Over the years, we have heard many ‘myths’ about scuba diving that simply are not true. In fact, many of these so called scuba diving myths stop people like you from even attempting scuba diving in the first place!
Not anymore, Not on our watch!
After years of correcting scuba diving myths or concerns from our customers here at Coconut Tree Divers in Roatan Honduras we found it time to officially bust some of these ugly myths!
Top 5 scuba diving myths that need to be BUSTED…
MYTH 1: A scuba divers tank is filled with pure oxygen.
We often hear people refer to a divers tank as an ‘oxygen tank,’ implying the tank is made up of purely oxygen. However, a divers tank is not filled with 100% oxygen, it is actually filled with ordinary surface air. Containing about 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen! Not quite the percentage combo you may have expected huh?!
So next time you hear someone refer to the cylinder strapped to your back as an ‘oxygen tank’ you can take pride in knowing the true facts: surface air for the win!
MYTH 2: You must be in excellent shape, young, and a killer swimmer.
We hear these concerns all the time so lets break it down:
You do not have to be super in shape to dive, you simply need to be a relatively healthy individual with a some what average fitness level. Let us put it to you this way, people from ages 10 to 80 are out there diving right now. Yes 80! Meaning there is no age limit. If you are willing and able then you CAN scuba dive, we see a broad range of all ages, shapes, and sizes come to dive. If there is a will, there is a way!
As for the swimming part, a basic level of swimming is required. In order to achieve your open water certification you are required to swim 200 yards and float for 10 minutes. However there is no time limit or technique required, so as long as you can doggy paddle or frog kick your way through it you are golden! In fact, while diving the goal is to move a little as possible and not use your arms, letting your fins and the water do most of the work!
MYTH 3: UMMM…. HELLO… SHARKS?!?!?!!!
I AM GOING TO BE EATEN BY A SHARK!!!!!
Man, the movie Jaws really did us in, because the truth is sharks are really not that dangerous! Out of about the 400 species of sharks only a few have been known to be aggressive towards humans, all of which are typically never encountered by divers. Most sharks feast on food much smaller than any scuba diver, and pose no threat to humans. Actually, most divers consider a shark sighting a very wonderful experience as they can be so rare to spot! Seeing a shark for the first time is a thrilling memory no diver forgets.
Simply stay in your lane, do not attack the shark and the shark will not attack you! Forget the exaggeration you saw in Jaws, follow the instructions from your dive lead and you will be just fine!!
MYTH 4: Getting your open water takes too long
We get it, you come on a hard earned tropical vacation and do not want to spend that time studying dive theory or watching videos in a class room. Totally understandable.
But did you know you can now do all of the classroom work online, all on your own time? PADI e-learning makes it easy for you to knock out the classroom portion from the comfort of your own home (maybe even with a cheeky glass of wine in hand 
)
You then can show up on your vacation and get right in the water, straight to the fun stuff. After 2 or 3 days in the water you will be officially certified! PLUS, you can feel good about any trees you saved from completing the learning online 
For any questions on how to access e-learning feel free to contact us to put you in the right direction!
MYTH 5: I can’t dive it makes my ears hurt
You know when you were a kid and you tried to dive for rings into the deep end, but you couldn’t quite get there because OUCH, my ears!!?
That same pressure happens when diving, however as a kid you were probably never taught how to equalize the pressure in your inner ear. Equalizing is one of the first things you learn in your open water course and it’s easier than you think! You simply pinch your nose and blow out softly against your nostrils until you feel the pressure alleviate, and repeat as you descend. Bet you wish you knew this trick when you were diving for those rings all those years ago!
MYTH 6: I have no one to dive with
Been trying to convince your mom, brother, uncle, or your cousins best friends younger sister to come dive with no luck?! Feeling like you cannot dive with out a scuba partner in crime, so you decide not to even give it a go?!
One of the BEST parts about scuba diving is the instant friends and camaraderie that go along with it. You meet new like-minded friends from all over the world and go on badass underwater adventures together. The diving community is one of the most inviting groups, and together you get to see and experience some amazing underwater life that the majority of people will never get to see.
Still think you have no one to dive with?
Ahem… WRONG.
We are waiting with open arms here at Coconut Tree Divers for you! Our instructors, dive masters and customers are always looking for new dive buddies. So come visit us in Roatan, Honduras and make a couple friends, we are waiting for you! All the info you need is below, feel free to reach out for more information!
Myths = Busted
We hope this clears up any existing concerns you had and hope to see you underwater soon!