You love diving. You love it so much, your spouse or significant other rolls his or her eyes every time they catch you planning a trip. You’ve invited them to come along in the past, and they have (sometimes vehemently) refused. “I don’t like the water much. You go ahead and have fun,” they’ll say. Or, “I’m afraid of sharks. Why don’t we go to the movies instead? You really ought to quit taking such crazy risks.” We’ve heard it all, but we continue to wish our partners would join us on some of the best adventures available anywhere. With the following tips, your days of diving “single” might be at an end.
Try Snorkeling
One thing leads to another. Snorkeling is a great gateway to scuba diving. It’s cheap, there’s no pressure, and you can enjoy it casually. Choose a calm place to work, and stay on top of the water, just relaxing and watching fish. You can usually snorkel in a lake if you don’t have a good ocean spot nearby; do some scouting out on your own to find out what you’ll be showing off once you get in the water. Be sure your partner is comfortable with the concept, and be kind as you show him or her step by step how to snorkel. You’ll have fun and strengthen your bond, and once you’ve been snorkeling a few times, you can reintroduce the subject of diving. People are naturally curious and they normally do like the idea of getting into deeper water where they can experience new things.
Try Scuba
There are many destinations that offer quick “Try Scuba” courses designed with casual travelers in mind. Next time you book a vacation, choose one of these destinations. Be sure you don’t focus on the diving aspect too much, and be sure there are plenty of other fun things scheduled. Though you may wonder whether you’ve sacrificed your sanity, go on the course with your significant other. Your presence and encouragement, and your willingness to forgo some great dives can be all it takes to get him or her to just give it a try. The odds are good that once your partner experiences the beauty of the underwater world for himself or herself, you’ll have hooked yourself a new dive buddy.
What Not to Do
If you find yourself wheedling or working too hard to try to convince your significant other that he or she ought to try diving, and if you are continually met with resistance, you may be fighting a losing battle. Diving is a sport that’s not for everyone. Some people have a visceral fear of water, and some are really not interested in marine life or shipwrecks.
Just as you probably don’t like the idea of being pushed into something you don’t want to do, neither will your partner. Put the offer on the table, test the waters, and see if there’s any interest there. Many people enjoy traveling with non-diving friends and family members, and many enjoy getting away by themselves from time to time. Think of it this way: it’s no fun to dive with someone who isn’t enjoying the activity. If your significant other is truly uninterested, spare yourself the difficulty of trying to push the issue, and enjoy diving for diving’s sake.