What to Do When You Can’t Dive

Whether due to injury, money, time, illness, or off-season, there'll likely be some months you're landlocked. However, your passion for scuba doesn't need to be sidelined during this time. Here are 10 tips on what to do when you can't dive.

Become an electronic whiz kid

Get your electronic game on and move your paper dive log to a digital format. Master all the minute details of your dive computer. Buy and then become proficient using a a combo carbon-monoxide and oxygen analyzer, a Nautilus Lifeline and/or a personal locator beacon.  Some electronics are entertaining, but many can save your life if you employ them correctly.

Plan your future trips and save cash

Daydreaming about a future vacation can help the days pass faster and if you plan ahead, can also save you some cash. Extensively planning your trip means you can figure out the best place to go, uncover a great deal and lock in today's advertised price instead of paying next year's price increase. Many group excursions also allow you to pay in increments, or you can spend the months socking away more money for that dream destination. Some resorts even offer a cheaper rate for a date in the far future to solidify their bookings — just ask for a discount.

Master marine life ID

Learning to identify fish and invertebrates can make your dives more fun and help you recognize when you're encountering something rare underwater. You can study on your own or attend one of REEF's free Fishinars.

Join fellow divers on social media

Connect with your fellow divers by chatting about scuba, the ocean and dream vacations online. There's a group and a platform just right for you no matter what aspect of diving piques your interest. 

Post your previous trip photos

Re-live some great memories by finally reviewing, processing and posting all your photos from previous trips. Share those snaps with others through social media or a photography site. Better yet, create a blog or your own website to showcase all your gorgeous pics.

Improve your photography

Learning all your camera's features, basic/advanced elements of photography and new post-processing techniques can make your pictures pop. Check out a book or self-paced online lesson to incorporate some advancements, or improve by leaps and bounds with a full-fledged course.

Take a dive-related class

Even without immediate access to open water, plenty of specialty classes remain. A drysuit course in a pool can extend your dive season and a tech class can generate some new excitement. You can also continue your education on dry land with diver-specific first aid or scuba-gear repair.

Practice in the pool

If you don't want to take a class, advance your abilities by practicing in the pool. Perfect your buoyancy and fin kicks by watching videos or finding a mentor. Perform safety skills you learned during your Open Water certification and haven't reviewed since. If you're already experienced, you can still conquer advanced finning techniques such as helicopter turns (to turn around without stirring up the bottom) or reverse kicks (to back up without using your hands).

Upgrade and streamline your gear

Test out cool equipment from your local dive shop, a buddy or your dive club. Get your current gear into great repair and streamline everything you own by readying yourself for the next trip.

Attend marine-friendly events

Discover marine-friendly events and inspire your love of the ocean through your dive club, marine charities and groups on Meetup. We've recently enjoyed screening a new underwater film hosted at a hotel, a party to support penguins and a scuba-gear swap.

Bonus tip: If you haven't yet tried local diving, you're missing out. Indulge your scuba appetite even in cold weather, big cities and interior states. Whether local diving becomes your ideal environment or not, it offers a charm all its own.

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