Top 14 Health Benefits of Scuba Diving - Slideshow

1/16 If you are an experienced scuba diver or just starting to explore the beauty of the underwater world, scuba diving can offer numerous health benefits from your head to toe.

Scuba diving is a type of underwater diving in which the diver uses Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) which is entirely independent of surface supply of compressed air, to breathe underwater. If you are ready to discover the magical world underwater, all you need is a wetsuit, diving mask, snorkel and scuba fins. 2/16 Moving through the splashing waters during a dive makes your muscles work harder. The more you dive and swim, the more your muscles stretch, build strength, develop endurance and flexibility. Scuba diving can also help to build up your core strength, which is vital for an excellent overall posture in your everyday life. 3/16 Breathing is slow and deep during a dive which can reduce the heart rate and make you feel calm. Steady breathing also reduces the risk of a lung-expansion injury as well as mucus build up and has been known to help with existing conditions such as asthma. 4/16 Diving into the water may increase your heart rate, and the blood pressure will rise slightly at first, may be due to excitement, the adrenaline rush and even the cold water. Gradually, the warming up of our body and the slow and deep breathing technique can help to reduce blood pressure. Several studies suggest people who dive regularly are less likely to have strokes and heart attacks. But, if you are suffering from high blood pressure, then seek the advice of a medical professional before you try scuba diving. 5/16 An average shore dive can help you to burn up to 600 calories in an hour which is equal to running, while a boat dive in warm water may burn nearly 300 calories as similar to walking. 6/16 If you feel calm and relaxed while watching an aquarium, do not miss out scuba diving. By admiring the beauty of deep water flora and fauna - the colorful sea plants and lively marine creatures can help soothe your mind into a state of peace and well-being, create unexpected happiness, achieve a positive mental attitude and reduce depression. 7/16 Scuba diving can make you breathe in and out slowly and gently, similar to the breathing we do during meditation and yoga. Moving in deep waters can create a peaceful and quiet atmosphere which can set you free from work issues, family problems, money troubles, mobile phones, emails, traffic jams, the stressful ,polluted, busy routine environment. 8/16 Scuba diving gives you regular sun exposure. Though the rays under the water may not be of the ultraviolet (UV) kind, the time on a boat traveling to and from the dive site is an excellent opportunity to grab some sun rays. Sunlight can boost your vitamin D levels which improve calcium absorption, thereby making your bones strong and healthy. 9/16 Being underwater can expose your body to a pressure gradient. All your body muscles start working simultaneously and require oxygen, your blood vessels opening to bring the necessary oxygen to the muscles. Swimming in seawater can offer the best thalassotherapy or seawater therapy which facilitates the circulation of blood in your body. 10/16 Healthy social relationships can promote better mental and physical health. Scuba diving can broaden your social circle. The social side of diving is vast; it involves meeting new people, discovering new places and sharing memories. If you opt to go scuba diving and if you are not ready with a partner for diving, you are paired up with a buddy. These 'stand in' divers are usually very friendly, share a common interest and make you feel safe and secure underwater. 11/16 Exercising in water is an excellent way to strengthen your muscles. A day of diving always can promote peaceful and sound sleep during the night and also leads to large appetite. This indicates that we are expending more energy underwater than we realize. 12/16 Scuba diving can energize your brain to improve your concentration and awareness by simultaneously maintaining your balance and controlling your muscles and body movements to avoid damaging corals and other marine life. While still swimming you are required to pay attention to the surrounding undersea environment. 13/16 Scuba diving can help improve your creativity skills. Underwater photography and capturing a wide range of corals and sea creatures can open new avenues in the field of media and animation. On the other hand, divers cannot open their mouth to communicate what's going on underwater. Scuba diving can help you master your hand signals to communicate. This can be a great way to have conversations underwater but make sure you explain your signals when diving with someone new, to avoid fatal accidents. 14/16 The salty seawater can offer incredible benefits to your skin, by increasing its elasticity and improving its outer appearance. Seawater contains vital elements, vitamins, mineral salts, trace elements, amino acids and living microorganisms that can provide antibiotic and antibacterial effects to help promote a healthy immune system. The magnesium in seawater may also help hydrate and improve the appearance of your skin. 15/16 Exploring the marine life underwater during your dive will take you to a new enchanting world filled with excitement, fun, and adventure. Finding a wide variety of colorful fishes, corals and shells can improve your mood. On the other hand, discovering an ancient shipwreck can trigger your curiosity and the feeling of adventure can send you on a high. The mix of multiple colors can help to promote feelings of happiness and cheerfulness. In addition, the color blue has been known to induce a calming effect on the body. 16/16 Along with incredible health benefits, scuba diving can come with accidents if you don't take precautionary steps to protect yourself from dangers below the surface of water.

Diving related health risks include drowning, attack by wild marine creatures, barotrauma (injuries caused by increased air or water pressure), decompression sickness or the bends (caused by a build-up of nitrogen bubbles in the body), vertigo (feeling of dizziness), tinnitus (constant ringing in the ears), hypothermia (body loses heat faster), arterial air embolism (bubbles form in an artery and block the blood-flow) and nitrogen narcosis (feeling of giddiness by breathing air under pressure).

Simple cautionary advice would include: Do not drink and dive. Get proper training and medical advice if you are planning to plunge headlong into deep waters for longer hours in scuba diving.