A Look At Scuba Diving As Exercise

After you learned how to use all of the scuba diving equipment in class and got certified, you probably wanted to get planning your first real trip to see what you could see underwater. But did you know there are also a few other benefits from scuba diving besides just looking at things underwater? Sure, you might have discovered a fun new hobby. But you might have also discovered a way to get in some exercise! Scuba diving requires lifting, swimming and even monitored breathing exercise each time you are taking a dive. All of these are ways your body is working and getting in to shape.

Swimming

You never really thought about it before, but when you are diving, you are also swimming. How many others times have you spent three hours swimming non-stop? Probably not in a pool, unless you were on a swim team and had to do laps. Since you are exploring new things and seeing new animal species for the first time, the exercise is secondary in your mind. And since it is swimming, it might not feel like a lot of exercise until a day or two later if you are sore!

Since you are underwater, you might not also realize the weight of the items you are carrying. How much did that oxygen tank weigh on land? It still weighs the same amount on your back, but with gravity and the water, it doesn’t seem like it was heavy. So you are also working your muscles without realizing it at first. The more you work your muscles, the more calories you burn and the more toned you will be.

Water Resistance Training

Physical therapists love it when people have the opportunity to work out in the water. The water provides excellent resistance, that in turn tones and firms the muscles and makes them stronger. When you are swimming for hours on end, lifting heavy equipment without realizing it and getting weight resistance, you will be fit in no time. Water resistance is recommended for people who have a hard time with their joints. Running, jogging and any jolting exercise is hard on knees, ankles and even on the legs. But swimming isn’t, even though it uses your legs.

For people who like to scuba dive and do it regularly, they will probably have better overall health. Scuba diving requires a person to be in shape because they do have to know how to swim, plus they have to be able to lift some equipment and be adept at the water. If you aren’t in good physical shape, then you might need to work on it as you begin to dive more. And the more you dive, the better in shape you will be each time and the less work it will require as you go on. Your body will still be getting a workout, it just won’t feel the after effects of it so much when you are done.

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