3 Ways Scuba Diving Benefits Your Body And Mind
Whether it has always been on your bucket list or you are looking for some adventure while on vacation, scuba diving is a unique experience you will remember forever. Characterized by diving and swimming underwater using a breathing apparatus, or scuba, the experience offers you a chance to see an endless array of sea life. While surprising for most people to learn, scuba diving is an experience that offers enormous physical and emotional benefits as well. With this guide, you will learn how scuba diving will benefit both your body and your mind.
Improved Strength and Endurance
Most people are surprised by how strenuous the diving experience can be. Swimming through water takes a good amount of effort, since water and any heavy currents create a resistance against your body. The actual task of moving through the water, which resists you, will help strengthen your muscles and joints, making your strong over time. Swimming has also been proven to strengthen your core, which includes your torso and abdominal muscles. A strong core can help you with many physical tasks.
In addition, the gear needed for scuba diving can be hefty. Not only is this gear large and bulky, but it is also heavy in weight. Therefore, you will be swimming through water with extra weight on your body. This increases resistance even further, making the swimming and diving experience more difficult. Overall, diving with scuba gear can improve your body's total strength and endurance.
Improved Cardiovascular Health
Living with high blood pressure is difficult. Normal blood pressure levels range from 120 or lower for the systolic, or top, reading and 80 or lower for the diastolic, or bottom, reading. If your levels are higher, you have high blood pressure.
While it can cause headaches and fatigue, high blood pressure also increases your risk of cardiovascular disease and even a stroke. Prescription medications can help lower higher levels of blood pressure, but scuba diving can also help.
Scuba diving helps you breathe in a more effective manner. This deep and slow breathing helps you remain calm, reducing physical and emotional stress on the body, which lowers your high blood pressure levels.
It is important to note that you may experience a slight increase in your blood pressure when you first dive into the water. This increase is due to the excitement of the unknown and sudden contact with cold water. Initially, your blood pressure will increase due to the adrenaline pumping through your body. As you move through the water and focus on your breathing, your blood pressure will move into a healthier range.
Improved Emotional Health
If you are already experienced in diving, you probably understand how it can improve your emotional health. Completing tasks that you love and enjoy will decrease any stress or anxiety you may be experiencing. If you are new to scuba, you may not realize the benefits it can have on your emotional wellness.
Firstly, breathing exercises are known to manage emotions. Many experts believe deep breathing exercises can induce feelings of calmness, which is helpful if you experience stress, depression, anxiety, or anger. Since scuba diving's focus is on breathing, the experience can relax both your body and your mind.
Also, the physical act of being in water can improve your emotional health. Being in and around water has been proven to improve mental energy, decrease depression, and increase feelings of well-being. Many people who spend time in water sleep better, which improves their behavior and makes them more alert during the day.
If you are searching for adventure and fun that is memorable and beneficial to your body and mind, consider scuba diving. To learn more about scuba diving, contact a company like Black Bird Caye Resort.