FIT TO DIVE

🌊 Calling the Dive: Build Confidence, Safety, and Self-Advocacy Underwater

Even experienced divers find it difficult to say “no” to a dive — even when something doesn’t feel right.  Yet being able to call a dive confidently is one of the most important safety decisions any diver will ever make.

This short, focused series of three live micro-workshops (about 30 mins each) is designed to help you build that skill in a practical, supportive way — without therapy, without overwhelm, and without hours of theory.

Do all three, or just one or two - they can be done separately. 

🧭 Why this matters

Many divers struggle to speak up in a diving context, due to multiple human factors that affect behaviour and decision-making. 

Whether someone is able to speak up or not is actually quite complex, and there are various measures we can take to make it easier to do (e.g. briefing practices, dive leader attitude and skills, communication and attitude).  But, as individual dives, those external measures are not always available to us, and are not the only option.  

There are also internal pressures that are possible to address as an individual. It’s about recognising subtle internal signals, tolerating discomfort, and accessing the self-advocacy skills you already have in other parts of life. 

📘 Workshop Titles & Focus

Calling the Dive 1: Handling Difficult Feelings Before the Decision
Learn a practical skill to recognise, sit with, and work through the difficult feelings that arise before calling a dive, so they don’t become overwhelming.

Calling the Dive 2: Gathering Resources for Effective Action
Identify and strengthen your internal skills and resources so you can take action when you need to — including the confidence and self-advocacy to call a dive.

Calling the Dive 3: Handling Feelings After the Decision to Build Resilience
Work with the feelings that can arise after calling a dive — such as shame, embarrassment, or doubt — and learn strategies to process them so the experience builds resilience and confidence for the future.

🧠 What you’ll learn

• Session 1: How to recognise and work with difficult feelings before a dive, so they don’t derail your decision-making.

• Session 2: How to gather and strengthen internal resources that support confident action in challenging moments.

• Session 3: How to work with uncomfortable feelings afterwards so they become opportunities for growth rather than barriers to diving.

These skills are directly applicable to real-world diving contexts — from buddy conversations and briefings to planning and decision-making on the boat.

🧰 What to expect

Each workshop is short and focused (about 30 mins) and delivered live online. You can keep your camera on or off and choose how actively you want to participate.

Typical session format:

• Short introduction (5 mins): Context and rationale for the session.

• Guided experiential exercise (15–20 mins): A skills-based practice aligned with the session theme.

• Wrap-up and reflection (5 mins): Space to notice what came up and how you might apply it in real diving situations.

⚠️ Please read before enrolling

This series is educational and skills-focused. It is not therapy and is not a substitute for therapy. It is not suitable for everyone. Before signing up, please make sure all of the following are true for you:

• I am interested in developing general diving-related skills (such as self-advocacy, confidence, and emotional awareness).

• I understand that these workshops are not therapy and are not a substitute for therapy.

• I understand that there will be minimal interaction during the sessions, and I can choose whether to keep my camera on or off.

• I am not currently in crisis or experiencing significant distress that would make it hard to participate safely.

• I am not experiencing significant issues related to a recent diving accident or traumatic incident, or incidents outside of diving.

• I do not experience frequent dissociation or flashbacks that could be triggered by short guided exercises.

• I know I can pause or stop at any time if I feel uncomfortable.

• I am aware of actions I can take if I feel uncomfortable, and I will ensure I can access the grounding exercise https://www.fittodive.org/pages/practices-for-divers before attending.

If any of the above statements are not true for you, this series might not be the right fit. If you are looking for therapy or support for a traumatic incident, please contact me here instead.

👩‍💻 Practical details

• Who it’s for: Recreational divers (new or experienced) who want to improve decision-making, boundary setting, and self-advocacy underwater.

• Duration: Three micro-workshops, each 20–30 minutes, delivered live online. (Zoom)

• Format: Skills-based, educational, and experiential. Camera optional, minimal interaction.

• Cost: £10 per individual session or £20 for the full three-part series. Members of the Fit to Dive Toolbox (audiopractices) receive £5 off.

Calling the Dive 1: Handling Difficult Feelings Before the Decision
📅 Thursday 13th November, 7:00pm (UK time)

Calling the Dive 2: Gathering Resources for Effective Action
📅 Thursday 20th November, 7:00pm (UK time)

Calling the Dive 3: Handling Feelings After the Decision to Build Resilience
📅 Thursday 27th November, 7:00pm (UK time)

These are for very small groups at the moment, and expect to fill quickly. 

Book on the calendar:

PLEASE help me with the bookings: 

• If you are doing one or two, please pay on booking.  
• If you are doing all three, please pay for the first two and just book the third without paying. 
• If you are already subscribed for the audiopractices, please book the sessions you want, without paying and I will send you an invoice that has £5 discount.

Cancellations made more that 48hrs before the session may be refunded.  Those made at short notice are not refundable (because I don't want others to miss out).