There was always a problem with the Fit To Dive logo.
When I set up the company in December 2020, I did it quickly. The idea had been in my mind for a long time: scuba divers want to be fit enough to dive! I was not feeling great when the idea came to mind. I was bothered by the fact that a lack of medical sign-off could ever get in the way of doing the diving I want to do. The thought of a decision like that being held, not by me but by a doctor, is not appealing.
Who decides if your are fit enough to dive?
Of course, the diving medical advice is essential. An opinion of being unfit to dive is lifesaving! For example, in the case of epilepsy, immersion pulmonary oedema and various other conditions that mean scuba diving becomes intolerably risky. Assessment and treatment also brings prevention of risk, such as allowing a perforated ear-drum to heal or repairing a PFO.
Yet, these kind of conditions are ones we have little control over. If a diving doctor identified something that made me unfit to dive, the adaptive response would be to accept it. What I was really thinking of were the more chronic issues, stress-related conditions and injuries. I have a lot more scope to influence those through the choices I make and the habits I form.
It helps to be fit to dive
It struck me that plenty of other divers care deeply about being able to dive for a long as possible. This can mean very different things to different divers:
- being strong enough to climb a dive ladder and carry tanks
- fit enough to fin hard in a current occassionally
- passing a medical to be a diving professional
- managing a long-term condition
- adapting to injury or disabilities
- learning enough dive physics to reduce risk of decompression injuries
- ready to rescue a diver in distress
- having the skills to dive safely
- emotionally healthy to deal with stressors
- reducing risk of lifestyle related illness (diabetes II, heart health etc)
Even putting a wetsuit on can be a challenge! Even if opinions differ on what it means, divers do want to be fit to dive.
Naming the company
The phrase stuck with me. I could think of those words being stamped on a diving medical (not that any doctor I know does that). So, when I made the first logo, I put the words in a box, link an ink stamp. I even tried (and failed) to make it look more like a stamp.
And I always knew it wasn’t quite right.
A stamp of approval from an external person or organisation. A black and white, boxed-up, binary “yes” or “no”. It doesn’t quite align with the intention of fit to dive, or the reality of being a human. I knew it was something a bit more wiggly and natural that that. Every diver reading has a different version of what fit to dive means for them.
I also missed the old scubapsyche logo, after all, I’ve been fiddling with the waves and bubbles image for a decade!
So, after much playing around with graphics when I probably should be doing boring paperwork, I’ve created a new one:
Time to use the logo!
I set up a Teemill shop years ago. I like that they take back old t-shirts and use them to make new ones. My slight discomfort with the old logo always got in the way of putting products there. Recently, they’ve started offering other items, like bags and mugs. The logo looks great on them!
After creating the products, I ordered samples for myself. I was really pleased with them. When the sun came out last weekend I took them all to the beach! Here’s how that went:
What is available?
Enamel mug (camping type mug)
The enamel mug, I’ve always loved these. Ever since I was little I feel like there is something special about an enamel camping mug! They are tough and lightweight and therefore good for a boat or to carry as a reusuable mug. I’m keeping mine next to my water to remind me to drink it.
Ceramic Mug
The ceramic mug .. is a mug. It is a solid, standard mug. I am happy with the design (extended out the waves so it wraps the whole mug). I’ve got it on my desk to remind me to take a break and switch to standing/walking desk sometimes.
Tote Bag
The tote bag, with the grey logo is good quality too. Perfect for shops and it could be used like a reminder of any intentions related to food shop choices. (The logo was a bit low, and has now been moved up a bit.)
Beach Bag
I was most impressed with the beach bag. Love the colour and the texture of the bag. It’s good quality organic cotton. It’s not a huge beach bag, just handy for a few things. It won’t carry all dive kit, but would work for mask, snorkel/googles and a towel. I plan to use it for yoga classes.
One really good thing about it is that it was easy to carry. I had thought I’d take the photos then leave everything in the car. However, the beach bag was so handy, I put all the other stuff in it and walked for an hour or so with it on my shoulder. It didn’t slip at all and I forgot I was carrying it!
Staying fit enough to dive
Whether mentally, physically or emotionally, there is a lot we can do to improve our chances of doing the kind of diving we want to do. As a psychologist, I’m interested in how we define that for ourselves. It can be about healthy work life balance, or going to the gym three times a week; getting out for a relaxing walk or hours of skills drills. It depends on what your own intentions as a diver.
Even though there are some absolutes on whether a person is considered medically fit to dive, and general considerations around physical fitness, hydration, sleep etc. it’s not “one size fits all”. For example, if I try to follow a strict exercise plan, I lose interest almost immediately … but I’ll happily swim, walk, climb or do yoga when there is no plan. It’s about finding what works, and acting in alignment with what matters to you. The process underlying this principle is psychological flexibility. Studies show that greater psychological flexibility correlates with healthy levels in all kinds of physical, mental and emotional health.
For this reason, I changed the logo from a boxed-in, straight-lined stamp of approval to a flowy, blue-mind sort of an image. I think it works a lot better for items designed to connect you with your own diving intentions.
blog.fittodive.org 