Scuba diving is so much more than a hobby for many people. Diving can provide a connection to the underwater world, an escape from everyday life, lifelong friendships and so much more.

Here are some testimonials from our readers and staff members on how scuba diving has changed their lives:

Darrell Pearce

"After being afraid of the water, afraid of sharks and lost in life, I got the love of it after my open-water course. Now I am an instructor and shark advocate, and I teach underwater photography. It has given me opportunities I would never have expected and totally turned my life around and is now my main passion in life."

Patricia Wuest

"I am of the generation that was inspired by Jacques Cousteau, who showed the wonders of the ocean to the world. From experiencing exotic places and meeting new people to seeing a 35-foot whale shark and diving on massive shipwrecks, scuba diving has been the greatest ride of my life."

Ashley Annin

"I've never considered myself as the adventurous type, but after getting certified I've found confidence and courage in myself that I never dreamed of. Three years ago, I would have laughed out loud at the thought of me getting in the water with a shark. Now I've dived with dozens of them, and it was the greatest experience of my life!"

Brett Smith

"I was in the Army for eight years with three deployments overseas. Scuba diving changed my life by giving me a way to get out of the house and cope with my PTSD. Since I started, I regularly go on trips and have met a bunch of people that I now consider good friends."

Jenna Zunz

"I've always had a fascination with the underwater world. As a diver, I can explore a part of that world that most people will never see. Being completely surrounded by water and beautiful sea creatures is a feeling that is indescribable!"

Are you ready to step up, help save the ocean, and #LiveUnfiltered at the same time? Sign up for a PADI Open Water Diver course now.