Is Scuba A Sport?

[Kingpatzer]

I've noticed that a number of you call scuba diving a "sport."

I've never thought of it as such. Why? Because - to me - a sport is something that is a competition performed within a specific set of rules.

That is the definition of a competative sport. Not all sport is competative.

The number 1 defition of sport is something along the lines of a physical activity engaged in for pleasure. Which corresponds nicely to the use of the verb, which means something along "to amuse one's self"

The idea of sport meanig a physical form of recreation is seen in the use of the term as an adjective. Sports clothing, for example, is clothing suitable for wear for doing recreational activities, not just clothing for competative teams.

 

[J.R.]

Let's see:

Diving is an activity that can be considered:

Sport
Work
Therapy
Adventure
Nightmare
Something to relieve boredom
an 'Enterprise'
a 'Challeng'
a Social Environment
a Status Symbol
a source for never ending conversation about minutia and trivia
a research medium
Education
transportation
etc.
etc.
etc.

Bottom line... it is what it is to whoever chooses to ponder it...

... now, the REAL question is "what does 'IS' mean???

 

[TheRedHead]

transportation

That one is a bit of a stretch, unless you're going to the Soggy Dollar Bar.

 

[Walter]

Why does anyone care? You think it is a sport? I don't care. You think it isn't a sport? I don't care. I'm a diver, I will continue to dive, the definition of sport will not affect my diving at all.

 

[PlayaCountryBoy]

I thought a sport was doing anything that required a certain skill level. Whether you compete against yourself, other people or the forces of nature. For you I have been on dives in Indonesia where the current was running 5 knots and gusting 8!!! And you are flying and navigating obstacles and reef, even fish sometimes. And believe me it CERTAINLY takes some skill to dive in those conditions. I have had quite a few of my older guest call the dive because of "double black diamond" diving! :14:

 

[J.R.]

That one is a bit of a stretch, unless you're going to the Soggy Dollar Bar.

... BUT... if you *are* going to the Soggy Dollar Bar...

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Any activity can be a sport ... if you choose to make a competition out of it.

Personally, I don't like to approach diving from a competitive viewpoint ... not even technical diving. It's a recreational activity, one I do for pleasure and relaxation ... not to "win" anything.

Any activity can be a game ... if you choose to look at it as the recreational attainment of a goal.

Personally, there are many "games" I can play underwater ... depending on the purpose and circumstances of the dive. But I don't view the act of diving itself as a game.

And if I'm going to the Soggy Dollar Bar, I probably won't bother with scuba equipment ... as it would require me to dive back to the boat after imbibing a few of their excellent Pain Killers ... and one just shouldn't drink and dive ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[TheRedHead]

Why does anyone care? You think it is a sport? I don't care. You think it isn't a sport? I don't care. I'm a diver, I will continue to dive, the definition of sport will not affect my diving at all.

We don't really care, cranky parrot. It's something to do to pass the workday.

Besides, I'm under orders by a certain mod to "Go stir up trouble."

 

[canismajor]

Thing is, contrary to many here, I think golf is so much more of a sport than diving.

I mean golf is physical, Highly competitive and has a 10" thick book of rules governing said competition (not the little booklet golfers usually carry, but the real one at St. Andrews).

Diving is an activity, a pasttime, perhaps a hobby. Not a sport.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Every dictionary you can find will have a definition of sport as a recreational hobby, diversion, or pastime.

Diving is indisputably a sport, even if I don't really believe that.

My dogeared Random House Dictionary (13th printing '91) defines sport as;

1. An athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature.

The rest of the definitions do not apply, but none of them say anything about recreational hobby, diversion or pastime.

If the scuba diving we are talking about is breathing calmly underwater while neutral buoyant swimming, 99% of the scuba diving done in the world is not sport. Is space walking a sport?

In sports I say no pain no gain, in recreation I say no pain. IMHO, scuba diving is indisputably not a sport. For some (many) certified divers, the act of getting themselves to and fro the water could probably be considered sport, but for them climbing stairs might also be sport (no pain no gain). Falling off a boat and floating around with a bunch of fish is not even a game (chess, cards, etc.).