Is scuba diving a sport or a hobby? It seems this question is more often asked by those who don’t scuba dive. Those who have gone through the scuba diving certification process typically don’t care whether it’s classified as a sport or a hobby. It’s just something they decided to do. It might’ve been seen as a personal challenge, an outlet for recreation or as something fun to do while on vacation. Oftentimes, those who argue against considering scuba diving a sport make the judgment in spite of a lack of first hand experience. Then again, some of those who contend that scuba diving is a sport have never been certified either. Who’s right?
What’s The Difference Between A Sport And A Hobby?
A quick trip around the internet elicits the opinion that a sport requires skill and some sort of physical exertion. A hobby, on the other hand, includes a far wider range of pursuits that may not require physical exertion or skill.
Is Scuba Diving a Sport?
From this definition, it would appear that scuba diving is, in fact, a sport. It definitely requires skill, as evidenced by the fact that you need to attain certification to legally dive. Physical exertion is also a must when it comes to scuba diving. While it’s certainly possible to sit on the ocean floor for an entire dive, it’s still necessary to strap on the oxygen tanks and do some swimming. In fact, being able to swim 200m without stopping is a requirement for certification.
Can Scuba Diving Be Competitive?
One thing that naysayers bring up all the time is that scuba diving isn’t a sport because there’s no competition involved. However, there is a competitive version of scuba diving, known as Sport Diving. It’s governed by rules and is overseen by an administrative committee known as the Comité des Sports Sous-Marins (CMAS) or the World Underwater Federation. It was established in 1959.
Sport Diving and Other Scuba Diving Competitions
Sport Diving was founded in 1998 with the first competition occurring in 2000. Sport Diving came under the auspices of CMAS in 2008. It consists of five different events – two of which are team events. They include demonstrations of underwater speed, dexterity, agility, precision and spatial awareness. Outside of the Sport Diving realm, there are also underwater orienteering competitions and underwater photography contests. When considered in this light, scuba diving is definitely a sport.
Is Scuba Diving a Hobby?
From the above information, it appears a decisive argument has been made that scuba diving is a sport. That said, can scuba diving also be considered a hobby? According to the definition of the word, a hobby is an activity or interest that’s undertaken in one’s spare time and isn’t considered a job. While there are many instances in which scuba diving can be considered a job, the vast majority of people use scuba diving as a recreational pursuit that’s done in their spare time. This would mean scuba diving can also be considered a hobby.
Is Scuba Diving a Sport or a Hobby?
From the analysis above, it appears that scuba diving is both a sport and a hobby. It just depends on the person doing it and their reasons for doing it. Happily, a strict definition one way or another doesn’t have much effect on the fact that thousands of people around the world enjoy scuba diving every day.
