Why Learning to Scuba Dive Was One of the Best Decisions I’ve Ever Made

People often ask me why I’m so passionate about getting others into scuba diving.

It isn’t because I want more dive buddies.

It isn’t because I think everyone needs another expensive hobby.

It gives you a chance to experience a world that is becoming increasingly fragile. Across Southeast Asia, many coral reefs are already feeling the effects of rising sea temperatures, coral bleaching, pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices. Seeing these reefs while they’re still thriving is something I don’t take for granted.

At the same time, scuba diving teaches a lesson that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere. It forces you to confront one of your biggest fears—the fear of drowning. Every instinct tells you that you shouldn’t be able to breathe underwater. Then you take your first breath, stay calm, and realise your mind had been limiting you all along. That single moment is why so many divers describe scuba diving as life-changing.

I’ve only been diving since 2018, yet even in these few years, I’ve noticed changes at dive sites across Southeast Asia.

Older divers who have been exploring these waters for 20 or 30 years all tell the same story:

“You should have seen this place years ago.”

Almost every famous dive destination has its own version of that sentence.

The corals used to be healthier.

The schools of fish were larger.

There were more sharks. More turtles. More life.

I sometimes wonder what these reefs will look like another 20 years from now.

Will they still be here?

Or will future generations only know them through YouTube videos and old underwater photographs?

The Urgency of Protecting Coral Reefs

Coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, yet they support approximately 25% of all known marine species. They serve as nurseries, feeding grounds, and shelter for thousands of fish and invertebrates.

Unfortunately, they’re disappearing at an alarming rate.

The biggest threats are well known:

• Rising sea temperatures causing mass coral bleaching.

• Plastic pollution and poor coastal waste management.

• Sedimentation and pollution from coastal development.

• Unsustainable fishing practices and overfishing.

Southeast Asia is home to the Coral Triangle, often referred to as the “Amazon Rainforest of the Seas.” Stretching across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, it contains the highest marine biodiversity on Earth.

Many of the dive destinations we love—Sipadan, Raja Ampat, Komodo, Tioman and Apo Reef—exist because of this incredible ecosystem.

Yet even here, reefs are under increasing pressure.

Mass bleaching events have become more frequent, including severe episodes across Southeast Asia during the 2024 global coral bleaching event.

These aren’t distant environmental issues anymore.

They’re happening in our own backyard.

Seeing It Yourself Changes Everything

You can watch documentaries.

You can scroll through Instagram.

You can read articles about coral reefs.

None of them compare to hovering weightlessly over a healthy reef for the first time.

The moment you see hundreds of reef fish moving together.

The first turtle that casually swims past you.

The enormous coral colonies that have taken centuries to grow.

It’s difficult to describe, but once you’ve experienced it yourself, protecting the ocean becomes personal.

The opposite is equally true.

When you dive over a reef covered in broken corals, bleached colonies and discarded fishing lines, you realise how fragile these ecosystems really are.

Scuba diving transforms conservation from an abstract concept into something you’ve witnessed with your own eyes.

Divers Have More Influence Than They Think

Many people assume conservation is something only governments or scientists can do.

That’s not true.

Recreational divers can make a meaningful difference.

Master Your Buoyancy

The easiest way to damage a reef is accidentally.

Poor buoyancy causes divers to kick, stand on or collide with corals. Good buoyancy protects the reef and also makes you a much better diver.

Leave Nothing Behind

Single-use plastics eventually find their way into rivers and oceans.

Bring reusable water bottles, avoid unnecessary plastic packaging during dive trips and never leave rubbish behind on boats or beaches.

Join Conservation Activities

Many dive centres across Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines organise underwater clean-ups, coral restoration projects and reef surveys.

These aren’t just meaningful—they’re genuinely enjoyable ways to give something back while travelling.

The Best Conservationists Are Divers

Here’s something I’ve noticed.

People who have never seen a coral reef rarely think about protecting one.

But once someone learns to dive, that usually changes.

They begin caring about plastic pollution.

They notice when coral is damaged.

They become more selective about which dive operators they support.

They tell friends and family why reefs matter.

That’s why I believe one of the best things we can do for ocean conservation is to get more people underwater.

Not because every diver becomes a marine biologist.

But because every diver becomes a witness.

And people protect what they’ve personally experienced.

Dive While We Still Can

I’m not trying to be dramatic.

But I do think we’re living through a period where the underwater world is changing faster than many people realise.

Some of today’s iconic dive sites already look very different from how they did 20 or 30 years ago.

No one knows exactly what they’ll look like another 30 years from now.

If you’ve ever thought about learning scuba diving, don’t keep putting it off.

Do it while these reefs are still here.

Go and see the manta rays of Indonesia.

Watch turtles cruising over Tioman’s reefs.

Experience the colourful coral gardens of the Philippines.

Not just because they’re beautiful.

But because one day, these experiences may become far rarer than they are today.

And if enough of us fall in love with the ocean, perhaps we’ll stand a better chance of protecting it for the next generation.