From exploring steep, colorful walls to swimming through thick clouds of fish, as a sport and hobby, scuba diving serves up some magical experiences. For many, it’s the reason and purpose for travel and vacation, with long bouts of office time accented by far-away dreams of aquamarine seas and 30-meter vis.
With so many fantastical experiences readily on tap, it’s only natural to want to share some of the magic with your loved ones—especially your spouse or partner. Indeed, the holy grail for any dive enthusiast is to find that special someone who also likes breathing compressed oxygen.
But just how do you convince a partner to take up your favorite underwater passion? This is a tricky topic, because some folks just aren’t made for the water. Some people have water phobias, plus the inherent dangers of diving scares many risk-averse would-be scuba enthusiasts away before ever strapping on a face mask.
However, there are a few things you can do to gently nudge your sweetheart toward the deep end. Below, we’ve compiled some tips and tricks for convincing your loved one into getting certified.
1) Show Them Pictures
The easiest way to get a loved one excited about scuba diving is to show them how beautiful the underwater world is! Whether video or still shots, share the media from the dive trip you took in the tropics last year. Surely the shot of you swimming alongside a plucky sea turtle in Maui will pique their interest.
But if your partner resists these appeals to FOMO, take heart—all is not lost. There are more ways than one to convince a loved one to get certified.
2) Take Them Snorkeling
If you can’t take ‘em diving, snorkeling is definitely the next best thing for introducing a loved one to oceanic exploration. Not only does snorkeling provide a taste of diving’s visual component, it also simulates the sense of immersion and physical movement someone will experience.
Another great thing about snorkeling is that you can do it pretty much anywhere that there is a body of water (with decent visibility). At first, maybe just start in a pool and show your partner how to put on a face mask. If things seem to be going well, maybe take it a level up and teach them how to purge their mask underwater. But remember: nobody likes feeling pressured, so back off if they don’t seem to be enjoying the experience.
If the pool is a success—and you don’t have good coastal access—don’t be afraid to venture into the mountains to get your snorkeling fix. Many alpine lakes offer superlative clarity, sublime settings and a unique hike-to adventure.
3) Be Properly Outfitted
If you’re hoping to convince a loved one that being submerged underwater is amazing, you better show up with the right equipment. Nothing ruins an experience like rapid-onset hypothermia, so be prepared, understand the water temp you’re going to be in and pack thermal insulation like a BARE wetsuit or, if the conditions are warm-ish, a piece of ExoWear.
People can forgive, but they’ll never forget how miserable they were when you botched the gear prep. Generally speaking, avoid underestimating Mother Nature at all costs. If at all in doubt, bring a suit.
4) Take a Refresher Course With Them
Nothing expresses your commitment to their learning how to dive like sharing in the educational experience. Short of re-taking an entire cert. course, consider enrolling in a refresher alongside your loved one to make them feel like you’re part of a team and sharing the whole journey together.
Plus—although it may seem like a drag in the here and now—taking a refresher course can be enormously beneficial for longtime divers who haven’t studied the details in a while.
5) Start Leaving Pictures of Tropical Fish All Over Your House
The charade won’t last long, but if your options are getting thin and you want to try and pull some thought inception on your partner, start casually/randomly placing pictures of tropical fish around your home.
To make it more sporty, try to not make it obvious, i.e. fish on the fridge, random magazine cutouts on the dresser, ocean documentaries on loop, etc.
6) Gift Them a Training Course as an Xmas Present
If you really want to show your sweetheart just how invested you are in sharing your love of diving with them, get them an open-water course for Xmas or their birthday.
The coolest part about giving this type of gift is that it lasts forever and will continue to fulfill them long after the holiday season is over. While most presents languish into obscurity eventually, giving the gift of education transcends the material and something your loved one can carry and enjoy for the rest of their lives.
7) Best Option: Take Them to Hawaii
This is your last resort. If an all-expenses paid romantic getaway to Maui (with a dive course written into the fine print) isn’t going to convince your loved one, nothing will.
A visit to an idyllic spot in the tropics is a great way to jump-start a passion for diving. It’s often in these places where we feel the greatest pull of marine adventure. The calling of the open ocean and the otherworldliness of taking your first plunge can change everything. Don’t be afraid to go all in on your next trip together—it could yield a lifetime worth of experiences in the water.
Editor’s note: If you are one of the lucky ones and eventually do convince your partner to take up diving, at some point, you’ll both want to invest in a starter kit. Diving is a great way to bond with the people you love, so from everyone here at Oceanic, we’re wishing you and your loved one many beautiful dives to come!