Avoiding and Reacting to Stress with Blue Waters Dive Cove, Gozo.

As divers, stress and anxiety are what we aim to avoid. Cruising through crystal clear water, breathing slowly, weightless – for me, this is my 'meditation time,' the moments where I gain the most from being underwater. Here are a few tips to avoid anxious feelings and manage stress, encouraging calm and safe diving.

1. Dive Preparation Basics: First and foremost, adhere to the basics in your dive preparation. We are all aware of the pre-dive safety check, but over time, divers may start to neglect some of the routines learned at the beginning of their diving journey. Personally, regular teaching, specifically the PADI Open Water Course, helps keep these good habits fresh. Proper buddy checks before a dive are crucial.
Whether it be BWRAF, or any other acronym, make sure you follow the 5 steps and check yourself and your buddy properly!
Experienced divers occasionally skip this step, leading to unnecessary stress or, at times, even canceled dives. For instance, I recall an incident involving experienced divers diving independently. One skipped the buddy check, entered the water, signaled everything was okay, but at around 7m, showed signs of distress and communicated breathing issues. After surfacing and a brief discussion, we discovered that the cylinder valve was not completely open. However, even though it was an extremely simple fix, the diver was stressed, shaken up, and it was the end of what could have been a wonderful dive for them. This could have been avoided with a proper buddy check, emphasizing the importance of taking a few extra minutes before entering the water to prevent potential problems.

2. External Factors and Decision Making: Sometimes stress originates from external factors. Are you confident and comfortable diving at that depth? Do the weather conditions appear suitable for a safe entry, dive, and exit? If there is any doubt or discomfort about entering the water, my experience suggests that it might not be the best choice. Never hesitate to call off a dive for any reason. Here in Gozo, we predominantly dive from the shore, so a safe entry and exit point are paramount. Entering and exiting the water, especially from some of the more ‘sporty’ options we have here, must be a slow, careful, and calculated process to ensure that anxiety levels are low so that all divers can get in and out safely. If there is doubt that the exit is safe, or if any of the group is feeling uncomfortable about it, then it is probably time to consider an alternative option. We are not here to fight with the conditions and cause any unnecessary stress. Quite the opposite! Especially during the winter months, divers must pay attention to any possibility of changing weather and wind direction, and let forecasts aid in decision making. After all, things can change in the weather during a one-hour dive.

This decision-making process goes further than assessing the conditions. If you, or part of your group, feel like the dive is too much stress for them and they do not feel comfortable making the dive, it's time to change plans!

This is one of the significant advantages we have here on the beautiful island of Gozo. Another dive site is no more than 20 minutes away, and there is a wide array of options to choose from. Make the right choice. No dive is worth putting yourself in a stressful situation.

3. Dealing with Stress in the Water: If we check ourselves properly before going in and have made good, sensible decisions leading up to our dive, it is extremely rare to have stress-related issues in the water. But, should you ever need, some basic rescue skills can be a huge confidence boost and lead to a more secure and comfortable diver. Taking the PADI Rescue course can help prepare for all kinds of stress-related problems and more! Check it out here.

First off, keep yourself safe! We cannot help someone if we are in trouble ourselves. If we do need to approach someone experiencing stress in the water, approach carefully, slowly, with calming smooth body language and signals. Prepare to give yourself a safe distance from them if you need to! If you can get to the diver, make physical contact and try to keep the diver stable, and make them float completely and relax if they are on the surface. Often, by taking control of the situation, ensuring the diver's buoyancy is under control, then communicating slowly and calmly, we can reduce the stress and hopefully restore a feeling of safety and security. Take your time, rest if needed, and move slowly only when you are sure the diver is OK.

By focusing on proper preparation and decision-making, we can create a diving experience that is not only enjoyable, but stress-free. Your safety and peace of mind are paramount. Further your diving education with PADI’s Rescue Course to learn to help divers, and yourself, even in the most difficult situations.

Blue Waters Dive Cove Team.