It can be so easy for us local residents to slip into a rut and think there’s little to do within the confines of our tiny island home; but how very wrong we can be.
Malta may be small, but it conceals many wonderful secrets. Sometimes we need foreigners to come along and show us just what these are, because as we go about our daily business, we so easily miss the treats that lie right in front of us on our very own doorstep.
The latest and most adventurous form of physical activity to burst into my awareness has been something else we apparently gain glistening international recognition for: scuba diving.
Malta was recently voted as one of the top diving destinations on the entire planet. Our sheltered bays and shallow waters conceal many marvels both natural and man-made that attract divers from far beyond our shores.
Apparently our waters are a particular treat for scuba divers when it comes to ‘wreck’ diving. The sea is littered with sunken ships, some of which actually carry historical significance.
It seems Malta is something of a graveyard for a surprising number of Her Majesty’s sunken World War II ships, one of which famously contributed to the destruction of Hitler’s “unsinkable” Bismarck. Other non-man-made marvels include numerous caves to explore and teeming marine life to behold.
With local distances being what they are, a first-rate dive is never more than a short drive away. Mix in our pleasant climate and you have a sea that never gets too cold, allowing you to enjoy its hidden gems most of the year round. So what has scuba diving got to do with exercise and fitness, and how on earth can it contribute to a healthier lifestyle?
Being physically active doesn’t mean you need to live in the gym and sport a figure like a Hollywood hard-body. In this column over the years I have explored anything from arm-wrestling to rock climbing and from beach volley to Aikido.
Some of life’s most wonderful experiences can come from the unlikeliest of places. For me, lifting heavy barbells has taken me to countries I never would have otherwise gone, and furnished me with a wealth of experience and lifelong memories that are, quite simply, priceless.
Who knows what awaits us beneath the waves that lap against our beaches every day. Away from the confines of gravity and the matters that weigh down on our shoulders in the everyday world we inhabit, the sense of weightlessness and freedom experiences under water is exactly what appeals to most divers.
While we might feel free, in reality the natural resistance of the water provides a gentle challenge for our muscles. The biomechanics associated with moving around under water also encourage enhanced mobility in the shoulders and hips.
Also, the ‘Mammalian reflex’ is a genetic leftover of sorts from our evolutionary semi-aquatic cousins. Mammals like seals and otters are able to slow down respiration while submerged in order to stimulate greater physical efficiency and lower oxygen demands.
This reflex is present to a lesser degree in us humans too, and is triggered as soon as cold water comes into contact with the face. While new divers might utilise an entire oxygen tank fairly quickly, more experienced divers will use up less oxygen, signs of a calmer demeanour and more efficient use.
Controlling your breathing is an important skill that will lower stress levels and help contribute to the development of a more effective cardiovascular system.
The gentle physical exertion of traversing water is combined with the welcome distraction of exploring your sights and surroundings, but perhaps the sense of serenity that befalls many divers constitutes the greatest benefit of all.
When life stresses you out, deep below the waves a world apart awaits you. Problems that exist outside the water cannot catch you here, as you escape to a stress-free sanctuary of inner peace. You can swim away from life’s burdens with an activity that has even been billed as the ‘new yoga’.
Enjoy becoming one with your surroundings and yourself, and honing your concentration and relaxation. Prolonged exposure to scuba diving can even help permanently lower your blood pressure, which in turn helps combat the risk of stroke or heart disease.
So what are you waiting for? Throughout Malta you will find more dive centres than you can shake an aqua-lung at. Scuba diving might be a little pricy as far as hobbies go, but if you’re into popular leisure pursuits like golf or tennis, you could very well find yourself spending just as much money on equipment and club memberships.
With scuba diving, however, you get to try before you buy, so to speak. For a no-commitment first experience, contact any dive centre of your choice and get your feet wet with a ‘try dive’. This shouldn’t set you back any more than €60 and should help you decide if you would like to take it any further.
You will start out in the pool getting used to the gear and drills, and then venture out into some shallow sea water. Like any new physical activity, it is advised you seek clearance from your doctor before you take the plunge.
Are you ready for an adventurous new hobby and a calmer, happier you? Then there’snever been a better time to dive right in.
info@noble-gym.com