Worried About Scuba Diving? We’re Debunking Diving Myths!

What’s stopping you taking a scuba diving course? Are you worried about some pretty scary things you might have heard or read on the internet? There are tons of diving myths and untruths out there, so today we’re going to debunk them. After this you’ll have no excuse for not booking a PADI scuba diving course!

1. You will run out of air

Worried About Scuba Diving? We’re Debunking Diving Myths!

If you’ve ever watched a Hollywood movie featuring divers, you’ll surely have seen someone gasping for air and not making it to the surface. This is a very common fear and it has been dramatically perpetrated for decades.

In fact, because you are relying on an oxygen tank for air, you can actually run out. However, your dive training teaches you exactly how to deal with this situation. In the unlikely case you do run out of oxygen your dive buddy will be able to supplement your air supply and get you safely to the surface. This is one reason you never dive alone.

So technically, yes you can run out of air, but you will be able to deal with it calmly thanks to your training.

2. You will be claustrophobic

I would say this is the number 1 fear of non-divers. They say they are afraid of becoming claustrophobic or having a panic attack under the water. In fact water is one of the most relaxing things in world, and gently gliding through it is blissful. Studies show that the majority of people who fear being trapped under the water find they forget all about it when they try diving.

When you dive with Gangga Divers at Villa Almarik you will have a professional instructor looking after you the whole time. They will be pointing out all the incredible marine life so you won’t even have time to feel the fear.

3. The sea is scary

Worried About Scuba Diving? We’re Debunking Diving Myths!

Do you have a fear of what you can’t see or don’t know about? This is very common and can be one reason why people think diving is scary. The more you know about what you are going to see and experience on a dive, the less scary it will be.

This is what dive training is all about. You will slowly get used to the sights and sounds on practice dives and the underwater world become much more familiar. The unknown becoming known takes all that fear away from it.

4. A shark might eat you

Worried About Scuba Diving? We’re Debunking Diving Myths!

Speaking of what’s in the sea, sharks are a major fear for many people. Have you ever seen the movie Jaws? This is the epitome of the bad reputation sharks have as vicious man-eaters. In fact most sharks shy away from divers and are unlikely to approach at all. Most shark attacks are cases of mistaken identity when surfers or swimmers are sometimes mistaken for seals.

Gili Trawangan has a number of great dive sites where black tipped and white tipped reef sharks can be seen going about their business on the reefs.

5. You have to be super fit

This is not true at all. Yes, you have to be in good health, but really anyone from 12 years old up can dive. If you have a condition like asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, or pulmonary fibrosis, you will need lung function and cardiac stress tests, but if your doctor gives you the thumbs up you can absolutely dive.

This doesn’t mean you can be completely unfit. It is beneficial to be in good shape when you dive. Stamina to be in the water for extended periods of time without getting too tired is definitely something you want as a diver.

6. You have to be a great swimmer

Worried About Scuba Diving? We’re Debunking Diving Myths!

The swimming requirement for taking a PADI dive course is that you can swim 180 metres and tread water or float for 10 minutes. If you’re interested in diving, chances are you are able to do this easily.

When you are diving you should aim to expend as little energy as possible. This is why divers wear fins that create greater thrust and faster speed with much less effort. In short, you must be able to swim but you don’t have to be Michael Phelps.

7. You have to be fantastic at studying

On top of thinking they have to be in great shape, many people worry about not being able to retain all the information and procedures on a PADI course. PADI courses are tried and tested and are formatted so anyone can learn. You’ll also find Gangga Divers instructors professional, caring, and able to tailor information to the way each student learns.

Most dive procedures are simple and come in steps. They become second nature very quickly, just like driving a car. Practice and repetition is key.

8. It’s far too expensive

Worried About Scuba Diving? We’re Debunking Diving Myths!

Looking at dive courses can be scary because of the price tags attached to them. If you think about it though, getting your PADI Open Water Diver certification allows you to dive anywhere in the world up to 18 metres and is about the same price as getting your drivers license. You can choose to stay at this level or take further courses, but it’s not necessary.

The other worry is the price of dive gear. Many hobby divers rent gear but if you dive a lot it is absolutely worth it to buy your own. With proper care it will last you a very long time.

Ask any diver if they regret spending money on their PADI dive certification. I would bet that every one of them tells you it was worth every penny.

9. You won’t have time to get certified

It may seem like you would have to study and practice for months to get your dive certification. It’s a fair assumption as diving is a skill, but it’s actually totally untrue! A PADI Open Water Dive Course takes as little as 3 days and much of the course work can be done online beforehand.

Can’t you take 3 days out of your busy schedule to learn a skill that will last you a lifetime?

10. Diving is only for people with friends that dive

Worried About Scuba Diving? We’re Debunking Diving Myths!

So you want to dive but your partner/best friend/family have no interest at all in diving. Lucky for you there is a huge community of divers around the world that love nothing more than diving and talking about diving! Scuba diving brings people together from every walk of life and you will always have something in common.

Villa Almarik on Gili Trawangan is a great place to meet other dive enthusiasts and learn to dive with other people just like you.

There are tons of preconceived ideas about scuba diving, which has led to plenty of myths about it. We’ve debunked 10 of the most widespread ones so hopefully you can now become a little more confident and sign up for a PADI dive course with Gangga Divers.

Send us any other myths about diving that need debunking or ask us any questions about worries you have about diving in the comments below.

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