New Year, New Depth: 4 Resolutions Every Scuba Diver Should Make for 2026
The holiday decorations are coming down, the gym memberships are being renewed, and everyone is making promises to “eat better” or “work harder.” But as divers, we operate a little differently. Our gym is the ocean, our meditation is a safety stop, and our motivation isn’t a number on a scale—it’s the next great encounter.
If you’re a diver, your New Year’s resolutions shouldn’t feel like chores. They should feel like adventures.
Instead of generic goals, why not set resolutions that will make you a safer, more skilled, and happier diver in 2026? Here are four resolutions to add to your list—and how you can achieve them with us in beautiful Bohol.
Resolution: Work on “Dive Fitness” (Not Just Gym Fitness)
The Goal: Improve your air consumption and stamina.
We all know we should exercise, but “getting fit for diving” is a much better motivator than just “getting fit.” Diving is a physical sport. Navigating the currents at Pamilacan Island or carrying gear to the boat requires strength, while long, relaxed dives require good cardiovascular health.
How to do it:
- Focus on Cardio: Regular cardio (swimming, running, cycling) improves your body’s efficiency at using oxygen. The better your cardio, the slower you breathe, and the longer your tank lasts.
- Leg Strength: Add some squats or lunges to your routine. Strong legs make finning against a current feel effortless.
- The Reward: You’ll be the diver who comes up with 70 bar left when everyone else is low on air, giving you more time on the reef.
Resolution: Unlock a New Capability (Take a Specialty)
The Goal: Stop being “just” an Open Water or Advanced diver. Learn something specific.
It’s easy to get comfortable at your current level. But comfort can lead to stagnation. This year, resolve to take one PADI Specialty course that changes the way you dive.
The Best Pick for Bohol: PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver. If you haven’t done this yet, 2026 is the year. Nitrox allows you to extend your “no-decompression limits,” meaning you can spend more time at depth.
- Why here? Bohol’s famous wall dives (like the Black Forest at Balicasag) are best enjoyed between 18m and 30m. Nitrox is the key to maximizing your bottom time on these spectacular walls without watching your computer tick down too fast.
Resolution: Explore the Power of the Breath (Try Freediving)
The Goal: Improve your comfort and calmness underwater.
You might be a die-hard scuba diver, but learning the basics of freediving or breath-hold techniques can revolutionize your scuba game. Freediving teaches you to listen to your body, control your urge to breathe, and enter a state of deep relaxation.
How to do it:
- You don’t have to aim for 50 meters depth. Simply taking an introductory freediving session or practicing “apnea” (breath-holding) exercises on land can drastically improve your air consumption and buoyancy control while on scuba.
- The Reward: A sense of Zen-like calm. When you master your breath, you master your buoyancy, allowing you to hover effortlessly over the coral gardens of Panglao.
Resolution: Stop Saying “Someday” (Take the Trip)
The Goal: Get salt water in your hair at least once this year.
This is the most important one. How many years have gone by where you said, “I really need to go on a dive trip,” but work or life got in the way? The ocean is changing, and life is moving fast. Don’t let your C-card gather dust in 2026.
Why Bohol? Bohol is the perfect “resolution destination” because it offers something for every level of diver.
- For the Rusty Diver: Our calm, clear waters are perfect for a “Refresher” course.
- For the Adrenaline Junkie: The currents of Pamilacan and the walls of Napaling await.
- For the Soul Searcher: There is nothing quite like the peace of watching a sea turtle graze at Balicasag to reset your mental health for the year ahead.
Make 2026 Your Best Diving Year Yet
Resolutions are easier to keep when you have a team supporting you. Whether you want to improve your fitness, master a new skill, or simply escape to paradise, Sierra Madre Divers is here to make it happen.
Don’t just write it down. Book the ticket. Let’s make a splash in 2026!
