Ok, so you’re probably wondering what meditation and scuba diving have in common and you might be a bit confused as to why I would even write about something like this.

So let me explain……..

Recently I had the opportunity to cross something off my bucket list when I took my Open Water Divers PADI course in the beautiful Perhentian Islands of Malaysia. It was an amazing experience and I recommend it to everyone who’s even slightly interested in exploring the ocean world.

Before I get carried away with the memories of my experience, I’ll explain how my daily meditation practice improved my scuba diving experience…

Initially I was quite nervous and a bit afraid that I might experience claustrophobia when I was under the pressure of gallons upon gallons of water. It’s important to breath at a calm, steady pace for a variety of reasons when you dive with one of the main reasons being air consumption. It’s common to breath quickly when you panic and if you breath quickly you’ll run out of air quite quickly. You see why this concerned me now?

I wanted to make sure that I had the most positive scuba diving experience possible and to me this included a panic-free, smooth flowing, easy-breathing dive. Especially an experience where I had plenty of air left when I was skimming the ocean floor. And it was also important for me to truly experience my experience and be totally present in the moment.

This is where my meditation practice came in handy!

I automatically remembered the deep breathing practices I do when I meditate and I’m pleased to report that my natural “meditation instincts” kicked in immediately! With each inhale and exhale that I took, I relaxed into a natural place of peace and calmness. Focusing on my breath also enabled me to clear my mind of worries and distracting thoughts and to 100% truly present! For me, scuba diving was actually a form of active meditation as well. Who would have guessed, but it’s true!

Wow! What an amazing experience being “present” at 60 feet below sea level was. As I relaxed I was able to enjoy the natural beauty that was surrounding me. I felt more connected to myself and the environment around me and rather than frightening the fish (or the fish scaring me!) we co-existed in harmony.

I am so grateful that my meditation practice had prepared me for this experience through proper breath training and especially for living in the moment.

Next time you find yourself in a challenging situation or you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember the basics!

Take a few seconds to calm yourself down then focus on taking deep breaths, inhaling positive energy and exhaling negativity and your worries away