New scientific research confirms therapeutic value of scuba diving

A recent, scientific study confirms the therapeutic value of scuba diving. This reports Dive Training magazine. The research was conducted among war veterans with physical and psychological injuries. The conclusion: Scuba diving has considerable therapeutic value, especially for veterans with amputated body parts, anxiety disorders and/or psychological adjustment disorders.

Diving and health 

The study was conducted in 2016 but the results have just been published in the Journal of Disability and Rehabilitation. The research includes quantitative studies of mental well-being and functional abilities, as well as interviews with participants, families and health professionals. The aim was to investigate the effectiveness of scuba diving in treating war veterans with traumatic physical and/or psychological injuries.

Significant improvements 

A total of 15 male veterans took part in the study. Participants reported a reduction in anxiety, depression and sleep disorders and an improvement in social functioning. Scuba diving had the most effect on veterans with psychological complaints and slightly less on veterans with physical injuries. Scuba diving has many more therapeutic benefits, as can be seen from the story of sport diver Harry Beekelaar. Harry Beekelaar was a wheelchair patient who was able to walk again after fiftheen years, thanks to scuba diving. His illness complaints return if he doesn't dive enough or not deep enough.