencies can get back in the water. Take advantage of what our industry leaders have done to help keep us safe.

So hopping a flight to Saba, Bonaire, or Sicily may not be an option right now.  Acceptance of our current realities goes a long way.  Drive to the quarry, to the river, or catch a flight to Florida (if you feel comfortable, you can always drive) and splash around for a while.  There are plenty of dive opportunities if you are willing to take advantage of them.

TRAIN

This is an awesome time to learn more about the lifestyle.  If you are an Open Water Diver than sign up for a Nitrox or Advanced OWD Level 2 course. Technology provides us freedom to stay connected and continue with our scuba diving education. Scuba Educator instructors are able to use zoom, teams or FaceTime to teach remotely. Using basic technology can be a rewarding experience for both the student and the instructor.  Many of the advanced courses that a Scuba Educator instructor teaches do not require the use of a pool. 

How do we handle check out dives? So a simple decision needs to be made, do we do the dives now or at a later date? To the point listed above, the industry has put in place safety protocols to make diving safer. However it is okay to postpone the check out dives. Nowhere is it written the dives are required immediately after the course work. If there is a significant delay, say more than six months, then this is an opportunity to take an hour or two and work with the instructor to refresh yourself on the material. A perfect way to promote the concept of over learning.

Do not let perceived barriers turn into roadblocks.  Scuba Educator Instructors have the flexibility to help the student be successful.  Plus, there is a chance that while you are studying up on Nitrox that you feel empowered to get in a dive or two so you take advantage of the increased safety measures. Or maybe while you are studying about night diving or deep diving on a reef that you simply feel better about you and the situation you are in.  The dives can be scheduled in the future at least in the present you are feeling hopeful. 

AFFILIATION

We all want to feel apart of something.  Covid 19 and the lockdown restrictions have forced us from our communities and into isolation. This has a significant negative impact on our mental wellness. Social media makes it easier to stay connected with the dive community.  Join the many different facebook dive groups. Scuba Educators International runs a fantastic page with a lot of fun information. See what others around the world are doing to stay sane during this awkward period. You can also follow the many different dive leaders that Scuba Educators promotes, I guarantee you we want to hear from you. Instagram and Tik Tok are fantastic platforms to stay connected with the dive world. If you have not been following Scuba Educators Tik Tok page you have been missing out on some fantastic comic relief.  

PROMOTE YOUR MENTAL WELLNESS

Finally, promote your own mental wellness.  Everyday keep your mind and spirit fit. Find activities that promote the diving lifestyle.  These can include long walks, read one of the many fiction writers out there who talk about diving (my favorites are Nick Sullivan, Nicholas Harvey, and Wayne Stinnett), and spend time talking to others who share your passion because we are everywhere.  Using either the Calm or Headspace App provides short escapes to help you mediate. Both apps even have guided mediations about being in or near water. 

As divers we all know that what we do gives life a richer, deeper meaning. Unfortunately a lot of us cannot hover over a reef or wreck 60 feet below the surface. Use the tools listed above to help get you through till your next dive. Looking forward to the day when we all feel comfortable getting in and blowing bubbles.  

About the author

Jamie Loffredo is a licensed professional counselor specializing in addiction recovery and trauma resolution work. Jamie has been a dive instructor for over ten years and uses scuba diving as a tool to promote mental wellness with his clients. Jamie runs his private practice and his dive training business, One Dive At A Time LLC out of Michigan and Maine. Jamie has logged over a thousand dives with students, clients, and friends. Jamie joined the Scuba Educators family this year as instructor #300747. Jamie can be reached by email at jamie@onediveatatime.com