When you first learn to scuba dive you practice with a buddy and you often learn in a group. After your course wraps it can feel intimidating and overwhelming to start building your scuba community.
Alternatively, you're more into diving then your buddy is or you want to go further (maybe into technical diving). Continuing to connect with those who can keep up and grow with you is tough.
Here are some great ways to build your dive buddy roster and expand your scuba diving network of friends.
image by: Oleksandr Pidvalnyi
1. Sign up for guided dives at your local dive shop.
Whether you did your training there or not you'll start to build a local network and discover scuba diving close to home. Use PADI or SDI's local dive shop finder.
2. Find an online group.
There are so many websites or social groups you can connect to like-minded divers on. There's a facebook group no matter where you live or where you're going.
image by: Harvey Clements
3. Join a local dive club.
If the city you live in has scuba diving at it's doorsteps there's like a dive club you can join. These often have an annual membership, a localized region and will run dive meetups and local trips. Often some google searches will lead you to some.
4. Book a trip that includes diving.
One of the benefits (and many reasons) people get into scuba diving is that it opens up the opportunity to dive all over the world. Not everyone has amazing diving in their backyard, but heading to an exotic destination will have you dreaming of underwater adventures. The more you dive, the more you'll meet others. Try booking a dive package with a day or two of scuba diving or jump right into a full week package. You'll often grab a bevy post dive and start to make new friends right away.
5. Talk about scuba diving.
People are very curious about scuba diving. If you bring it up in social settings (example: chatting with a colleague, one of your 2 truths and lie or meeting friends of a friend) you will almost always be met with follow-up questions. There's a 50/50 chance you meet a fellow diver or you get to share your cool experiences with someone who wants to learn more. Eventually you'll meet other divers this way, because inevitably scuba divers love to talk about scuba diving!