The connection between meditation and diving.

Many people associate the ocean with health and wellbeing. Whether you enjoy cool morning dips or simply listening to the sound of crashing waves there is a multitude of ways the water can help to relax and unwind.

Scuba divers will be the first to support this claim spending countless hours away from the surface and entering a place where time seems to slow down allowing you to focus on the sound of your own breath becoming fully present in the moment.

For myself, scuba diving has somewhat become a form of meditation. As a novice, I began practising yoga on land to cope with the stresses of day-to-day life.

My practice expanded when I was introduced to the Underwater Meditation Speciality course on the island of Utila, in Honduras written by platinum course director Stephen Aynsley and Mike Cereso.

The course involves learning techniques that allow you to incorporate meditation into leisurely dives. Fortunately you do not have to be a seasoned yogi to practise the art of scuba meditation, but rather have a willingness to practise the skills that help you find that peace and presence underwater.

The speciality itself consists of three dives: the first concentrates on different breathing techniques and positions to help you relax and focus on your breath, as well as completing some basic scuba skills with and without a blackout mask. The subsequent two dives allow you to experiment with these techniques in a short meditation, followed by a relaxed swim around to feel the immediate effects.

The blackout mask is an excellent piece of equipment for underwater meditation as it removes your visual sense and allows you to focus on the sound of your breath.

For me, an avid diver and lover of the ocean, this course helped me find my own personal method of meditation and I am able to incorporate at least some of these techniques into every dive to get the most out of my experience.

If you are interested in taking the meditation course here in Jersey or want to know more about it, come down to Bouley Bay Dive Centre and have a chat with me or email info@scubadivingjersey.com to find out more about the course and potential dates.

You can also sign up for a taster session to Scuba Meditation on PADI Woman’s Day on the 16th July at 18.00.

For PADI Ladi’s Day 2022 we are super excited will be hosting a yoga class at White Rock Common at 09.00 am with Toyah at Eco Warriors Body’n’Soul and Taster underwater mediation at 18:00 with me. To book the underwater mediation please email

 Written by Beckie Scaife. Photos by Megan Beer.