Scuba Diving Journey Part 2 - Building Confidence Underwater

Congratulations! You’ve completed your Open Water Certification and taken your first steps into the incredible world of scuba diving. But as any experienced diver will tell you, the journey doesn’t stop after getting your certification. In fact, this is where the real adventure begins.

Now that you can explore the underwater world, what’s next? How do you go from a beginner diver to someone who feels comfortable, confident, and capable beneath the waves? Here are some of our suggestions to help you build on your foundation, improve your skills, and get the most out of your diving experiences.

1. Building Confidence Underwater

Your first dives as a certified diver will likely feel a little overwhelming. Buoyancy control, breathing, equalising pressure—there’s a lot to think about! (We know!) The key to becoming a confident diver is practice. Here’s how you can ease into it:

• Do More Fun Dives: The best way to get comfortable underwater is simply by diving more often. Plan easy, shallow dives with minimal current to gain confidence. 

• Refine Your Buoyancy Skills: Good buoyancy control helps conserve air, reduces fatigue, and protects marine life. Try practicing neutral buoyancy in a controlled environment before tackling more challenging dives.

• Dive with Experienced Buddies: Learning from divers with more experience can help you pick up valuable techniques and build confidence in a relaxed setting.

Diving with buddies

2. Explore New Dive Sites

Diving in different environments is one of the best ways to grow as a diver. Consider exploring these locations to diversify your experience:

• Drift Diving in the Maldives: Feel the thrill of being carried by ocean currents while observing sharks, manta rays, and vibrant coral reefs.

• Wreck Diving in the Philippines: Discover sunken World War II shipwrecks in Coron, teeming with marine life and rich history.

• Marsa Alam, Egypt – Gentle Reefs and Friendly Dolphins: This Red Sea gem offers shallow reefs, excellent visibility, and the chance to swim alongside dolphins and sea turtles in calm, beginner-friendly waters.

3. Improve Your Dive Planning and Safety Awareness

As you gain experience, you’ll want to take more control over planning and executing your dives. The basics you learned during certification still apply—so don’t get complacent! Repetition builds confidence, and a solid pre-dive routine ensures every dive is a safe and enjoyable one.

A. Check Your Equipment

Your gear is your lifeline underwater, so make it a habit to inspect everything before every dive:

• Give your equipment a once-over – BCD, regulator, mask, fins, weights, and wetsuit/drysuit.

• Check your air supply – Ensure your tank is filled with the correct gas mix and that your air pressure is sufficient.

• Perform a BWRAF (Buddy Check):

• B – BCD: Ensure it inflates and deflates properly.

• W – Weights: Secure and evenly distributed.

• R – Releases: Straps and buckles are fastened correctly.

• A – Air: Test your regulator and confirm your air supply.

• F – Final check: Mask, fins, dive computer, and any accessories.

B. Monitor Your Health & Hydration

Your body needs to be in top condition to handle the demands of diving. Keep yourself in check:

• Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol or excessive caffeine before a dive.

• Get enough rest—fatigue affects concentration and reaction time underwater.

• If you feel unwell, congested, or have any doubts about your health, postpone the dive. There’s always another day to dive, but safety comes first.

C. Perform a Pre-Dive Safety Check

Even experienced divers stick to their safety routines—it’s a sign of a responsible diver:

• Test your regulator by taking a few breaths while monitoring your air gauge.

• Review hand signals and emergency procedures with your buddy.

• Ensure you have surface signaling devices (e.g., SMB, whistle) in case of emergency.

D. Enter the Water Safely

The way you enter the water can set the tone for your dive—stay calm, composed, and in control:

• Use the proper entry technique for the dive site (giant stride, backroll, or shore entry).

• Do a quick gear check once in the water to confirm everything is functioning as expected.

• Perform a final buoyancy check before descending to ensure you’re properly weighted and in control.

By sticking to these steps, you’ll develop a solid pre-dive routine that becomes second nature. The more prepared you are, the more you can relax and enjoy the dive—after all, that’s what it’s all about!

4. Become an Eco-Conscious Diver

With great adventure comes great responsibility. As divers, we must protect the marine environments we explore. Here’s how you can contribute:

• Adopt a No-Touch Policy: Avoid touching corals, marine animals, or disturbing the seabed.

• Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen: Some sunscreens contain chemicals that harm coral reefs. Opt for reef-safe alternatives.

• Participate in Conservation Efforts: Join underwater clean-ups, support marine sanctuaries, or get involved in coral restoration projects.

Conclusion

Your scuba diving journey doesn’t end with certification—it’s just the beginning. By continuing to dive, taking advanced courses, exploring new destinations, and prioritizing safety and conservation, you’ll develop into a confident and responsible diver. The ocean is vast and full of wonders waiting to be explored, so keep diving, keep learning, and most importantly, enjoy every moment beneath the waves!