Diving together brings you closer to each other and you'll appreciate Mother Nature more

We often forget that there is a whole new galaxy of beauty and life below us. Take a deep breath and slop into the ocean.

Scuba diving is a strange sport. I'm not talking about the fact that you can't breathe underwater; I'm talking about how the experience is so different from person to person and dive to dive. You can either choose to have an adrenaline rush and swim with the sharks. Or even pick to have a slow drift and count fish. The experience you want to have is up to you. This is especially true here in the Philippines. With more than 7,000 islands and a tropical climate, we're one of the most beautiful countries in the world of scuba diving spots. North of Manila, you can hit the wrecks in Subic. Go south and you can check out magnificent sea life in Anilao, Batangas.

Now, it’s true that so close to a major city you can't usually see the huge sea creatures. For sharks, you usually need to head out of town. A live-broad (a ship you sleep on) to Tubbataha Reef will bring you close to sharks on nearly every dive. But even without sharks, excitement comes abundant on most dives. Watching a sea turtle half as big as you lazily swim along takes you far away from your city life. Hanging neat the reef watching a brightly colored worm-like creature do its thing reminds you that the world is more that concrete.

Reputation as a macho-sport, but that was back in the days when all the equipment was colored black and female divers were few. Today, there are many female divers, and some of them are taking the sports further by being licensed instructors and the sport's ambassadors. And why not when scuba diving can also be the perfect date. My wife and I will always remember flying hand-in-hand, superman and Lois Lane-style, in a current that pulled across the reef minute and minute. You don't have to dress only in black anymore, as well unless you want to.

Learning to dive together is a marvelous way to deepen a relationship because you always need a partner to dive with.
There's a very little to compare to practicing buddy-breathing (sharing one air source) 10 meters below the sea bring a couple together. Now admittedly my wife got pregnant immediately after we got certified and we didn't actually dive together that much for a couple of years, but the theory is correct.

More importantly, although we missed some diving together when we had babies in tow, diving can be a family sport. The kids could swim and snorkel as the parents went diving. One precious time we all watched a sea turtle as she made her way out into open sea; the kids were snorkeling on the surface, while my wife and I were 10 meters under. When our youngest was 10 years old, the two older kids took their first license together. No you don't search out the rip-roaring dives with a 10 year-old, but you can do some beautiful calm. Limited depth dives with your children. My wife remembers swimming above the children in their bubbles, being part of our children's breaths.

Doing something new together, whether it's diving, dancing, or baking a cake makes something deeper to a relationship, to a family. But diving together will not only bring you closer to each other, it will bring you to appreciate Mother Nature even more. Not everyone dive together, and not everyone will enjoy it in the same way. One thing's sure, everyone who tries diving, everyone who musters the strength to conquer the fear of the depths, will certainly find something worthwhile in this activity. Just remember before you dive that recognizing and allowing for personal differences is also important. Diving is not always about the fish.
Dive safely!