When I first started scuba diving, I was as interested in how many dives I had as much as I was exploring and learning about the amazing underwater environment. Once I weaned myself from the need to reach another diving milestone, I found each and every dive so much more enjoyable.

Let’s put this into perspective. Since the start of Aggressor Adventures in 1984, our guests and dive staff have accumulated millions of dives. This is a number I have never tried to calculate or track. What should be the most important statistic is how much you enjoyed your last dive. I am not advocating that anyone quit logging or celebrating their milestones, but instead let that be a much smaller reason for your next dive. I love being onboard with a guest who is excited to get 100 dives under their belt, but it is far more enjoyable seeing their faces light up when they encounter something new or rare on the dive.

I was onboard a dive yacht in the Caribbean a few years ago, and one buddy team said that on the first day, they had completed each of the total number of dives offered — five — twice. They were going to their planned depth, watching the timer to get past 15 minutes and then coming to the surface for 15 minutes and then ascending once again just to watch their timer for another 15 minutes. I asked them if they had seen the eagle ray, turtle and nurse shark encounters that myself and all the other guests had. They sheepishly shrugged and could only listen as the other guests shared their excitement and photos of the thrilling marine life we had spotted. I am sure you have met a lot of long-time divers who have quit logging the number of dives but still note what they saw or learned on their recent dives, which is the reason we dive.

Onboard Aggressor yachts, we celebrate every guest who completes every dive offered with an Iron Diver award. We never heavily promote it or push it, but for those guests who want to enjoy every dive offered, we want to recognize their achievement. Notice I said “enjoy” every dive. I never want any of my guests to complete every dive for the sake of chasing a number. I want them to remember the reason we dive and find pleasure in every moment spent underwater. Log your dive memories and let the number of dives be a distant thought that never distracts from your passion for scuba diving.

Let me know if you have any questions!