Diving is cool… not just a little bit cool… it’s REALLY cool! Having dive experience and being a part of the SCUBA community makes each of us a member of a fortunate group. The great news is that this group is always looking for new members and as ambassadors of the SCUBA community (aka – SCUBAvangelists) we enjoy drawing people into the sport, either vicariously through our own dive stories or quite literally by introducing them to diving for themselves.

Here are 4 ways you can share your SCUBA!

#1 Personal Conversations

With the holidays approaching there will be plenty of opportunities to find yourself at parties or family gatherings where you don’t know everyone or you’re not sure what to talk about.

Just talk SCUBA!

When people inevitably ask how I am and what I’m up to instead of handing out the same old “I’m great. I’m still working over at XYZ Company. Yeah, the boss is still ….” I mix it up and say “I’m still working over at XYZ Company but I’ll tell you what I was in Puerto Vallarta this spring and wow!”

Of course it doesn’t have to be Bonaire… it can be an eco dive at your local reservoir or whatever your last dive adventure or specialty class was.

You may even find another diver in your pool of friends and family that lives near a good dive location. What better excuse to visit your distant relations?

#2 Social Media

Of course, it almost goes without saying that you can (and should) share your diving adventures on social media.

Tweet the highlights as they happen and/or post updates to your status! Those of us who dive will enjoy relating to your experience and those who have yet to become divers will love seeing the highlights of your adventure. Full disclosure requires me to admit that I’m not great at this one. I get so into SCUBA diving that I forget to share that experience in real time. I’m working on it though!

We’ll expect a full online report of your trip on Google Plus and/or Facebook etc. when you get back. Let us know where you dove, what you saw, what you loved and who you met.

Social media needs more SCUBA photos – help save the dignity of a self conscious cat and post diving pictures instead. Another social media tip: selfie’s are better when you’re in dive gear!

#3 Online SCUBA Communities

I belong to eight (8) online SCUBA communities. Since I’m about to do a series of posts about them I’m not going to go in to much depth today.

Suffice it to say there are great opportunities to connect with other divers in communities on the web.

These are great resources for:

• finding a buddy
• researching dive sites
• discussing dive related issues
• increasing your knowledge
• looking at great photos by other divers
• so much more

#4 Pursuing Professional SCUBA Opportunities

Like you, I enjoy sharing some of the incredible things I’ve seen, people I’ve met and places I have had the good fortune to visit.

• The friendly people of Australia on the Great Barrier Reef
• My first manta ray in Puerto Vallarta
• Diving the beautiful, world class reefs in Bonaire

Talking to people about SCUBA led me to want to be have a more direct impact. Searching for ways to be more involved in diving, I became an SCUBA Schools International (SSI) Divecon in January of 2010. Helping instructors bring the adventure of SCUBA diving has been rewarding and seeing students go from non-divers to certified open water divers with a world of adventure open to them is a great experience.

This year (2014) I have taken sharing SCUBA to the next level. In October, I am very happy to share that I completed my certification as a SCUBA Schools International (SSI) Open Water Instructor and I can’t wait to teach future divers what it means to become a SCUBA diver!

How do you share SCUBA diving? After all… diving is too good to keep all to yourself! Leave a comment below and let us know where you share your diving enthusiasm!

SKuba Steve

‘The surface interval’s over… get out there and dive!’

© 2014 Stephen Krausse. All rights reserved.