Ocean Sound Dive & Yoga

Koh Tao, Thailand

I have decided to do something a little different here with this article.

I will not only share why Ocean Sound is one of my favourite dive schools but also why it’s the perfect place to connect the practice of diving with the practice of meditation and mindfulness. Mindfulness is an awareness of being in the present moment, whether you’re eating, walking or having a conversation. When we’re diving we have the opportunity to pay closer attention to the breath, just like in meditation. When under the water, at the bottom of the ocean, the sound of the breath is louder, the way we breathe is more crucial, and the appreciation and gratitude we have for being able to breathe is greater. The two skills are interwoven and each one can aid the other if you open yourself to this connection.

"It’s the perfect place to connect the practice of diving with the practice of meditation and mindfulness"

Koh Tao is world famous for its diving, but a lot of the dive schools are often overcrowded. If you’re doing your open water, the group may be large and you have less individual attention. At times you’re either rushed, under pressure because people are waiting for their turn, or the process takes a lot longer than it should. However Ocean Sound is a smaller school and therefore, the classes are far more individually tailored and oriented and the instructors are very attentive and patient.

"The classes are far more individually tailored and oriented and the instructors are very attentive and patient."

The general vibe of the school is very laid back and low-pressure - this makes diving and doing courses far more enjoyable. This also creates an opportunity to give more headspace and awareness to the process of breathing. When you are fully present with the breath, you are in a state of mindfulness and when in this state it is difficult to be off in your mind worrying or stressing. In order to maximise the duration of your oxygen tank underwater, you need to be taking longer and slower breaths. This also helps you achieve a deeper and calmer state when meditating. The slow, long breath is transferable between diving and meditation. Practising meditation regularly can help achieve better breathing underwater and vice versa. The breath is a great anchor during meditation to pull away from distractions and thoughts - this can also be applied day to day, such as when diving.

If you’re underwater and you panic for whatever reason, you’re in an enclosed shipwreck, you caught your gear on coral or you’re just generally anxious, shifting the focus back to the slow and long breathing can alleviate this anxiety and bring you back to the moment.

I really recommend bearing this in mind the next time you go diving (and do it at Ocean Sound Koh Tao!)

More Info Here