How To Be A Diver Without Getting Wet
Online Apr 24, 2020
Whether it’s a natural disaster at your dream destination, personal circumstances limiting your travel time, or a global pandemic that’s getting in the way of diving-as-usual, here are 10 ways to stay involved in the scuba community. But when times get tough, divers get going. You don’t become a member of this global community of adventurers without grit and passion. Here’s how to channel your adoration for the underwater world no matter what.
First - Start Your Next Certification
Diving is a team sport, but you don’t need a buddy to start your next cert. Many of SDI’s Certification courses start online and are discounted in price right now, making it a prime time to sign up and knock out your eLearning. Been a while since you have been diving? SDI also offers online Refresher Courses. Use them for yourself or give them as a gift. You can purchase these courses through The Dive Shop. Check them out at www.the-dive-shop.com
Next - Research your local dive sites so you’re ready to jump in at a moment’s notice
It’s not necessary to jet across the world to log quality water time. The Dive Shop has their Passport Club dives to local diving destinations. Reservoirs and lakes nearby are accessible, fun options that can provide a new experience if you don’t live seaside, and provide the easiest way to get wet quickly when shelter-in-place and other restrictions are lifted. Some of the destinations often have quirky obstacle courses or purpose-sunk oddities (like airplanes or VW buses), and reservoirs may have wildlife you’ve never encountered. Plus, these local watering holes often have local devotees diving there frequently, offering unique culture and traditions (think underwater pumpkin carving).
If you are unfamiliar with sites close to home, contact The Dive Shop for stay-cation inspiration. You can also call The Dive Shop to ask where they do certification dives or where their staff like diving on their days off.
Then:
Purchase a gift card for your favorite dive resort or local dive shop to use later
Falling reservations can stress resorts and dive providers’ ability to weather hard times. If you know there’s a shop, resort or agency you want to use in the future where tourists or locals can’t visit right now, consider purchasing a gift card for yourself to use later. It gives them capital now, and you can apply it to your bill later. The Dive Shop has connections to dive locations and resorts around the world; check with us to see if we can facilitate that getaway you have in mind.
Get Your Gear Serviced
Keeping gear in safe, working condition is vital for divers at any time, even if some of us break into a sweat at the idea of losing access to our gear for a few days (or weeks). If you know you’re not hitting the water for a while, it’s the perfect time to drop your gear off for its annual servicing. You won’t miss it, and The Dive Shop will restore your confidence in your gear.
Purchase New Gear
When you’re on a budget, it can be hard to pick between a trip and a toy. If life leaves you landlocked, that can free space in your budget to splurge on the latest and greatest gear you’ve eyed for months. The Dive Shop in the process of upgrading or creating an online store (DiversSupplyOutlet.com) so you can do this from home, and we are launching curbside pickup and FREE shipping. And with your extra time around the house, you can research the latest and greatest gear from the product lines The Dive Shop carries. Cressi, Oceanic, Mares, IST, Tilos, Trident and soon TUSA! Besides, what better way is there to spend your stimulus check???
Donate to conservation and Scuba non-profits
Want to conserve the ocean, support shipwreck research, or aid soldiers in overcoming PTSD through coral gardening? Times like these are perfect to extend a helping hand to make sure the dive community is always there for our oceans and each other.
Connect with other divers online
Keep building your scuba community — the more buddies the better! Dive Training magazine offers great information for diving gear-heads, including training ideas, travel locations, and articles to make you a better diver. Subscriptions are available at The Dive Shop or you can look them up online. SDI also has several online dive communities, whether you’re new to diving, want to scour for future travel ideas, or meet divers around the globe.
Edit those UW photos that are growing algae on your hard drive
All divers are guilty of it — we take more photos on a dive than we could ever use. (After all, you never know what frame will be the one.) While it’s great to never miss a moment, it can leave you overwhelmed with images once you’re topside.
If you can’t strap on your dive computer, boot up your laptop and sort through those neglected collections. It’s a great chance to go down memory lane, and you never know what lost treasures are lurking among the gigabytes.
Want to brush up your skills in the process? Check out SDI’s Underwater Photography certification for tips and tricks on editing underwater photos. Or just call the shop and ask for Mac – He is the resident pro when it comes to underwater photography!
Stay up-to-date on how the dive industry is adapting to the COVID-19 situation
To help the dive community stay up to date with what’s going on around the globe, Scuba Diving International has launched a COVID-19 blog. This is where you can turn for the latest updates and press releases from resorts and dive authorities worldwide, so you’re always up to date and diving safely.
