Not into Cebu diving yet? Hmm, let me guess. You’re scared! It’s perfectly all right—and, in fact, it’s normal—to feel frightened and uncomfortable with the activity. After all, the underwater world seems like a totally different place for us.

The problem comes in when your fear is rooted from your beliefs of the different myths of scuba diving. Surprisingly, there are a lot of them! So right now, let’s take time to bust them:

“I have to be an expert swimmer to dive.”

You cannot dive unless you know how to swim—that’s the truth. But then, the activity doesn’t require you to be an Olympian. Besides, during your first few tries of diving in Cebu, you will have your instructor every step of the way. They can provide you with loads of tips on how to be a really good diver slash swimmer.

“Certifications are unnecessary.”

While you may dive without a certification, you also cannot downplay its importance. First of all, certifications increase your chances of surviving and thriving underwater as they teach you the best techniques and skills (think of rescue certifications). Second, not all resorts would accept non-certified divers. Moreover, if you fall in love with diving and you wish to make it a career, getting certified is one of the essential steps.

Best of all, many certificates these days are already acceptable in different parts of the world. This means you need to get it only once and continue your education elsewhere.

“The underwater is a dangerous place.”

Perhaps you’ve been watching a lot of shark movies lately. Granted, the underwater can be “dangerous” and risky, and yes, there can be sharks that can bite your arm off. However, the chances of this happening are very, very low if (1) you only follow the directions and instructions of your dive master and (2) get yourself certified.

Remember, too, that there’s no such place as “danger free.” Cross a busy road without looking the traffic lights and you’ll probably end up dead. No kidding.

“Diving is so expensive!”

Price, including whether something is cheap or expensive, is relative. This simply means that what’s pricy for you may not be for others. Diving costs more money than, say, snorkeling or other water sports, but you can still enjoy value for money in different ways. For example, in Cebu diving, you can choose an all-inclusive package, which already includes an accommodation, land transfer, and a few hours to a day of certification training. If you don’t want to spend on gear, then you can rent them in the meantime.

“I could die from diving.”

People can die scuba diving, but you have a much higher chance of dying when you drive or even ride a bicycle on the street. Also, two of the most common reasons for not surviving are panicking and irresponsibility, which are preventable.

Scuba diving has its own risks, but so is every other sport or activity in the world. Resorts that offer diving in Cebu always have your safety in mind. Do the same as well, cooperate, and you’ll definitely be safe.