Abstract
Exposure to outdoor blue spaces can help improve human health by reducing stress, promoting social relationships, and physical activity. While most studies have focused on the adverse health effects of scuba diving, very few have assessed its health benefits. Moreover, when scuba diving is done in large groups with no diving instructor or pre-dive briefing, negative environmental impacts are generated and negative impacts on human health may also occur due to overcrowding, which may create stress. This is the first study to evaluate the effects of scuba diving on divers’ mental health using their diving practices to estimate the impacts on the ecosystem. In the marine-protected area of Cap de Creus and adjacent areas, we assessed the mental health of 176 divers and 70 beach users (control group) by employing a 29-item version of Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaires. According to the parameters associated with reduced environmental impacts, two scuba diving experiences were established. Poisson regression models were performed to assess both the contribution of the activity and diving experiences to POMS scores. Both groups (scuba divers and beach goers) reduced their POMS scores after carrying out the activities. Although no significant differences were found between beach and scuba diving activities, nor between the two different scuba diving experiences, our results showed that subjects with regular medication intake due to a chronic or psychiatric illness had a POMS reduction score significantly higher than other subjects. We conclude that both beach and scuba diving activities have positive effects for human mental health, particularly among subjects with regular medication intake.
Highlights
A growing number of studies suggest that exposure to natural outdoor environments can help improve human health and wellbeing by reducing stress, encouraging social relationships, and increasing physical activity [1,2,3,4]
No significant differences were observed among scuba divers based on their diving experiences: group A was more respectful towards the environment; while group B was associated with causing environmental impacts
It would be interesting to further explore how long these health benefits continue after short-term exposure, or how constant this short-term exposure needs to be in order to give sustained benefits over time. Both beach and scuba diving activities have positive effects for human mental health, among subjects with regular medication intake, despite no significant differences being found between the activities
Summary
A growing number of studies suggest that exposure to natural outdoor environments can help improve human health and wellbeing by reducing stress, encouraging social relationships, and increasing physical activity [1,2,3,4] The majority of these studies have focused on the benefits of doing outdoor activities in green spaces [5,6], indicating that this improves mental wellbeing and cognitive functioning [7,8]. Evidence suggests that living or undertaking moderate physical activity near blue spaces such as the coast, lakes, or rivers is associated with better general health and wellbeing
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