What Keeps You Diving?

[Dive Right In Scuba 2]

Recently, I've had a few great conversations with divers about what they love about diving. While some have been active divers for years, some that I've spoken with have taken breaks from diving only to return to it. I, myself have had to take breaks from diving for a myriad of reasons(school, life, family, etc.), but I always seem to eventually return to the underwater world.

I've found that my love of diving stems from the community, the peacefulness of diving, and my unquenchable sense of adventure.

What is it that keeps you diving? If you've taken breaks from diving, what brings you back to it?

 

[TMHeimer]

Have taken no breaks.
I continue because (any order):
--to continue my life-long shell collecting.
--it's one of the many routines my wife says I have too many of.

 

[lowviz]

...//... I've found that my love of diving stems from the community, the peacefulness of diving, and my unquenchable sense of adventure. ...//...

Agree with all three, but reverse the order and you totally nailed it for me...

 

[They call me Tater]

Diving is just technical enough so that I am in the moment as I float weightless. There is no room for thoughts of problems, work, bills, politics etc. This means I am completely alert and totally relaxed at the same time.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba 2]

Diving is just technical enough so that I am in the moment as I float weightless. There is no room for thoughts of problems, work, bills, politics etc. This means I am completely alert and totally relaxed at the same time.

I agree with the thoughts of problems, etc. My wife jokes that I love diving because I don't have to worry about my phone ringing while down there!

 

[Dive Right In Scuba 2]

Agree with all three, but reverse the order and you totally nailed it for me...

I think quite a few would agree with these three, albeit in different orders.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba 2]

Have taken no breaks.
I continue because (any order):
--to continue my life-long shell collecting.
--it's one of the many routines my wife says I have too many of.

I bet you have a rather epic collection of shells by now. My wife makes jewelry from shells and shark's teeth, so I'm sure to grab a few and toss them in my thigh pocket when I see them(it keeps her happy and not complaining about me diving all of the time).

 

[wildbill9]

Would I be chastised if I said it was the only place I have found where the wife can't bi-tch at me? lol...(just kidding dear). I had to take a break, kids and life interfered but once we became empty nester's we came back why? incredible life we can't see anywhere else, inner peace I seem to find below the water, excitement- sharks, turtles, morays OH MY! The ability to go to different locals and enjoy new experiences, different foods (at such locals), the pure joy (after over 800 dives I still see something unique and incredible), it helps that my wife loves diving as much as I do. The look of excitement and enjoyment I see on my wife's face as we surface and the great conversations we have together and with other divers after each and every dive. Well I really could go on and on but we dive because we love it. Bill and DeeDee

 

[Scubagolf]

Money + Time ⏱

 

[MaxBottomtime]

The thirst for discovery. I've been diving since the late 1980s and am enjoying it more now than ever before. In the past few years we've found new reefs, a WWI German submarine and animals that hadn't been seen here in many years. The ocean is a living encyclopedia and I'm still in the middle of the first volume. Each dive is a chance to learn more about things I haven't yet found and things I know about but want to learn more.
The only breaks I've taken have been due to work or bad conditions. Both drive me insane.