Scuba Diving’s popularity is growing! It’s a fabulous way to keep your mind and body healthy. PADI’s Director of Communications Theresa Kaplan shares scuba diving’s top five benefits:

1. Scuba diving targets specific muscle groups, particularly in the legs, glutes, core and back.

2. Getting ready to dive has benefits, too: Lifting scuba tanks, weights and other dive equipment can be comparable to many weight lifting exercises.

3. Scuba’s a low-impact sport offering an exciting alternative to running, biking or other activities that could exasperate knee issues.

4. Scuba divers gain the strengthening benefits of diving without feeling the strain of a typical workout. Divers don’t sweat profusely and are taught to achieve neutral buoyancy, or weightlessness, while underwater.

5. While underwater, divers have opportunity to disengage from real world distractions and be present in the moment. The mind can relax and focus on simple things—fully inhaling and exhaling, making minor adjustments to buoyancy, extending and elongating a kick cycle—all while enjoying amazing marine life.

For a more in-depth look at how the mind and body benefit from scuba diving, check out Mens Fitness.