Dive Into the Holidays: Positivity, Inclusion, and a Little Holiday Bubble Trouble

Benjamin Hadfield Nov 01, 2025

Dive Into the Holidays: Positivity, Inclusion, and a Little Holiday Bubble Trouble

If there’s a season that could use a little more buoyancy, it’s the holidays. Between glitter explosions, single-use wrapping paper, and Uncle Larry’s fifth helping of shrimp cocktail, it’s easy to forget the ocean that makes so much of this possible. But divers — we’re built differently. We literally breathe differently.

And this year, the scuba community is surfacing with a message as clear as the Caribbean: inclusion, positivity, and environmental care aren’t just nice ideas — they’re essential gear for every diver.

Positivity Is Contagious (and Not the Bad Kind)

Underwater, there’s no small talk. You can’t gossip at 40 feet. You can only point, nod, and share the silent awe of a passing turtle. Diving, at its best, is the great equalizer — everyone’s bubbles rise at the same rate.

That’s the magic of communities like Stuart Scuba, led by Benjamin and Nikki Hadfield, who’ve built a dive culture based on kindness, accessibility, and ecological stewardship. Their “policy of positivity” isn’t written in corporate legalese — it’s written in smiles, shared tanks, and patient instructors who remember what it’s like to be the diver who still waves back at fish.

Inclusion: The New Wave in Diving

For too long, diving carried a reputation for being exclusive — expensive gear, exotic trips, and “don’t-touch-anything” attitudes that made newcomers nervous. But the tide is changing, thanks to pioneers like Margo Peyton of Kids Sea Camp, who’s introduced more than 8,100 young divers to the ocean’s wonders, and organizations like Diveheart and Disabled Divers International, who help people of all abilities experience the weightless joy of the deep.

Today, adaptive scuba technology — from full-face masks to underwater wheelchairs — ensures everyone can experience the serenity beneath the surface. And it’s not charity; it’s progress.

The most important piece of adaptive equipment? A welcoming attitude. Divers who help others gear up, learn, and find comfort underwater are the true innovators.

How Divers Can Make the Ocean — and the Sport — More Inclusive

The ocean doesn’t care about your body type, background, or age. It just asks you to respect it. Divers, on the other hand, can do a lot more to make everyone feel at home underwater.

Here’s your Inclusive Diver’s Checklist (laminate it if you must):

Be patient with beginners. Everyone’s first dive feels like a moon mission.
Learn adaptive techniques. Take an Adaptive Support Diver course — you’ll gain skills and empathy.
Invite new people. Bring kids, friends, even your skeptical spouse. Inclusion starts with an invitation.
Laugh a lot. Diving’s serious safety-wise, but joy keeps the community alive.
Encourage curiosity. Don’t gatekeep knowledge. Share your favorite dive sites and tips freely.

Because the truth is, inclusion doesn’t just grow the community — it keeps it vibrant, innovative, and alive.

A Blue Christmas: Diving Into Eco-Positivity

Now, before you hang your holiday reef (pun intended), let’s talk sustainability. The holidays can be as wasteful as a plastic straw convention. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, Americans create 25% more waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. That’s enough trash to fill 140,000 garbage trucks a week.

Divers can do better. After all, we see the consequences — the glitter that becomes microplastic, the ribbons that turn into reef clutter.

This season, go ocean-positive:

Throw plastic-free parties. Real cups, reusable plates, zero guilt.
Use natural decorations. Pinecones, seashells, or dried citrus garlands — the ocean approves.
Give dive experiences, not stuff. A PADI course, a reef cleanup trip, or a “citizen science” dive beats another gadget.
Eat like a mermaid. Kelp snacks and sustainable seafood are officially festive.
Wrap smart. Old dive maps make brilliant eco-gift wrap (and conversation starters).

Remember: everything flows to the sea. Choose blue, not wasteful glittery gold.

Eco-Logic: Protecting What We Love

Whether it’s Stuart Scuba’s reef cleanup dives or families teaching their kids to respect the ocean, divers are natural conservationists. But we can always fin a little better:

Master buoyancy. Because coral doesn’t like being used as a footrest.
Use reef-safe sunscreen. SPF should protect you and the reef.
Skip single-use plastics. Bring reusable bottles and bags on every dive trip.
Support ocean-positive brands. Your dollars are like votes — spend wisely.
Be a storyteller. Share your ocean experiences. The more people care, the more they protect.

The Ripple Effect of Good Divers

When divers lead with inclusion, laughter, and purpose, something amazing happens — the industry grows and the ocean heals.

It’s not just about logging dives; it’s about logging compassion, community, and coral protection. And thanks to leaders like the Hadfields at Stuart Scuba, who’ve made kindness part of their dive charter, that wave of positivity is spreading.

After all, a happy diver is a better diver — more attentive, more patient, and far less likely to kick up the sand while taking a selfie.

Final Thoughts (and Bubbles)

Comedian Steve Allen once said, “Humor is a social lubricant that helps us get over some of the bad spots.” He could’ve been talking about dive entries.

So as we plunge into the holidays:

Be buoyant in spirit.
Stay inclusive above and below the surface.
And remember: the ocean’s the best mirror — it reflects exactly what we put in.

Fill it with kindness, and it’ll sparkle back with life.