9 Fun Things to Do on Your Safety Stop

Scuba diving to certain depths requires the inevitable: a three minute safety stop. Yawn. How boring! Here’s some fun ways to spice up those insufferable three minutes!

Fun Things to Do on Your Safety Stop While Scuba Diving

You just finished one of the most incredible dives of your life: a colorful coral reef, a ghostly ship wreck, or swimming with breathtaking marine life! Now for the boring part: your safety stop.

Those three dreaded minutes are now what’s separating you and your dive buddy from recapping the wonders you just witnessed! Ugh!

It’s a necessary evil – it likely saves our lives, after all. But who’s to say we can’t insert some fun into your safety stop? Having fun things to do on your safety stop is a MUST! Try these fun things out on your next safety stop!

1. Tic Tac Toe

Do you carry a dive slate? Or maybe a better question: should you be carrying a dive slate? It’s a fundamental piece of our gear, especially if your dive buddy sucks at hand signals (definitely not me. I swear).

Besides, we can use it to play tic tac toe! Multipurpose gear for the win!

In all seriousness, they’re cheap and extremely useful. Find one here.

2. Rock, Paper, Scissors

Or do you say “paper, rock, scissors”? I’ve heard them all, I think.

No matter. Just make sure you and your buddy know if you’re presenting on “shoot” or not.

“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!”

3. Staring Contest

Not to brag or anything but I was the master of staring contests in elementary school. Some things never change, I guess.

See who can hold their stare without blinking on your next safety stop!

4. Blow Bubble Rings

What better time to practice your bubble rings than during your safety stop? And believe me, this takes some work! Good thing you have a solid three minutes to practice!

5. Stretch Those Legs

Ever cramp during a dive? Horrifying, isn’t it? I question my life when my legs go into an uncontrollable contraction. My only thought is “this is it. This is how I go.”

Improving your flexibility is a great way to mitigate those life-questioning cramps. Use the three minutes of your safety stop to stretch and loosen those legs up!

6. Look up and see what’s above you

You never know what creatures are going to pay a visit.

7. Admire your catch

Spearfishing? Lobstering? Hunting lionfish? No matter. Take the time to admire your catch before surfacing. Hunting your own food is a lost art and your safety stop is a great time to appreciate the authenticity of the act.

8. Contemplate the meaning of life.

Better to contemplate the meaning of life on your three minute safety stop than at 3 AM, am I right?!

9. Practice your underwater surf skills.

For experienced, neutrally buoyant divers only. I didn’t even know this was a thing until Laura showed me.

Woah. I’m hooked. How about you?

How do you and your dive buddy spend your safety stop?

Any games you’ve made up? What fun things should we try on our safety stop? Try spicing it up a little on your next dive! Your buddy won’t be disappointed.