STRESS

Diver stress, both helpful and unhelful, including anxiety and panic.

  • Stress and Performance in Diving

    Arthur J Bachrach & Glen H Egstrom (1987) The book starts by defining stress and the importance of the impact of stress on performance in diving.   The authors make the distinction between stress relating to a threat that can… Continue reading

    Stress and Performance in Diving

  • Diving With Claustrophobia

    Scuba diving immerses you in a vibrant, underwater realm filled with breathtaking beauty. Yet, for some, diving stirs a different feeling: the intense discomfort of claustrophobia. Diving with claustrophobia brings valid questions, as well as raising areas where lack of… Continue reading

    Diving With Claustrophobia

  • How isn’t there a dive signal for panic?

    Yesterday I was teaching PADI Psychological Diver, on a Zoom call, with six divers from around the world. The course encourages sharing of experiences, fascinating discussions and inspiration. This course was no different, and one of the ideas hit with… Continue reading

    How isn’t there a dive signal for panic?

  • The Dive Psychology Iceberg

    It’s the beginning of a new year and a new decade. I’ve had the iceberg metaphor in mind since the end of December. Fueled by the excitement of what is there to explore and the frustration of communicating it sometimes.… Continue reading

    The Dive Psychology Iceberg

  • Why am I freaking out when scuba diving, for no reason?

    Freaking out when scuba diving is understandable As a new scuba diver, it is not unusual to get a bit freaked out at some point. It can happen during training, or maybe not till 10, 20, 50 … dives in.… Continue reading

    Why am I freaking out when scuba diving, for no reason?

  • Struggling to learn to scuba dive, should I tough it out?

    Divers frequently talk to me about the difficulties they have had with anxieties in scuba diving.  Struggling to scuba dive in training is not unusual. Once, I talked to a woman who had not managed to complete her open water… Continue reading

    Struggling to learn to scuba dive, should I tough it out?

  • Why do I feel panicky when descending underwater?

    You know that you want to go scuba diving, and put a lot of time and effort into getting ready for the dive. You were excited about getting back under the water and looking forward to what you might see.… Continue reading

    Why do I feel panicky when descending underwater?

  • Why do I panic underwater?

    Because your mind and body sense a threat We are underwater.  We would not survive long without our scuba equipment.  Experiencing emotions like anxiety and fear is perfectly normal.  These emotions are our signals to detect problems.  But anxiety can… Continue reading

    Why do I panic underwater?

  • What happens if you panic while scuba diving?

    Most of the time, a scuba diver who panics will be probably be lucky enough to escape without injury. But that is not always the case, because panic is a state that makes people do strange things. The instinctive actions… Continue reading

    What happens if you panic while scuba diving?

  • What does nitrogen narcosis mean?

    Gas narcosis in scuba diving Narcosis in scuba diving is the change in thinking and awareness, sensory and motor function and behaviour that occurs at depth.  Breathing gas at depth leads to narcosis, often noticed around 30m it can be an issue… Continue reading

    What does nitrogen narcosis mean?